Investment Q&A

Q: Thinking of selling CPD and averaging down on ECN.PR.A My reasoning indicates that the reset return on CPD portfolio will continue to fall as the yield flattens or inverts.
In the case of ECN.PR..A if 5 year yield is at 1.06 or lower the yield is still 6.25%. Basically I’m saying there is a floor under ECN.PR.A but not CPD. What is your opinion ?

Q: Hello
Is ALA.PR.U in danger of a dividend cut? Do preferreds cut ?
I like the dividend tax credit on such a high USD yielding pref.
Any comments or warnings are welcome..
Thanks

Q: Regarding EFN.PR.C - assuming interest rates stay the same would you expect, all things being equal, that the price will go up or down on the re-set in March 2019?
Thanks

Q: Hi 5i, Greetings . I am holding CPD etf and some BIP.Pr.D and BEP.Pr.K as part of fixed income allocation. I always considered these to be held forever, but times seem to be changing and interest rate outlook is uncertain., Should these be held and wait it out or bail now and assess later? Thanks for the service. Ted

Q: Hi 5i Team

I'm primarily an income oriented investor. I'm uncertain about where interest rates will go over the next year. I think we're close to a plateau but who knows. I don't currently own any fixed rate preferreds but am thinking of buying some (maybe up to 10% made up of 5 holdings with different reset dates). I like the dividends and see them as a kind of interest rate hedge against the dividend paying commons. My thinking is that, all else being equal, resets are supposed to increase in price with rising interest rates while dividend payers tend to decline (subject to their ability to increase their dividend).

I understand that other company/market influences may move both preferreds and common in the same direction, I'm just thinking of the interest rate issue at this point. Your thoughts?

Thanks, as always
Peter

Q: I am retired and have these preferred etfs making up about 7% of the income part of the portfolio. There is obvious overlap. Vrp has out performed the others and has a better yield. It is held in a rrif so the US dividend is intact. I am assuming that the downturn in preferreds will level out, as this is a long term income hold. Should I eliminate hpr as it is 50% US and just stay with the other two with the currency diversity? Also what portion of fixed income do you feel preferred should make up? Have a great holiday.

Q: Can I get your opinion of Co-Operators General Insurance. It is small but pays a nice dividend with a low p/e. Thanks Dave.

Q: Why have bank rate-reset preferred come off so much in the past two months after holding up well with rising rates prior to October? I hold HPR which is off about 15% since the beginning of October and holds mostly bank rate-reset preferred which I would have thought would hold up much better in the current environment.

Q: Good afternoon,

Could I please get your thoughts on the convertible debenture issued today? ( 5.5% , 5 year, conversion premium 30%,)
thank you

Q: Appreciate your advice on conversion privilege effective dec31/18
Presently down $4400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative rate reset Pref share series B of AQN for each cumulative rate reset pref series A of AQN converted
If u choose this option can u explain the reasoning and what might be expected in recovering the losses in the future with this option
2. If u don’t choose option1 I am assuming the pref will be cashed in at current loss
Thanks

Q: Received corporate action notice
Appreciate your advice
Conversion privilege as if dec31/18
I am presently down $5400 loss
1. To receive one cumulative floating rate préf share of series 4 CPX for each capital power Corp cumulative rate reset pref share series 3 converted If you recommend this option can u explain what it means going forward
2 those who do not convert need not submit — I assume this means it’s cashed in in dec31/18
Appreciate your advice

Q: I hold some 5 year rate reset preferred shares series A from Element Fleet Management (EFN.PR.A) which will reset to 6.933% on Dec 31, 2018. They also carry a conversion privilege to convert to series B floating rate preferreds (3 month T-Bill + 4.71%) which will be 6.444% for the first 3 month period in 2019. Given your outlook for interest rates going forward, would you advise converting? In addition I cannot find the ticker symbol to get a quote for the series B preferreds. Do you know the ticker symbol?

Q: I am a little curious about your answer to George regarding preferreds. Don't they move inversely to interest rates? So all else equal would you not expect a preferred share etf to fall in value as interest rates rise (just like bonds)? Not only that, would they not generally fall even further than bonds as preferreds never mature (preferreds therefor have a longer duration than bonds making them even more sensitive to interest rate changes). Thanks.

Q: hi, using above as an example, could you explain why this is trading at $20. the reset date is jan 1 2019. can this preferred share be called back?? is the market thinking rates are going to get lower again??? Brookfield Properties Preferred T

Q: When do the hydro one installment receipts stop paying interest?

What happens if the Avista deal does not go thru?

What are the time frames involved in the Avista deal?
Thanks.

Q: What to do with cpd and Ecn.pr.a .
I’ve held reset prefs before, saw it through through the downturn in interest rates and the upturn again, did well, because I had a long term objective.
I now no longer have this luxury. However I feel some comfort with the minimum rate reset preferred. Should I. I appreciate your unbiased recommendation on both securities.
Thank you.
P.s. will be asking for a complete portfolio evaluation in the new year. Paid of course.

Q: "The new annual dividend rate applicable to the Series N Shares for the five-year period commencing on December 1, 2018 to, but excluding, December 1, 2023 will be 5.086 percent, being equal to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield of 2.436 percent determined as of today plus 2.65 percent in accordance with the terms of the Series N Shares.” (Quote from November 1 PRNewswire)

In hindsite I am thinking that I should have just bought 2 good dividend paying stocks, such as T, TRP, PPL, and FTS. ENB would also be high on my list though I do have a full position. The others are about a half position.

1 - Does this make any sense? I am thinking that the dividends are close to the 5% of the Preferred O shares and the chances of recovering some of my loses are probably better. somehow I think the Series O Preferred's don’t stand much chance of getting back to $25.00 in the next 5 years.

2 - Correct me if I am wrong but Enbridge won’t likely call the shares in unless the rates drop quite bit?

3 - If you believe that my thinking makes sense would you rank the suggested stocks including ENB in order of preference. Feel free to add any other Dividend stock over my suggestions

4 - What scenario would make the value of Series N appreciate or go up in value?

Please take as many credits as necessary for my questions.

John

Q: I have a question regarding GSY asked by Stephen on Nov 28 about convertible debentures 5.75% at $ 43.99 a share until July 29,2022 could you explain to me how these work in regards to the following
- how often are you payed
-the tax implications
- how does the share price $ 43.99 come into play
- how is your principle tied up if you needed the money is there a penalty if you had to withdraw it,or if that is even possible
-can these be purchased at any bank online with your discount brokerage
-in your opinion how safe are these and any negatives about them
I realize this is a lot to ask and use as many credits as needed thanks a bunch

Q: Hi, my question is does i5Research have any insight as to why preferred shares have drastically declined in price during November and is there any hope that this trend will reverse. My already underwater collection of Enbridge and bank preferred shares have decreased 7% in value since the start of November. My collection of preferreds are rate reset, resetting in 2019 and where issued with a 3.8% to 4.4% yield. Thanks … Cal

Q: I am considering purchasing ECN preferred for the great yield. Can you explain the difference between ECN.PR.A and ECN.PR.C. I can see the yield from a stock quote but can't figure how the dividend is calculated or when the rate resets on either of these. Which of the two if any would you recommend?
Thanks