Investment Q&A

Q: What are your thoughts on SYSCO CORP. In a previous question, 5i's main concerns were with debt level but there appeared to be good growth prospects. The the stock would be OK at a better valuation.

Currently, the price is much lower but I see that more than 60% of its revenues is from restaurants. With potential restaurant closures, is this a concern for the near term and future growth?

Is SYSCO worth buying? Is US Food Holdings a better option. Both have not rebounded as much as other consumer sector companies?

Thank you

Q: I hold this in my Cash account (for income) and it is underwater (has been for a while). In your opinion, would I be better off to harvest the loss and purchase 2 or 3 individual top quality preferred shares? If so, can you provide some specific suggestions (I am overweight financials). I assume I would have to wait 30 days to purchase the individual shares to avoid the superficial loss?
Please deduct credits as appropriate.
Thank you.

Q: Would you have any recommendations for convertible debentures? I would only consider companies with solid balance sheets.

Thank you

Q: I have most of my wealth in an unregistered account and would like to invest in the safety of Bonds or GIC's but I don't like that they get fully taxed. Are there any ETF's or funds you would suggest that use derivatives or some other wizardy to turn Bond/GIC income into dividends so they are taxed more favorably? All without giving the advantage back through high fees or MER?

Q: while the dividend looks inviting for income ,have i missed something why the co-chairmen would give them selves raises for what seems not much of a performance .

Q: ZJG vs specific stocks:
Which 4 or 5 of the names (juniors) held in ZJG could do better than the ETF?
A ranking or risk level will also help
Thank you!

Q: I hold 2 % weighting of this company and am a little nervous about the Covid effect going forward for IGM. I am down 30 % on it. What might be a better company, in any sector going forward to recover the 30 % ?

Q: Which oil companies are your best Equipped to make it through the current mess? Could you make a top 5?

Q: I have had CHE and EXE in my RIF for quite awhile.
Cost $74,526 total and currently worth $35,010 for a loss of $39,516 (Ouch!!)
Being in my RIF, there is no tax write off but selling either or both will free up $35,010 of cash for other more (hopefully) rewarding items.
The same with VET in my TFSA but even with VET's dividend cut its still paying me about 10%+ dividend on my cost of VET.
Given all the issues with Long Term Care Facilities and Corona-19, is EXE still a good long term bet?
I'm inclined to sell CHE and stay the course with the other two.
Your thoughts?
Brian

Q: My sense of Bookfield family is a very savy investors . today in BNN Loren Steinberg was very negative on both Bam and Bip.
I know both are down from their highs.
Do you consider them as on a negative trend

Q: Hello. At its current price level ($ 30) , do you believe that GDI may represent a good investment opportunity ? Please shed light on the growth vectors, competition and the potential risks due to COVID-19. Much appreciated.

Q: What is the best option to buy gold as a hedge in the event of weakening USD?

Q: These REITs have been awarded B and B+ rating by you . Would you keep the ratings of these REITs at this time as they were?

Q: with negative oil prices which companies benefit from getting paid to buy the oil

Tom

Q: What are some best ETFs, Mutual Funds that is best to park temporary cash holdings? Preferably something that's safe (but not an interest-bearing savings account) with the expectation that it's better than holding actual cash and that I can sell easily to use within less than a year time-frame?

Q: Would you consider BYND to be a buy at this time. Read this morning that its' products will be included in menu items in the Starbucks' locations in China where several of their stores are reopening.

Q: Regarding Gayle’s question today and reference to BOC backstopping the real estate market by purchasing mortgages,etc.

Question: Would knowing this give you more (i.e. me) more confidence in buying Canadian banks now given their current share prices and more importantly attractive dividends?

Call me a “worrier” but I have held off adding to my already losing positions in BNS and CM thinking that dividends might become vulnerable if mortgage defaults start to increase significantly.

Question: I am retired, income oriented and combing the market for yield. Bonds seem unattractive and preferreds have a number of inherent risks as I think you have pointed out. Or am I perceiving your opinion incorrectly.? Hence my looking at banks again.

Thank you in advance for your help with these decisions.

Q: Since the world is engaged in massive bailouts and handouts, does taking a position in US treasuries become more appealing. I know very little about govt bonds other than they are supposed to be safe and they are uncorrelated to the stock market, but if the US govt (and everyone else) is going to buy huge amounts of their own treasuries, it seems this might be a place to make money, not just store it. Is this thinking flawed?
If i take a position in ztl, is this just a safety play, or can it continue to make big gains? Are there other long bond etfs that i should consider?
Thanks for all your help in demystifying the investing world
t

Q: Your thoughts on FRT.US

Q: Hello Peter,
My daughter holds ECN at a 2% weight. I’m considering buying preferred share ECN.PR.A to provide additional dividend income but in this market believe I need additional company info.
From their AIF, ECN appears to manage financial assets for other entities. To what extent do they carry financial risk of losses of those assets? And if they carry little loan risk, what is the prime risk of the company not surviving a prolonged downturn in the economy?

Final question; ECN is in the growth portfolio. If it was not, would you put it in at this time?

Many Thanks!
Robert