Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

Thinking about IAG and MFC. MFC has outperformed IAG is the past 12 months. The foreseeable slowdown of Chinese growth and other problems likely affect MFC's Asian business. Additionally, I am still not very comfortable about MFC's financial status.

For risk control, is it wise for me to swap my holding from MFC to IAG and maintain a similar percentage in my portfolio?

Thank you.

Q: Hi Peter
I am looking at starting a portfolio for my daughter who is interested in growth stocks or ETFs with some protection to preserve capital. What 4 stocks and ETFs would you recommend.
Thank you for your comments on Surge which I have bought recently and is it still a buy?

Q: Hello 5i - As always thank you for your help.
I would like to add to my pipeline holdings.
Which pipeline do you see as having the biggest growth potential in the next 5 years.

Craig

Q: Migao's most-recent quarter reported improved revenue but a much-worse net loss. Potash prices are up slightly since the beginning of the year, but surely not to such a degree as changes the company's prospects. Yet shares show a pronounced uptrend since October 2013, and, at this time, a 'put' bid (200000 shares) at 1.45/share. With these divergent signals, is it even possible to form an opinion on Migao?

Q: A response to Mike's April 15 2014 question about monitoring several portfolios. I suggest that he look at Quicken Home and Business – the Canadian edition. The Canadian edition will only operate on the Windows platform.
Once accounts are set up, Quicken easily updates prices and provide several ways to evaluate portfolios.You can view any number of portfolios in any combination or altogether. By adapting Quickens “Investing Goal” feature you can also review portfolios by sector weightings.
Quicken can be quirky and if you are not going to enter transactions regularly it's probably not worth the cost or effort to learn it. I would give Quicken a B+ with a C+ for customer service. Other than using Quicken I have no relationship with the company.

Q: Hi 5i

My question is regarding Interfor IFP.A . I sold my position in the $17's and has pulled back to ~$15.25 . With respect to the US housing market, the issues of moving lumber and the weather, would now a good time to buy? Interfor reports May 6.

Thank you

Q: Hello Peter and Co.
In the industrial/Transport sector of my RRIF portfolio, I only hold CNR and Chemtrade Logistics; I'm thinking of adding either CCL.B or WPK and CAE. Could I please have your preference priority.
Thanks
Tony

Q: Hello 5i.
I have been sitting back and watching the developments in the takeover attempt on Augusta AZC by HudBay as per your advice from my previous question. Augusta has since claimed there are multiple parties interested in purchasing the company. HudBay seems to be calling their bluff and is trying to get the Canadian regulators to remove the shareholder rights plan so they can get on with things. If there are other interested parties should they have showed their cards by now? Would it be prudent to still sit and see what develops or is the challenge to rights plan the signal to head for the exit? I would like to be gone with almost my original investment if there is nobody coming but HudBay at the end of it all as they have stated their plan is to wear them down over time as they have done to others previously. Thanks for all your help.

Dave

Q: Hi Peter and Team:
Re: your model portfolio:
1. SYZ: volume is only 8950. should I buy at $8.8 now?
2. ENB: should I buy at $51 level or wait until there is pull back?
I bought most stocks as per your model portfolio and tries to buy at price same or lower than yours. for the last few days, performance was negative. Should I make any adjustment?

thank you
AD

Q: Hi Peter. WEF has slipped below $2:30 ($2:26 today) which was a bit of a support level. Do you see it going lower or?...also the us banks are report major decreases in mortgage applications / approval. Morgan Stanley was off 60-70% from this time last year. Do you think the us housing is slipping back. WEF is not that exposed (25-30%) to the us so I am struggling with the big drop from the high of $2.72. I am thinking of buying more but am a bit cautious . your thoughts are appreciated + keep up the great work

Q: Hi,

I have a question about TKM. The stock had a huge run and is now back to half of its peak and the selling is ongoing. What do you think. Is this a pure speculative play or does it have real potential based on fundamentals. Thanks

Q: I'm wondering what your opinion on CCL Industries (CCL.B) is.

Thanks

Q: Good Morning Team,

The Globe and Mail published a story this morning that Oil Sands companies in Alberta will suffer if they do not own extensive natural gas resources due to the huge increase in the cost of that resource over the winter. In your view what popular mid-cap to large-cap energy producers are strictly in the oil business and therefore will face increased costs through the necessity of purchasing natural gas for their operations? Thanks!

Q: Just some general comments on AYA that some members might find useful from one who has been investing for 25+ years:
1) If you have followed the model portfolio, AYA should represent a max of 5% of your holdings
2) Not every stock in the portfolio is going to go straight up from the outset
3) It is very difficult to anticipate and "play" market sentiment swings, which is clearly affecting AYA presently. Stay focused on what the company is actually doing.
4) Don't check your stocks every hour. Better to evealuate monthly or quarterly, along with company information released.
5) We are all here because we believe in Mr Hodson's insight. Follow his portfolio, stay with his suggestions, and I believe you will have an excellent chance to outperform the market. That is all anyone could realistically ask for.
Good luck fellow investors!

Q: AHF has management and financial ties with argent(AET.UN). Could this affiliation impact its reputation and status in the market?

Q: Peter; Could you update your opinion on FRU after today's purchase especially the pay out ratio and income safety? Thanks. Rod

Q: Hello to the 5i Team,
Would you happen to know what the proportion of oil to gas is at Whitecap (WCP)?
Thanks for your assistance.

Q: re; Amaya, just a comment that I think is important, I was a huge shareholder but exited at 7.40 when I saw sheldon adelson owner of the venetian in las vegas and a person worth 40 billion, is backing a bill in the united states to ban internet gambling, I think this bill has legs and would affect Amaya quite negatively if passed, add in their horrible earnings and I think the stock is an avoid for now. dave

Q: Hi, I am a new member since December. I bought avo and its down 15%. Suggestions?

Dan

Q: Do you disagree with David Stanley's " cautious" comment in a recent CMS?
"I could cautiously conclude that initial yield is of greater significance to a Canadian buy-and-hold investor than dividend growth. Of course, this statement has its limits." I ask because of a comment you make about preferring growth in dividends to height(so to speak).
Because I am a retiree, I tend to favour higher dividends because I don't have growth time, and because at this stage in my life I want to spend, rather than reinvest, them. Is this an OK approach? I'm aware that one needs to be wary of very high dividends.