Investment Q&A

Q: My TFSA makes up a tiny portion of my overall portfolio and I have maxed my contributions to date. I have to sell about 1/2 of the portfolio within the next few weeks to pay for a wedding (life can get in the way of long term investing!).

However, I am stuck on what to sell. I hold AVO, AYA, BDI, CGI. DHX, CF, ESL, STN in a fairly balanced portfolio. I am trying to determine a strategy of what is best to sell. I am comfortable with all of them, long term. Do I sell 50% of each (even the couple I am down on), are there some that you expect to grow a lot sooner than the others (it will take a couple of years to probably replace the withdrawals), is CF anticipated to declare a special dividend, etc?

Any assistance as to how to orient my thinking would be appreciated.

As a caution to others, I should add that I did trim a bit earlier but I became complacent with the high valuations and didn't prepare for this September drop in the markets.

Appreciate your assistance and I hope you are transitioning well from all your riding. I did the Ride to Conquer Cancer and it took me a few days to slow myself down!

Paul F.

Q: I recently added both PLZ.UN and DIR.UN to my portfolio and both are in the red since. I noticed the REIT sector seems to be hard hit of late as well. Can you comment on the recent REIT slow down as well as the prospect of both these companies?

Thanks.

Q: CRE.tsx your thoughts oh great one!

Q: Veresen (VSN)

Hi Team,

I am following up on my earlier question regarding Veresen's payout ratio as reported on CIBC Investor's Edge. You have suggested that the dividend payout to cash flow is more meaningful than dividend payout to income. Does it follow then that price/cash flow (P/CF = 23.10x TTM) is generally a better metric than price/earnings (P/E = 50.99x TTM)? If so, would this typically be the case or would it depend on the sector?

Thank you again for your advice.

Michael

Q: Hello Peter and co.
Your rational thought process and in-depth stock analyses have helped me be disciplined and cool headed; thanks a lot.
Sensing that some kind of correction would soon happen, I raised, at the end of August the cash level of my RRIF portfolio to 15%; half of it was earmarked for the income I will withdraw in January 2015 (I'm early perhaps, but I sleep better) and the other half was to nibble at stocks that I already own but in need to be topped up. So far so good because my total return to date in 2014 is 13% while my annual objective was 7%.
I take the opportunity to thank those who have responded to my search for a website that would help me track my various portfolios and watch lists; I decided to stick to the free version of Globe Investor + my own excel spreadsheets.
Cheers,
Tony

Q: Hi it's been awhile since a question has been asked about Africa oil (AOI), any thoughts? Looks way oversold here.
Thank-you.

Q: I was wondering about your opinion on SJR.B shaw cable
Regards
Brian

Q: Hi 5i: Just a comment related to recent questions about the relative merits of various Canadian banks. I have often heard the view expressed that 'the banks all run together,' implying that it doesn’t matter too much which one an investor selects to own. I have also heard suggested the strategy of ‘buying the laggard,’ on the theory that in time it will catch up to the group and thus provide a better return over that timeframe. Recently I took the time to put the big five Cdn banks on the same chart to compare their stock performance over a variety of time periods. I was a bit surprised by the results. Instead of converging over the longer time periods, their performance actually diverges significantly, though all provided fairly decent positive returns. The specific results (as of a couple of weeks ago) included the following:
1. Best over the past 3 months: BMO

2. Best over the past 6 months: BMO

3. Best over the past 1 year: CM

4. Best over the past 3 years: RY

5. Best over the past 5 years: TD

6. Best over the past 10 years: RY

The difference over the 10 year period was quite significant. RY’s price appreciation was the leader at over 160%, followed pretty closely by TD at about 150%. BNS was in the middle of the pack at almost 100% and BMO and CM were both under 60% appreciation. Adding the dividends into the mix might close the gap slightly from a total return perspective but the laggards would still be well behind the leaders over the 10 year time frame. (All presuming the charting function I was using was getting correct data and working properly.) Cheers!

Q: Re: Contrans Group Inc. Class A Subordinate Voting Shares...

Should I tender my shares or hold on till a better deal comes along?
I have till October 3. 2014 to respond.
Thx -- Hanna Abramowitz

Q: Regarding CGX
Someone on BNN commented yesterday that Cineplex was cheap right now...from a P/E or P/CF it does not look overly cheap to me. Would you say it is inexpensive or fairly valued and by what metrics?

Q: Symbol : ACQ.TO
Good Morning Peter & Team.
Auto Canada is under lot of pressure recently and is loosing heavily. Is there any news on this stock? Is this a stock a buy / hold /sell currently? Is it worth entering in to a new position in this stock at current levels?

Thanks for your help.
Vinod

Q: IS FRC A BUY, SELL OR HOLD AT THIS LEVEL. IT HAS BEEN FALLING LATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION.

Q: Could you comment on MSL. Merus Labs International Inc ?
Thank you!
Issaku

Q: This is not a question; just sharing information.

Subject: Surge Energy (SGY)
There is an interesting article at www.seekingalpha.com. Title:
Surge Energy: Has The Surge Come To An End?

Q: A day or so ago, ENB announced that it was transferring a 1.76 Billion pipeline package to the Enbridge Income Fund. My question is why they are doing this and how this transaction will affect the stock price of both companies. Tnx for all the great work.

Q: Could you please give us your opinion on Capstone Mining after recent news. Is the share price freefall a result of this, or does it relate more to the collapse of commodity prices. Thanks, Mark

Q: Congratulations on a fine bike ride. How do we honour our pledges, i.e, where do we mail the check and who is it made out to. Thanks

Q: Veresen (VSN)

Hi Team - I was hoping you could please explain the apparently high payout ratio of Veresen. According to CIBC Investors Edge, the payout ratio is 439.63%. From what I can see with FASTGraphs, the payout ration has been over 100% (sometimes well over) since 2001.

I don't understand how this can be possible over such a long time period. I've noticed this with other companies as well from time to time. Generally though, the commentary you provide suggests a low payout ratio is best.

Could you please help educate me?

Thanks very much. Michael

Q: My portfolio currently is a little overweight in REITS and light on US exposure. REITS have generally gone sideways or declined somewhat over the last few months and I realize that you generally are of the view that REITS should not be expected to have any capital appreciation of note over the next year or so. Accordingly in order to seek some capital appreciation and some US exposure I am thinking of selling a significant portion of my REIT holdings (Calloway, American Hotel, Artis, Summit) and purchasing some of AAPL, GE, BCR, DE, MFST, NWL, PG, TXN. Do you see anything questionable in my logic or do any of these US holdings present a concern? Thanks in advance.

Q: hbc/tsx could you give me your opinion on this stock-thankyou