Investment Q&A

Q: Peter and Team,

Can you provide any insight to the big 30% drop at OSIS due to a contract cancellation? Its a very small speculative position in my portfolio, is the bad news already baked in, or is the a sign of things to come? Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter & Team:
Appreciate your help. I Submitted this question on Dec 4 and was
informed "your question has been submitted.", so I don't know what transpired. Anyhow, on Dec 2 Edward submitted a question about year end distributions. Is it true or not that in many cases with stocks, mutual funds & etfs the drop is not as large as the payout and so is advantageous? Also, many years hence I
owned some seg funds,and my advisor, who passed away a long time ago had me sell them, because he said he had made an error.
The funds were not popular, volume was low, and he anticipated that it would be wound down. He feared that the last holders would be stuck with large distributions. I asked if those who
sold during the year wouldn't get a t3. He replied," they are gone." Did he understand the workings of funds?
Thanks in advance Peter.
BEN

Q: I was thinking of buying td on the US side. In a previous Q/A you said the price would adjust. I am not sure I understand this. If the Canadian $ drops to say .90 cents would that not make an increase of 4% or so on the difference in the dollar plus being paid in US dollars in the dividend?
Also what are your thoughts on the dividend stock split?
Thank you for your assistance and clarification.

Q: Comment on LSI. Up to you if you think it merits posting on not! I've been watching the chart technically, and not surprised by the drop to $3.10 today. It is now (hopefully) bouncing off the 200 day M.A. , I bought and expect it to start moving up again. I think the recent sell-off was just a technical move, and nothing wrong fundamentally.

Q: could you tell me what is going on with LSI . thank you.

Q: Catamaran (CCT) has been quite volitle lately...does the rollout of Obamacare support future prospects of CCT and how how do you rate the prospects of the company and the stock over the next 12-18 months?

Thanks, Clay

Q: Hello 5i,
Out of the twelve utility stocks I own two are underperforming, which are Emera (ema) and First Energy (fe). From this starting point, in your opinion should I sell and buy CPX or wait for them to come back
Thanks

Q: While asset allocation is more personal to ones situation whats your opinion on these ETF's for a portfolio revamp or are there better options that one should consider.
Bonds - XBB, U.S. - XSP, International - XIN, emerging markets - VWO, there is also a Canadian allocation and cash but I am not sure about these 4 ETF selections.

Q: Safe Fixed Income Instrument

I am a retiree, and need a safe place to keep money in fixed income instrument. I consider this money as last line of defense. I have a stock portfolio with which I am satisfied.

I kept this money in GIC which pays almost nothing. Also tapering is expected in 2014. Please suggest a financial instrument. If I go back to GIC please suggest how long to tie up the money. I do not need it now. Thanks.

Q: My "DOGS" for 2013 include the following stocks. AET.un, BA, COS, PME, JE.

They were bought in part for the dividend and all still yield over 5% (10.6% in the case of AET.un).
My question is this: are these worth holding, adding to, or simply selling now?
Thanks for the info and your guidance.

Q: I Am thinking about trading Killiam properties for Tricon Capital Group AS it may have better growth and maybe less effected by higher intrest rates. Would appreciate your view. Thanks Barry

Q: thank u again, all involved, do u thing there are any mining companies working in northern labrador that are worth investing in.

Q: Hello Peter et al.

There have been questions where the subscriber listed all or most of his/her portfolio. I suspect that reflects a need (and an opportunity) for an expanded service from your company to address and give advice on an investor’s total portfolio.

Such service would be in addition to the regular subscription and would necessitate the investor providing his Investment Policy Statement and financial and personal details. Naturally the service would be in addition to the regular subscription service, and at whatever the going fee is for such service. An investor may desire a review every three or four years.

My wife and I have a total of five accounts which I handle as one large portfolio. No doubt some dogs have slipped into the portfolio over the years (my first investment was in 1961 at the age of 26) and I would gladly pay (no idea of the going rate, perhaps a thousand dollars) for a portfolio review and recommendations (about 32 stocks plus 4 ETFs and a couple of Pfds and Cnv. Debs. There are other organizations that provide that service, but I know of none that carry your credibility.

In my view the service would be a separate niche within your company, with the service only open to subscribers of the regular service.

Your choice on whether or not to publish all or part of the above.

Bob

Q: What is your near term market strategy with regards to the Fed set to begin tapering in one of the next four months? Thanks as always.

Q: I have held Firm Capital (FC) for a couple years, and am now down on stock price after, unfortunately, adding more last spring. I am considering using this for a tax loss. I might replace it with MCAN (MKP), which appears to be a fairly similar company with a similar yield. How would you rate MKP v FC? Alternatively, do you think it is better to sell FC and move the funds to a different sector? FC is about 2% of my portfolio, and I am retired and invest for income. Thank-you.

Q: Would you please give me your opinion on which of the following has a better opertunity for capital gains and dividends, abt or syz.

Q: Good Afternoon, can I get your opinion of Alexander Energy (ALX) following the announcement of their reorganization and new management? Is it a buy at this time?
Thanks, Tim.

Q: I have $15,000 in TFSA and I am wondering how to structure it.
Main goal would be income (dividents) and hopefully 7-9% capital appreciation per year. Nothing aggressive, but steady income and some growth.
The problem is the size of the capital on hand, only $15,000.

Q: With the net asset value of Aberdeen Asia's shares [FAP] approaching the current share price, would this be a good time to add to my portfolio? I'm a little nervous given the decline thein share value over the past year
Thanks as always for your good service

Q: What are your thoughts on EMA for a long term hold versus AQN or FTS ?