Investment Q&A

Q: Hi 5i
Hope your day is going well, and looking forward to a spring weekend.
Reviewed your site, and just wondering if it was April 1st that you were planning on making changes to the portfolio. Could you please confirm and many thanks for your help.

Q: Hi,

I am considering buying a FFH bond. I do have some bond ETF's but I like the certainty of a known maturity date when I get my original investment back and the ability to select the company. I have never owned a bond directly and would like your advice. Two concerns: 1) trading fees from BMO investorline seem quite high at 1% plus there is no bid/offer spread so they probably gouge me on that too. 2) Specific to FFH the +3% yield seems high compared to other names which I presume implies it is riskier. I understand FFH have a lot of equity hedges to protect against deflation so wouldn't that mitigate risk? Am I crazy to start down this path and am I missing something wrt to FFH in particular?

Q: Hi Team
I am well diversified and have about 17% in US Stocks. I have a bit of US cash and would like to purchase a non US unhedged (if you think best) ETF with a lowish MER. I will hold in my RRIF. Of course I would like growth and am not chasing dividends on this. I would hold for 2 to 5 years. VXUS or ????. Thanks guys for all you do.

Q: Some pundits seems to push BNS and TD as the 2 best banks. But, when I checked this morning, I found BNS had dropped much more than the others. BNS-1.14, BMO-.17, CM-.09, RY-.28, TD-.10.
I just do not understand the enthusiasm for BNS when so many of its branches are in very unstable countries; Mexico, Central and South America. The thought would bother me if I had a position in it. Comment?

Q: MDA has been steadily going down in an upward market over the last while (down 9% over the last 6 weeks). In the last two days it has fallen 4%. Any idea why? Is it a buy at these levels?

Q: Peter; I was interested in buying this Pfd. after reading the question and answer today but when I checked the offering info it says the reset is based on the 90 day Tbills, not the five year Canada's. Is that right? Thanks.Rod

Q: Any idea on why Cargojet has been so weak the past two days?

Q: Hello Peter!

I am getting ready to make my 2016 TFSA contribution.So far I had only contributed in CAD dollars and I hold in my TFSA only Canadian stocks.
For 2016 I have room for contibution in my TFSA for $10000.00 CAD.
I have in my US margin account $35000.00 USD ,my question is: can I use my margin USD to make contribution to my TFSA in USD for futer purchase of US stocks and how do I calculate amount to be contributed in USD to cover my limit($10000.00 CAD) for 2016 TFSA.

Andrew

Q: VRX shares have certainly been my most profitable trades since the fall of 2015 with continuing Short positions, however I have a small amount left as of today - April 1. The remaining holdings are through TSX but held in an Ontario corporation. Based on the 15 day Stop Trading Order by the Quebec authority starting today, what is your advise? Thank you.

Q: PKI is going to raise 500,000,000,000. Please give your take on this and what affect will it have on the stock price.

Q: We are Seniors who do not need current income from investments. Have various accts. at TD Waterhouse - considering using their new ETF's to increase international exposure: TPU vs. THU; TPE vs. THE. What is your current thinking re hedged versus unhedged?
Any thoughts re investing in TD's new ETF's versus using TD-efunds?

Q: Any further thoughts on SEV?

Q: Appreciate your thoughts on recent financials.
Thanks
John

Q: Just issued NVCC Fixed reset 6.25% GC5+547bps

Can you comment on this issue. Particularly the viability component and the Credit quality o the Bank

Ernie

Q: Good morning,
Please comment on results and outlook. It would appear they are on track to survive. Does the Blackberry Radar offering compete with Descartes (DSG)? I hold 2%.

Q: Just comparing NPI to other electric utilities in Canada during the past year this one wins hands down. Can you please explain the recent outperformance and future prospects. It still has an attractive yield of 5%. NPI generates power from renewable sources but then so does BEP.UN as opposed to a coal based utility such as TA. perhaps NPI would be a nice addition to the income portfolio.
Thanks for your great service,
Steve

Q: Can I please get your assessment of NPI. In particular, debt levels; earnings growth; and safety and growth of dividend. Looking at a 3 year hold.

Carl

Q: Could you give your valued opinion on their fourth quarter and year end earnings, please?
Thank-you very much!

Q: The Dalsin & Greene(D & G)gong show reminds me of the wild,wild West in Vacouver,B.C. in the 1970s &1980s where promoters,lousy brokers & the Vancouver Stock Ex run amok & kingpins like Peter Brown of Canarim & Friedman(Inco fame)ruled.I had a " promoter friend" who conned me & the public including a lawyer,& was later found guilty & subsequently barred from holding office in a public co for 15 years.Every time,he travelled overseas,the stock price dropped. D& L was vacationing in Europe when they "sold" their shares into a firm of M.Decter.This started the freefall of PHM.Then they let go of management to the man.of Sleep Country.-washed their hands like Pontinus Pilate.After discovery of the Hollywood @ LND,they retired.PHM stockchase shows 15 comments & only one is a buy.The general theme is the above action of D & L.Are they trust worthy?.This is a former darling that is being avoided by most.I lost 80%$.In fact their partner in the new co.told BNN that he had sold his shares @ a Loss.Maybe there should be a class action against D & L

Q: I am interested in A CEf/ETF in the US health care sector and came across HHL.UN. It seems to be doing quite well with a high yield, but I am concerned that the payout over 2015 is 100 % ROC. I wrote the company and got this reply (HHL.UN only started in 2014): The distributions last year were all return of capital. This was in part due to the way the initial costs of the Fund are amortized over the first several years (ie. Certain of the initial IPO costs that were actually taken at the time of the IPO are for tax purposes considered expenses over subsequent years, although the actual cash cost has already occurred.)

I do not want to invest in a company that basically send me my money back. Your opinion please? Thank you!