Investment Q&A

Q: Is there an unhedged etf similar to xhy that you would recommend?Thanks.

Q: I hold 6.25% TD.PRK-T preferred shares which will mature on July 31. I have the option of converting them into Series L, non-cumulative, floating rate issue 4.33% + the average previous 90 days T-Bill rate. Can you please advise me if this is a good choice assuming that interest rates may begin to rise in the next 1,2,3 years. Under what market circumstances would the shares drop below the $25.00 PAR value, and would this be a major concern given that inflation is now hovering above 2% and that interest rates will remain at their current levels this year and potentially be on the rise starting sometime in 2015. For a preferred share, can you suggest a better alternative that would provide similar returns but offer a lower risk.

Also is it too speculative to buy ECI now that a takeover offer has been made and even assuming that the takeover does not take place.

Thank you for your advise,

Joseph

Q: Hi Team,

In a question/answer from Claire today, you say bonds are riskier now due to possible increases in interest rates.

Which do you consider riskier overall, bonds facing rate increase pressure, or stocks, achieving historic highs and possibly lower future returns or a possible correction?

Thank you.

Michael

Q: In regards to the interest rate sensitivity issue and the way ahead for the "Fed",could advise if the preferred shares Great West GWO.PR.R and Fortis FTS.PR.J have much upside in the next twelve months? I own both just above the $25.00 issue price. Thank you.

Q: I am looking at some short convertibles for RRSP for yield only. I realize that these two names are a tad junky but I am considering them for a short hold based on duration--
AXL.db 7.5%--31- Jan 2016 (85.00 last bid)
JE. db 6.00%--30-June 2017 (89.85)
Can these hold out til maturity?

Thanks.
Tony

Q: Given the present market environment do you view preferred shares as a safe place to invest new money seeking a modest return...if so, could you make a few recommendations...Bonds seem doomed with the threat of rising interest rates and common shares too susceptible to a correction? Thanks.

Q: I would appreciate your advice concerning Superior Plus convertible debentures. I am holding series G (7.5% coupon maturing Oct 31, 2016) which have a $11.35 conversion price and can be called as of Oct 31, 2014 if 125% above the conversion price. The debentures are currently trading at $128. Given that the share price is already just above the 125% call condition, and assuming it remains there, it is safe to expect that come this October they will be called by the company? When and if this is announced would the debenture price instantly drop? I am wondering if it makes sense to sell now with the small premium before they get called by the company?
Thanks.
Steven

Q: This is a comment for Warren, looking for a list of preferred shares.
James Hymas has one here: http://www.prefinfo.com/

Have a speedy recovery, Peter and thank to the whole team.
Marilyn

Q: Good Morning Team
I am interested in finding a list of Rate reset preferred shares(including reset date and terms). If this is not available do you have a few recommendations?
Thanks and stay safe.

Q: Hi Team
Could you comment on the interest rate sensitivity of VSN.PR.A
on the share price of this issue, i purchases it around 23.50 awhile ago.Would this issue be considered to be as volatile as the Perpetual Preferred shares that some company's issue, and finally would you recommend it.
Thanks Gordon

Q: Bonjour, I hold BPO.PR.J shares and part of my holding was exchanged for BPS.PR.B shares. Do you think that this is a good deal for holders of the initial shares J shares?
Thanks
Ronald

Q: I am considering to buy BPO.Pr.l and/or EFN.Pr.c. Like to have your comment. Also, will an eventual rate increase harm Preferreds and convertible debentures?
Thank you. Joseph

Q: IBI.BB

I own some IBI 7% Debentures that are coming due in December 2014. IBI has made an offer to extend the maturity date to 2019 and they haveattached 2 options with a yes vote:

"Option A" Debentureholders receive a consent fee, consisting of an unsecured, non-convertible promissory note equal to $195.65 per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures, payable December 31, 2016 and bearing interest at the rate of 7.0% per annum and payable on maturity; or

"Option B" Debentureholders receive a consent fee, consisting of an unsecured, non-convertible promissory note equal to $86.96 per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures, payable December 31, 2016 and bearing interest at the rate of 7.0% per annum and payable on maturity and the reduction of the conversion price for the Debentures to $5.00 per common share from $19.17 per common share.

The no voters would only get the changed conversion price.

Which option would you suggest, or would you suggest selling it. It's value presently is only about 1% of my RRSP portfolio.

Q: Hi Guys:

We are long term holders of Chemtrade Logistics (CHE-UN.TO) Recently they announced a public offering of $110 million @ 5.25% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures. How would we participate in this offering? What would your advice be for someone to get the 5.25%. This is in a registered account. Marc

Q: We currently have approx $20,000 GIC maturing that we wish to reinvest. The current yield on GIC's is very low and we are reluctant to put this money back in GICs. However in our portfolio we consider this $20,000 to be part of our "SAFE" money. We are considering preferred shares for their higher return and relative safety if we buy from a "blue" chip company.

Could you give me the name of 3 preferred shares that you feel confident in recommending. We are happy to hold these for long term. If you have any other suggestion for a very safe investment we would be happy to hear that as well.

Thank you

Q: Good morning 5I team!
I start my day with your good advice. You are great educators!
I hold a position in AIF.DB.A in a portfolio that consists mostly of stocks in your model portfolio. AIF.DB.A has done very well for me, and I wonder if I should let it run or take some profit. Thank you.
Ellen

Q: BPO.PR
Hi There
I hold approx equal amounts of the L and R series (~1.5% of each).I am thinking of selling R and buying more L with the proceeds, for higher current and reset yields and shorter time to reset.
Am I missing something, as the yields appear not to be what you might expect?
Thanks as always

Q: Comment to Shirley re: the new EFN preferred share issue: If you are interested in this new issue, I strongly suggest that you consider instead a "market purchase" of EFN.PR.C, which was issued a few months ago, and offers both a better (+0.1%) coupon rate and a higher (9bp) reset rate, while obviously having an identical credit quality and nearly the same reset date (a few months earlier). Furthermore, EFN.PR.C is about to go "ex-dividend", and so will from the start give an additional nearly 41 cent advantage over the new EFN issue. At the moment I'm writing this, EFN.PR.C is trading at $25.00.

Q: Peter; Thanks for the EFN reply. Insiders have been buying the EFN prefs, class A and C which yield
roughly 6.5% each. Could you comment on their safety for income and are they rated ? No rush . Thanks.Rod

Q: Hello Fivei Team

As a relatively new suscriber I have found the site very useful and a fresh perspective.
My question is a round real return bond funds. I have held the TD RR bond fund for several years. Last years talk of tapering and interest rate bump pulled them back pulled them back about 10%. YTD on the same fund is up 8.4% with little inflation although the ten year bond has come down since last year.
Can you explain the correlation here as I have always understood these RR's do well in more inflationary times.

Thanks
Jerry