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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: Hi 5i Research team , I am preparing for my next round of investments when the market decline broadly. I would like to capture the illiquidity premium: What percentage of a stock portfolio would you recommend for an average investor (1) and a lower risk aversion investor(2) to put in illiquid stocks (market cap between 1000 and 100 million $ and average daily trading value < 200 000$) such as VLN, TCS, TC, SCB, RX, RPI-u, PSD, PEO, MRD, MDF, LNF, LGT.B, LAS.A, ISV, HNZ, GDL, EFH, GBT, CXI, BCI, AF?
What would be your top five selections among these from total return/quality perspective over the long term? Would you have other such companies to suggest? Several of these companies do not have coverage from analysts neither conference call after quarterly results. Besides reading documents on sedar (press releases), how do you suggest following/analyzing those companies? Thank you, Eric
Read Answer Asked by Eric on September 12, 2016
Q: Hi Peter and Gang,

My holdings in companies under the Brookfield brand (BAM.A, BBU.UN, BIP.PR, etc...) account for about 15% of my portfolio. Although these companies are in different businesses altogether, I am just wondering if there is too much concentration on the Brookfield brand. Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Harry
Read Answer Asked by Harry on September 12, 2016
Q: Hi,

I know you like the following: PPL.PR.M and ALA.PR., TransCanada (series 13), Canadian Utilities (series FF) and Brookfield Asset (series 5). With these type of minimum reset preferreds, where would you expect the prices to be in 3 or 4 years under the following scenarios:
1. Current govt of Canada rates 0.5 point lower than today
2. Current govt of Canada rate same as today
3. Current govt of Canda rate 3 or 4 points higher than today

Regards,

Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 12, 2016
Q: I have a $300,000 lump sum to invest for a little more than 10 years before there will be a need to start to taking income. What would you suggest is a reasonable time frame over which to make the purchases? I was considering equal purchases over a 3 month time frame (as opposed to a doing it all right away) but with the US presidential elections, all the talk of interest rate increases and tax loss selling I am wondering if three months is too quick.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 12, 2016
Q: Given the churning FED wordage and today's market reaction what are your thoughts on a September or October mini market correction? I'm looking for a decent entry point as I have a few nice picks researched and lined up. I currently am sitting on 35% cash position (mixed USD & CDN 60/40) awaiting opportunity of a market correction.

Cheers!
Read Answer Asked by Duane on September 12, 2016
Q: Like most avid investors, I look forward to reading Mr. Buffett's annual shareholder letter he writes as Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. While I admire the man and his philosophies, I've been pensive about being a shareholder. For someone with a 10+ year timeframe, is Berkshire Hathaway a good investment or is it risky now that Mr. Buffett is likely to be replaced by his successor?
Read Answer Asked by Eugene on September 12, 2016
Q: I have a Canadian dollar RRSP with a significant portion of US dividend paying stocks, to avoid dividend withholding tax. My RRSP is charged $10 per trade but otherwise there are no fees appearing on my statements. The dividend amounts from US stocks appear in Canadian dollars. Although my investment company has US and Canadian dollar accounts for non-registered investments, there are no US dollar RRSP's. I often wonder if, and how much, I am paying in exchange fees when my US dividends are converted to Canadian dollars. Will those currency fees be included in the new disclosure rules? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Linda on September 11, 2016
Q: Greetings: In one of your recent answers you indicated that best current GIC rates are in the 2.75% range. The best rates I see in Vancouver (2% one year, 2.5% fiver year) are with Oaken Capital, part of the Home Capital Group (Home Trust, Home Bank). Is Oaken Capital a pretty good provider? Are those rates in line with what I should expect? I intend to set up a laddered series with about $100K
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on September 11, 2016
Q: In 2016 I had significant realized capital gains as I sold off shares to re-balance my portfolio. Currently I am in a loss position with the above mentioned companies. I was thinking of selling shares in these six companies to help offset the realized capital gains. Which of these shares do you think I should buy back after 30 days to avoid the superficial capital loss? Normally I would not be selling them, but for tax purposes I am contemplating doing so. AAPL makes up a significant part of my Info Technology sector and GILD is my only exposure to the health care sector. If I do not buy back the other four companies it will not impact my asset mix in my portfolio significantly. Is this the right time of year to do tax loss selling for these companies?

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Robert on September 09, 2016
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