Investment Q&A

Q: The BPO pref shares, in my view, are trading at levels that indicate serious concern over credit risk.
A question put to you on Jan 30, 2023 was with respect to who held the liability for the BPO pre shares (the questioner was asking about BPO.PR.G specifically). You replied:
“While BPO is a separate legal entity, its preferred shares are under the obligation of BN.”
However, a similar question was posed Mar 20, 2023 with respect to BPO.PR.P and you seemed to reply that the obligation on those BPO pref shares was with something called Brookfield Property Preferred LP.
Forgive me if I have mischaracterized your answers, this is a bit confusing to me. It seems to be a very big difference though.
I am assuming that the Preferred LP is some sort of subsidiary?
If so, that would make the BPO prefs MUCH more risky, in my opinion.
I note that the Financial Post reported in Feb 2023 that yet another Brookfield subsidiary (Brookfield DTLA] has defaulted on loans on two major office towers in downtown Los Angeles. The loan amounts are staggering, by the way.
Can you please clarify all this?

Q: With all the recent changes in Brookfield, I would like to find out who is the ultimate corporate entity behind these preferred shares. And if the corporation has become a US corporation, do these preferred still qualify for the dividend tax credit? How do you rate it for safety?
Thank you.

Q: Hi 5i,

More Brookfield questions. This is about Brookfield Properties Corporation and specifically the preferred shares BPO.PR.P.

Why do you think these shares are trading so low (currently $12.30 with a 9.22% dividend yield not counting capital gains)? BPO.PR.P (P3L) trades even lower than the CF.PR.A (7.2%) which is not currently rated (rated P4 when rated).

Which Brookfield company ultimately guarantees these shares? Are its financial statements available to the public? Any information about security would be appreciated.

What is your opinion about the safety of income and capital for these preferred shares? Are they a buy/hold/sell in your opinion?

Thanks for your opinions and information.

John

Q: In my RIF account I have RY, TD, & ENB reset preferred shares all bought when issued at $25, now trading in the $14 to $17 range. The accumulated book value is $61K. My present annual yield is 3.9%, 3.8% & 4.4% respectively. The reset year is 2024, when the reset interest rate will be the Bank of Canada 5 year rate plus 2.3%, 2.4% & 2.7% respectively. So my question is, with interest rates presently rising, in your opinion are they worth holding to the reset date or should I accept my loss & redeem them now. Thanks … Cal

Q: Hi 5i,

In Sept 22 you gave NFI a "B" rating. You commented that it is a little on the risky side.

Do you think the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow are strong enough for an investment in their convertible debenture (NFI.DB) which is due in 2027? I realize their would be no conversion possibility with the bond.

Thanks for your opinion on NFI.
John

Q: Hi 5i, I currently have preferred shares in 13 different companies. I would like to diversify as they are all in finance, utilities, energy and Telecom. Can you name three companies to put into my RRSP that are US based with preferred shares that are solid. I'm looking for 5y resets or perpetual, thanks.

Q: Do you believe these preferred shares are safe to hold until maturity?
Thanks

Q: Do you agree with this statement....
"BPYPO matures (at the option of BAM) in March next year, with incentives for BAM to retire the ticker at par of 25% per unit, translating to a potential 56% yield to maturity opportunity in one year."

BPYPO is trading at roughly $15.40 USD. Is the par price $25 USD ? Do you believe BAM (I think that should actually be BN) will retire this preferred next year ? Is this a good investment ?

Q: Would this be a good time to average down on this for a long term hold? Thx James
BPYP.PR.A

Q: Hi 5i, can you please give me details on these preferred as I have looked and cant find much at all. Were they issued at $50 and is there a perpetual preferred here as I'm currently looking for those not the resets. I'm assuming these are preferred shares and not debentures.

Q: Subject Preferred Shares are up for reset June 1, 2023. In the event company redeems on this date (they redeemed ENB.PR. J USD last year), is there any recommendation to avoid large currency related capital gain on this shareholder uncontrollable event while Can $ is particualrly weak vs US$?
Thank you

Q: I hold these Brookfield Infrastructure preferred which currently pay 5% but reset March 31, 2023 at 6.642%. I can happily continue to hold these, but alternatively I have the option to convert them to Series 10 Preferred which will pay a floating Rate of 3% above the Government of Canada 3 month Treasury Bills, reset quarterly. This will be set for the first quarter to June 30 at 7.564%.

I suppose it's a gamble on what interest rates are likely to do over the next 5 years; but do you have any thoughts on which option I should choose?

Q: HI! I received some of these shares with one of the Brookfield changes. What would your thoughts be on buy/ sell or hold? Yield is quite good. Thanks

Q: ENB.PF.A:CA is down about 17% in a year and ENB about 14%. The % dividend from ENB is slightly higher. Is there any compelled reason to go with ENB.PF.A:CA over ENB?

Q: Couple of days ago you listed some preferred shares that you like. As they are perpetual, and not rate reset, will the yield vary from what they are at now? When can the issuers change the rate?
Thank you

Q: Hi Peter,

On January 10, you were asked a question about Loblaw Preferred Stock (L.PR.B). I really appreciated the relevance of your comments (a net benefit of being a 5i member) and bought it for the income. My question is, do you know of any other perpetual preferred shares that meet the same definition as what you stated (of all the preferred shares out there like this: (Of all the preferreds out there, this would be in our 'no need to worry' category, easily).

Thank you

Q: I own some of the above preferred shares which reset on April 30/23. If Artis REIT does not call the preferred they reset at 5 year GOC (currently 3.454%) plus 3.93% or about 7.38% . Alternatively, I can covert to the floating rate of 90 day t-bills (currently 4.7%) plus 3.93%. or about 8.63%. I noticed not many preferred with the option to convert to floating rate are successful as they normally require a minimum number of shares . Is there a reason? Are t-bills rates more volatile than GOC rates? Any recommendations?

Q: HI, your though about this ETF
thanks
jean guy

Q: I am interested in adding this preferred to my TFSA. Are there any particular issues that I should I be aware of? DBS gave them a rating of pfd-2 which I understand is an investment grade preferred. I didnt notice an end date to these preferreds.

Thanks, Len

Q: These two preferred are going to be reset next month. Is a conversion from BCE.PC to BCE.PD, or the reverse, tax-free if we choose to do so?

I was very successful in the last 2 years with the BCE.PD floating shares, but would it be wise to let them go and convert to the fixed-reset at this moment of plateauing interest rates? I guess it could depend on the new rates which will be determined on Feb06.

Thanks to the team.