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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hello 5i Team
Is there a website where I can download the CUSIP and/or ISIN for Canadian Preferred Shares and/or other securities?
I am trying to analyse the holdings of CPD/RPF/ZPR and each one presents the holdings with different information (CPD has the CUSIP, RPF has neither, ZPR has the ISIN), none of them indicate the underlying TSE stock symbol and the security description is extremely truncated (mostly company name).
Some of the company websites have the CUSIP and/or ISIN, however the majority do not. Short of emailing the investor relations department do you suggest any other means?
How successful are you in receiving answers from investor relations representatives?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on June 30, 2020
Q: My income portfolio consisting of the above equities has taken quite a beating in the recent market downturn. Except for LB, there has been some recovery in prices, and so far dividends have been maintained. I have some excess cash to deploy, and would like your advice on whether to double down on some on my current investments, or your suggestions for other beaten down income investments. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Jean on June 12, 2020
Q: 5i Hello,
I have these EFTs on my RRSP and not feeling happy with them, can you suggest some possible candidates I could switch to, or just sell them all and with profits buy CSU LSPD SHOP GOOG AMZN.
Thank
F
Read Answer Asked by Fernando on May 21, 2020
Q: I have both these 2 ETF in a RRSP account but at a 3 % weight each.these 2 ETF. I will not need to start withdrawing for 10 years and wondered if I were to buy more for a 5% weight , buying 1 % now and then another 1% in a few month or best to wait longer to see if these 2 ETF start to perform better?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked on May 13, 2020
Q: I'm trying to make decisions for my retired mother's taxable account.

In the current environment, do preferred shares make more sense than bonds or other fixed income strategies? If so, can you recommend a few of the best preferred share funds (or would an ETF like CPD or ZPR be a wiser option)?
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on May 12, 2020
Q: Can you comment on these ETF's I presently hold in a corporate unregistered acct. I have a large amount in DVY.US - not sure why (previously with a FI ) Looking to update this portfolio based on present times. In At least a 5 year hold. Please take as many credits as needed.
Thanks so much.
Read Answer Asked by Lorraine on May 05, 2020
Q: France is starting to see food inflation. In some cases, it's quite impressive numbers percentage wise. If we do get more wide-spread inflation, due to the massive stimulus, would that be a positive for preferred share resets, which I've read go up with higher interest rates? The ETF ZPR currently pays 7% annually, which is usually a sign of future cuts, but on the other hand, it's been going up for 3 weeks. This question is for an account that is 60% in bonds and needs more income.
Read Answer Asked by Matt on April 28, 2020
Q: I hold this in my Cash account (for income) and it is underwater (has been for a while). In your opinion, would I be better off to harvest the loss and purchase 2 or 3 individual top quality preferred shares? If so, can you provide some specific suggestions (I am overweight financials). I assume I would have to wait 30 days to purchase the individual shares to avoid the superficial loss?
Please deduct credits as appropriate.
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Carlos on April 22, 2020
Q: Good Evening
RATE RESET PREFERRED SHARES
The interest rate on rate reset preferred shares is set every five years by adding to the spread the interest rate of the 5 years Canadian government bond.
What happens if the the 5 years government bond is set at a negative rate?
For instance, the interest rate spread on BAM.PR.Z is 2.96%.
On December 31, 2022 a new interest rate will be set for BAM.PR.Z. Lets assume that the interest rate on the 5 years Government bond is negative on December 31, 2022 at -.5 %.

Will the new rate on BAM.PR.Z be 2.46% (2.96 minus .5) or will be set at 2.96% ??
Thank you for your help during these difficult times.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 20, 2020
Q: Given the current economic situation, are preferred shares a good buy? They are all down in price and their dividends are up to 6 to 8%. I understand their upside is less than the common shares, but at the same time because they take priority over the common shares, the dividend and capital is safer than the common shares. I'm thinking of these as an alternative to a bond ETF, because the preferred prices have declined more. What are your thoughts? Is it better to buy individual shares or an ETF? Any ETF recommendations?
Read Answer Asked by Jack on April 07, 2020