Investment Q&A

Q: A bit confusing, prior to short seller situation, there
were several buy recommendations with 12 MO $24 tgts,
so outside of short seller manipulation, (I see that failed
on BYD. un), what has really changed?
Thanks

Q: could you explain the performance gap between XSP and ZSP
for one year time frame.
Both ETF are designed to replicate, to the extent possible ,the performance of the S&P 500 Index.
Thank you so much.

Q: I am looking for some holiday reading regarding investment strategy, finance or economics and would like to know what you would suggest? I have read many of the classics and would like something more resent although I realize some strategies and theories are timeless so don't be afraid to suggest something that must be read from the past.

Thanks very much for the great advice as always.

Q: Sorry for another IT question, but in the last one you mention their debt. Can you please provide more information about that and how much risk it represents? The info I have shows 32% debt/cap rate, which doesn't seem too bad.

Thank you.

Michael

Q: Hello Peter,
If I may extend the discussion w.r.t the question on Tucows by Rick yesterday .
The markets are volatile combined with tax loss selling and perhaps retail investors putting fresh money into registered accounts early 2016, there are going to be opportunities. It is also likely quite a few investors would look at the 5i portfolios to make new investments or add to positions. Perhaps you could guide the investor where the opportunities are based on valuations and fundamentals or even just qualitatively.
So here is my suggestion. When you email/post the month end performance report for the 5i portfolios; is it possible to include a column that ranks them on investible attractiveness as of that date? Now I would not be expecting 5i to have done extensive research before providing a rank. It could be a combination of your current existing knowledge, news that you may be aware of or just your opinion; quite similar to the opinion you provide on Market Call, except it would be for the stocks in the 5i portfolios.
It would help me and probably a lot of the subscribers in deciding on where to put fresh money – to start a new position, trim or increase existing ones ; based on our individual portfolios.
Regards

Q: Thinking that Oil was forming a bottom at $40. I took a position in a number of oil & gas stocks. Of course I was early and am now down on all positions. I am a long term investor needing income to supliment my pension income.
My positions were originally each 2% of my Cdn Equity portfolio and am down 20% in WCP, PSK, PEY; down 5% in CPG and flat on PKI.
I'm thinking of selling one of the positions for a tax loss and reallocating proceeds back into the remaining positions to bring back to a 2% weight.
Your thoughts? Good plan? Which one to sell?

Q: Prizm Medical had a nice little pop today. Any reason?

Q: What is your opinion on AGF at these price levels. Any chance of a turn around for this company.

Q: Does this latest short attack present an opportunity? Down 40% in two days. What would the P/E be now? Thanks,

Wes.

Q: Hello 5i team

Could you give me your opinion on the BMO ultra short bond ETF, ZST. The bonds held all mature in less than a year and yet its distribution yield is 3.96 % It has been distributing at about this rate since it was formed in 2011. I looked at the holdings and I couldn't imagine that these companies would run into trouble in the short period they hold the bonds. ( Of course they will have to be constantly changing their holdings because if the short term nature) It seemed very safe to me but am I missing something? I am 76 years old with a portfolio of about 2.5 M and I am trying to hold enough cash to cover 3+ years of the rent for my wife who has gone into longterm care. I would like to get a little interest for this money and I wonder whether this would be a good candidate for some of these funds.

Ross

Q: Good morning,

With the increase in the interest rate by a .25% today and with a plan to increase by the same amount in each of every quarter in 2016, will this affect BCE and Telus since they are companies that are, usually, negatively affected by an high interest environment? I own both of them, BCE 5% and Telus 4.4%. I own them for their safety and increases of their dividends. Should continue to hold them?
Thank you

Paul

Q: Hi Peter & Team!
Thanks for all the great information and objective opinions. What do you think about Corus Entertainment (CJR.B), it has been so beaten up that the dividend itself makes it an attractive buy. So is the dividend safe and is there a chance the stock could recover (it's happened before!!). Thanks.

Q: I am sitting on dead money in exchange traded funds and gold. Do I sell and lose a lot of money to reinvest or do I attempt to ride it out? My only source of income is my investments.

Q: Thank you for your work, this has been a difficult year. Hopefully things will settle down next year.
As tax loss selling draws to a close, what do you see as compelling value.

Q: In view of US Fed plan to gradually increase their bank rate to 1.375% by end of 2016 would you pls advise a few TSX stocks in addition to the above that would profit by that scenario. I already have NFI also.
( Thks for ESL & SJ by the way). Happy Xmas to all you guys.

Q: Hello,

This may be out of scope, but I would appreciate your opinion on WNDW.

Thank you for the great service.

Tim

Q: Do you think the latest news in their drug approval is any reason to start a small speculative position.
Thanks

Q: Two Harbors appears to be a solid buy right now. What am I missing if anything?

Q: Hello.

I've decided to change my investing strategy for 2016. I'm investing in a combination of Canadian perpetual and rate reset preferred shares and a small portfolio of yielding blue chip CDN stocks.
I'm having trouble finding resets that I actually like. There are a handful that seem to be bargains but most of them reset in the following 1 or 2 years. I'm looking for ways to hedge against rising interest rates should they increase over the next 5 years. Could you provide a strategy of a particular security that would accomplish this. I was thinking of owning a large position in a 1 to 5 yr term bond ETF or shorting one of the more liquid preferred ETF's as a hedge. Neither idea I like very much. Your thoughts???

Q: You have previously discussed allocating higher weightings to particular companies with strong growth prospects, a strategy which I like to employ in my own portfolio (i.e. I am comfortable holding as much as 20% of my portfolio in a single name). I have favoured FSV and XTC for the past few years, and have seen great results. I am looking to take profits and bring those two positions down from around 35% of my portfolio to 20% (10 each). Currently DH looks like an attractive candidate for an overweight position of 15%. Is this a company you would be comfortable overweighting heavily? Or are there other companies you would prefer at the moment (maybe 1-2 others)? Risk tolerance wise, I am looking for aggressive growth, and can hold for as long as 5-10 years.
Thanks
Alex