Investment Q&A

Q: I was all set to sell my ECI holdings because I thought the company was just for income with little in the way of growth prospects. Given today's results should I be reassessing my commitment to this company?

Thank you.

Paul F.

Q: Hi Peter and team - Do you or any of your readers have any recommendations for a Web site that gives accurate and relatively concise summaries of several of the fundamentals of a company, in particular its cash (and cash equivalents) on hand as well as debt. I have used Globeinvestor and TD Waterhouse but neither seem to show the cash component.
Thanks.

Q: What do you think of Perrigo Company's latest quarter earning? Compare to GILD, which one will have better growth? Thanks for your great service!

Q: Understanding that there are a lot of sectors within sectors (any comment on that would be appreciated as well) how do you feel about this weighting at this time?
Financials 15.00%
Utilities 5.00%
Telecom 5.00%
Consumer Discretionary 10.00%
Industrials 12.00%
Info Tech 20.00%
Consumer Staples 5.00%
Health Care 15.00%
Energy 8.00%
Materials 5.00%

Q: Good morning, your comments on TFI earnings please.

Thanks.

Q: I've calculated that I should keep one year of income as a rainy day fund. I've been holding it in cash but would like to maximize return while not risking its safety. I've been considering a short term bond fund such as VSB. What would you recommend?

Q: Hi,

This fund's NAV has always been in the 9.5 range while this ETF has traded as high as 11.00 dollars recently and has a yield of around 7%. They also did a secondary offering recently at 10.10. What do you think about this ETF for income and why would it be trading at a premium which was as high as 16% at one time.

Q: There seems to be a deluge of portfolio building and asking of 10 stocks etc and portfolio advice instead of specficic issues or one or two comparisons.Seems to have gone from where it was.

Q: HI TEAM

I am interested in adding some REITS to portfolio. I own none presently.

1. is this a good time to look at REITS ?
2. How would Bank of Canada changes in interest rates affect sector (the 5i mantra seems to be that earnings and interest rates are the key to looking a company.
3. based on data base you have access to can you classify the following according to the 3 most important metrics to look at for this sector (what are the metrics ? and their values) I think these 3 are the best looking but have trouble with confidence in globe and mail data

HR.UN-T
D.UN-T
AX.UN-T

how would you rank these 3 or do you think others are better from a "value" or safer (maintaining dividend point of view) ?

many thanks

Ernie


by the way, if I understood from my readings on REITS, I am more tax advantaged to hold them in a registered account than an open account ??

Q: Nuvo had a strong surge and a sudden steep drop
Any comment on this small pharme company ?
Walter

Q: Greetings
Many publicly traded companies grant stock options to their executives and officers under the guise of aligning the long term interests of management and shareholders. 10% of the issued and outstanding share capital to be made available under the plan appears to be the norm. From my perspective this is a 'heads I win, tails I don't lose' proposition for those involved and would much rather see outright share purchases by management. Has 5i considered doing a blog or similar regarding stock option plans and potential red flags to watch out for? As the board of directors are giving away our company when they do this some thoughts around what is reasonable from you would be appreciated.
Thank you so much
Tim

Q: Nice to see some significant insider buying on the open market last week along with some exercising of options.

Q: Question for my 30 year old son's portfolio. He is investing only in registered accounts (TFSAs, RRSPs and RESPs). Based on the below portfolio breakdown what are some additions you would recommend? He plans to put additional cash of another approx. 15% throughout the year.

Cash 14.4%
AYA 12.5%
BNS 8.4%
XDV 8.4%
ESL 6.2%
DHX 5.7%
BEP.UN 5.5%
SYZ 4.2%
CTY 4.0%
BDI 3.7%
LB 3.7%
EEM 3.6%
BIN 3.6%
HSE 3.6%
VIP.UN 3.4%
WAN 3.4%
BAD 2.5%
AVO 2.3%
SGY 0.9%

Q: Good Day! Recognizing US stocks are not your focus but you seem willing to give an opinion. How do you feel about a small investment in St Joe Co. I am in Florida escaping that Canadian winter and you would not believe the construction that is going on here on the St Joe developments. By far the most activity I have seen in the 5 years I have been coming to northern Florida.

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

For a U.S. ETF in an otherwise balanced portfolio containing many of your Canadian picks, which of the above ETFs would you choose, and why? This investment could be for a RRIF and/or a margin account. (Both of these ETFs are offered commission-free at Scotia iTrade.) Thanks as always for your valuable advice.

Q: On the previous question regarding reset prefs, the 5 year BOC, from their website is 1.5% yet the reset used was .79%. I am confused. Is .79% the YTM? and should that be used to calculate the "new" yield till the next reset? Thank You

Q: I have been following Canadian Tire. Would you recommend the voting or non-voting shares (CTC or CTC.A) for a purchase?

I also want to thank you for the spectacular returns (191% to 495%) in my portfolio,due to purchases in Constellation Software, Enghouse and Boyd Group.

Q: We have a portfolio of 26 holdings in a BMO Invest account, all dividend stocks as we depend on the dividends for about 50% of our annual income. BMO regularly provides opinions on our investments as given by various analysts. One of these is Ford Research and I would like to have your opinion of this firm. Frankly they seem to advise 'Hold' on almost all of our stocks but, today, advised 'Sell' on BIP.UN, HSE, IPL, and VET. Since BIP.UN is up 50% since I bought it, and pays a good dividend, and the other sells have also done well for us, how much confidence should I place in Ford's opinions?

Q: I have been following both Westjet and Air Canada. I have done very well with AC yet, WJA's share price has not kept up to the last earnings report. Could you comment?
Thank you for the invaluable service.

Q: I currently own GEI and KEY.What are your thoughts on replacing GEI with ALA? ALA seems to offer more protection from the effects of low oil prices. Thanks, Joe