Investment Q&A

Q: You stated in a previous question:
"Cash, long term, acts as a portfolio drag. Generally, we like to keep cash fairly low. Personally, we are in a small (7%) margin position right now in our portfolio. "

My questions are 1. Is a margin position just a negative cash amount in a portfolio or do you have to request an amount based on the margin amounts determined by your stock positions?
2. What interest rate is charged when you borrow on margin?
3. What happens when a margin is called?
I realize these may be naïve questions. Thanks, Len

Q: Hi Peter
please comment on the new MVPS Amplify Thematic All- Starts ETF
Thanks Ron

Q: Hi Team,
Can you comment on Acuityds Holding symbol AT in toronto and ATY Nasdaq .
Thanks as always,
Tak

Q: Anything in particular going on at OR (down almost 10% in a week or so), or is it general precious metals out of favour? I see a random review of gold mines also down similarly?

Q: Peter, my dad a died one week ago at 97 years. He did not have a pension but he and my mom always lived within their means. He began saving $5./month in 1947 and increased that every time he could afford to. It was not always easy. He ran his own business for 65 years. which he started in 1948. My parents went on 26 ocean cruises and many other trips around the world. They travelled using investment income, never touching their principle. Your article is bang on. Mike

Q: IBI's most recent quarter looks good and the backlog grows. If they can keep up this growth, it should see nice share price appreciation over the next few years. Your comments please.

Q: Can you think of a rational reason in why CJT's SP has been range bounded for close to a year? I thought the strong results just released this week should allow CJT's SP to move forward, but only to see the sell off day after day. This is most perplexing? What's your take on CJT? Thanks.

Q: Comments on the quarterly results Friday?

Q: I am a retired income investor. I bought NTR a few months ago to get some diversity in the materials sector and the dividend. Since then I am down about 6% which is normally an amber symbol for me but it seems to be recovering in the last few days. I am happy to hold it for the long term but I would like your thoughts. I understand it reports next week.

Q: Can you please list 10-20 conservative high dividend paying companies that you would recommend. US or Cdn. Thank you.

Q: Can you speak to the legal challenges unfolding around PYPL? Legit concerns? I just picked up some shares.

Thanks for this service!

Q: I would like to add a new position in my TFSA. Please comment on the above equities. Outlook for the next 4 years. What would be your preference.
Thank you!

Q: I'm not seeing the pricing in their press release, do you have something?

Q: Hello Peter and team:

Do you have an opinion on this stock?

Regards
Rajiv

Q: Decent quarterly results again. What do you think, is this stock ever going to take off?

Q: Recent thoughts on Solaris please.Thanks.

Q: My sister just pulled out of Questrade's Robo account to a self-directed account. She planned to buy basic 4 index ETFs in order to keep things simple (XIC for Canadian (30%), XUU for US (35%), VIU for Europe (20%), and VEE for emerging markets (15%)).

However, when the funds appeared, we found two thirds of it was in CAD and one third in USD. It seems inefficient to convert it back to CAD and buy those funds. So we're thinking of buying the US equivalent ETFs for XUU and perhaps VIU and VEE.

Can you give us the US equivalents of these funds. If you have any advice on our strategy here or the funds I've mention (eg. whether iShares or Vanguard is preferable in these areas) feel free to add your wisdom which I so much value as a member.

Q: Lightspeed’s big drop after it’s Public Offering much of a surprise? What do you think of the timing?
Thanks

Q: I would like to start a Growth portfolio, with 60% US and 40% Canadian stocks. I have approximately $300,000 for this account and a long term view. Would appreciate some suggestions. thanks

Q: My TFSA is pretty much the way I want it. But now I'm organizing my non-registered account. First, Is there too much overlap between BAMR and SLF. (if so which one would you prefer). Second, Is there too much overlap between FTS and H (if so which one would you prefer. Could you put all of these in rank order, best fundamentals first. Finally, should I just take equal sized positions in all, even position sizes end up being quite small, like somewhere between 1.5% and 2%. If you think those size positions are too small I will eliminate the last 2 or 3 from your rank ordering. I mainly want the dividends in a set and forget style setup, and I will add to positions as funds come available. Thank you again for excellent insight and advice. I learn an enormous amount from the Q/As daily.