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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: Based on BIP.UN and BIPC performance i'm thinking of switching from BEP.UN to BEPC on the first day of trading. I think July 24th is the ex-date and that BEPC trades on a when issued basis starting the same date. Please confirm. I know there are tax pros and cons but as an investment can you comment on the short term and long term of doing this switch.
Read Answer Asked by Mike on July 20, 2020
Q: I notice that you both hold VZ and are generally positive about it, and conversely are generally negative in regard to AT&T.
I hold neither of these stocks at this time, but have been thinking about getting back into one of them.
Interestingly, Standard and Poore's rates VZ a sell and T a buy.
Beyond "that's what makes a market", any comments in defense of your position. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on July 17, 2020
Q: Hi there,

I previously asked about DND and what a reasonable amount would be to pay over an IPO price of $7.50 (you said 25%). It's up quite a lot today $13.50-14 and I would like to ask whether 5i would view it as a buy, sell or hold at that price point? If it were in your growth portfolio would you take profit or let it roll? My take would be that KXS, DSG, SHOP etc would have all been terrible things to sell just because of a Day 1 pop after IPO which argues in favour of holding DND as well.
Read Answer Asked by Tim on July 17, 2020
Q: Good morning,
Not a question, but a note to offer another possible reason as to the recent “lift” in preferred share prices, especially in the banks sponsored shares. A new capital note structure proposed by RBC (Limited Recourse Capital Notes – LCRN’s) has been accepted by the OSC as qualifying as Additional Tier 1 capital. In short, the view is that these notes, primarily issued to institutions, will limit future issuances in the traditional retail preferred share market, while also potentially funding the redemption of existing shares, resulting in better market tone.

Best regards,
Brad
Read Answer Asked by Brad on July 17, 2020
Q: Hi Guys
I just use these 2 ETFS to cover the World it keeps it simple, I was told Canada only represents 3% of the World so that is the weighting i use, would you find that an acceptable weighting. Also. VXC has Japan at 8% and China at 4.5% would this be acceptable or would you add another ETF to compliment the 2 listed above, to get a higher exposure to China and other countries, and if so at what percentage weighting.
Thanks Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on July 17, 2020
Q: Basically this is a follow-up to a healthcare question asked by Sean July 6. My only healthcare position is the steady eddie medical devices ETF IHI. I would like to diversity in this sector using another ETF or two that has similar potential returns to IHI. Candidates are:
ARKG Genomic Revolution
BTEC Healthcare Innovators
PTH Healthcare Momentum
Are any of these worth considering? Or is it best to purchase a few individual stocks? Pros and cons please. Thanks - James.
Read Answer Asked by James on July 17, 2020
Q: Regarding the recent issue of shares and debentures, which closed July 16 - what does this do for the balance sheet… or for any other aspects of PBH you feel is relevant?

Thanks!

From the press release:
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement to reduce existing indebtedness under one of its revolving credit facilities (the "Credit Facility"), thereby increasing the amount available to be drawn under such Credit Facility, as required, to fund future potential strategic acquisitions and capital projects that may arise.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 17, 2020
Q: The Portfolio Tracker recommends a broadly, geographically and sectorally diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. The suggested allocation for basic materials, which I presume includes gold, is around 4%. In addition, none of the model portfolios include gold.

In recent questions from readers, you have increasingly given positive recommendations about holding gold. Is this an evolution in your views, or do you still recommend that readers invest based on the geographic/sector allocations similar to the portfolio tracker. If you do feel that investors should be diversifying further by asset class and buying gold, what percentage of one's portfolio would you recommend? Do you have any plans to adjust the portfolio tracker allocations, or the model portfolios to include gold?

Thank you for your excellent advice.
Read Answer Asked by Dale on July 17, 2020
Q: I wonder what your opinion on this small cap gold producer is WRT peers? I don't see any mention of it , anywhere. All the numbers seem to be moving in the right direction, but am I missing something? I realize it is higher risk, but should it not be seeing more upside given the run up in gold recently? Are there better small cap gold producer options?
Read Answer Asked by Thomas on July 17, 2020
Q: Whenever there are these swings in the market from growth/tech to value/consumer it makes me think about diversification. I have also noticed that companies that bring tech to another field are thriving. Examples being SHOP bringing technology to consumers, REAL bringing it to consumers and real estate, VEEV bringing it to health care, etc.... Also the US markets just recategorized to decrease the amount of technology companies. I am presently 27% technology but only if I place REAL and AMZN in consumer, GOOG in communications , etc.

I own all the above listed companies except ROP. I am currently considering selling LSPD (technology or should just categorize it as consumer) to buy ROP (industrial or is it technology). This would bring technology to under 25% and increase Industrials and US exposure which I am underweight in. The problem is that I can’t help but think that I am making a trade just to make the diversification boxes all line up. One could easily consider ROP as technology.

In the medical profession we have a term for this. “Euboxic”. Which means making all the lab values line up to hope for the best but often with no real value added.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on July 17, 2020
Q: At one time, Absolute Software was in one of the portfolios. Now it is hitting new highs every day on higher volume. I have held this one for a long time and wonder if it is prudent to add into this strength. I am concerned that if on-line learning is not in the cards for September that the stock will retreat back to the $11-12 range. The CEO is well respected. Your opinion appreciated and would you consider this one a good candidate to put back in perhaps the growth portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by Helen on July 17, 2020
Q: I have no medical training nor have I worked in the field of medical research.
I do, however, have some knowledge of that area and have followed advances for several decades.
What thoroughly stunned me was the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 in the field of genetic engineering as well as our current ability to design molecules for use as therapeutics.
I have no doubt as to the success that will come in these areas. What stopped me from investing in them was the fact that so many people were working in these fields that choosing the wrong company seemed very possible. For example, who wants to buy the 3rd best cure for a disease threatening one of their own family. The many possible cures and therapies being investigated for Covid are examples of this.
It's rather like living in the early 20th century and becoming convinced that automobiles and airplanes might have a bright future, then going out and buying stock in Packard, Studebaker, Nash, Rambler, Hudson, etc. The list of failures goes on and on.
I finally bit on ABBV and CRISP just as we descended into Covid hell but not at the bottom. I chose ABBV for their expertise in therapeutics and CRSP for gene editing.
Fortunately I'm not asking you to comment on the technologies involved but rather on your impression of the abilities of both companies to manage their businesses. What are their cash reserves like? What's their current burn rate? When might they be next raising capital; that sort of thing.

In my earlier days I bought several positions in some truly impressive inventions. One actually resulted in several world records. Unfortunately they could neither manufacture nor sell the product. In fact some companies couldn't sell life preservers to a drowning man. The end is obvious. They went bankrupt.

Finally, you don't seem to include CRSP in your top picks in this area. I'm curious why. Don't like it, too many others to choose from or its European base?
Read Answer Asked by Larry on July 17, 2020
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