Investment Q&A

Q: Hello Peter
I recently sold a large Ontario bond that was yielding 4.4% and need to replace it with very secure dividend yielding equities in the 4% yield range. I have already bought some Fortis FTS and a small amount of Bonterra BNE. Now I am thinking of adding a bank and I see Commerce CM and National Bank NA are the cheapest banks and both have P/Es just over 10. The yields are both 3.97% and 3.98% respectively. I see Laurentian LB yields 4.3% but at a P\E of 11.6 and is presumably less secure.
When is CM likely to raise it's dividend?
I am inclined to choose CM and I would appreciate your advice and comments on which bank to choose and why.
Paul

Q: Hi Peter and team. I need to sell my sons 4 stocks by July 10th for him to purchase his first home. His stocks are Stantec, Home Capital, Cinelex and Amaya Gaming. What would you sell first ? should I wait for the momentum to change on AYA before I sell to get the best $ for him. I thought about adding to AYA today but I decided that might be a little risky. Your comments please and thank you.

Q: I'm looking to build a position in some high growth potential biotech names. The candidates are GUD, MSL and PLI. What would you suggest? Even positions in all three? or concentrate on one or two of them, and if so, which ones? ....thanks, Brad

Q: Please compare the risk of CVD vs CBO. I note that CVD has a lower duration so I assume it would hold its value better should interest rates increase. Please comment on the duration and other risk factors. Thank you.

Q: I'am about to set up a income portfolio to match the one you have ,is there any changes you would make to it ?

Q: Hi Peter

What is your take on arc at this time arx

Thanks Guys great job
Mike B

Q: Hi, I want to invest 5% of my portfolio in the precious metals sector. My current exposure is MND and HEP. To complement these, I am thinking of addind MMP.UN for diversification and income within the sector. I realize that it is invested in junior companies, therefore risky, but do you think this segment of the market has hope, and what do you think of this particular product? Thanks for your excellent service.

Q: Hello Peter, I wish to better understand why P/B ratio is important. What is the ideal P/B ratio for a big cap company? The P/B ratio of Royal Bank on TMX Money is 2.36, and the same ratio for National Bank is 1.96, which one has the best P/B ratio? Thanks, Gervais
http://web.tmxmoney.com/quote.php?qm_symbol=RY:TSX

Q: Amaya AYA is really shooting up and this price level may be unsustainable so what would you think of the strategy of selling AYA and using the proceeds to buy POU Paramount Resources since it is due to multiple its cash flow in the next year?

Q: Hi Peter, can you please provide an update and your views on Strad Energy Services (SYD) ? Earlier this month, they reported their quarterly results and increased their dividend.

Thank you and keep up the great work !! I highly recommend your service to any one who will listen !!

Dave

Q: As the new management at Rogers Cable continues to sort things out do you have an opinion on the plan for their large position in CGO and CCA?

Regards
Bob

Q: Hi 5i: This comment/question relates to the many questions asked recently about CBO, with particular reference to Rob Carrick's comments. In March, Manfred asked about the disparity between CBO's indicated yield of about 4% and the best corporate bond yield that he could find (2.5%). On May 20 Alayne asked about Carrick's article that claims that the indicated yields badly overestimate the actual yields. Carrick refers to the "yield to maturity", and in your response you said that the point "about the GIC ladder" is valid (namely that an investor is as well off or better with a GIC ladder in place of CBO). These comments still puzzle me. For the last 8 months (for example), the CBO price has been $19.8 +/- $0.1, and the indicated yield has remained above 4%. Thus over this period, at least, Carrick's point about GIC ladders has been false. The dividend is paid monthly and I have received it - no question. The emphasis on yield to maturity seems to me misplaced, at least to a degree. The response you got from the CBO people (in response to John's question) stated that they sell all bonds once they get within a year of maturity. Thus for short term bonds the YTM is not the relevant comparison; you would need to know the "yield to maturity minus one year". The difference between this and YTM could be considerable for a two year bond, for example. I'd appreciate your comments - this whole issue has puzzled me for a while.

Q: Good Morning,
ARCP was recently a topic in Seeking Alpha. Could you please give me your update on this fast growing US Reit.
Thank you,
Rick

Q: Could you help me compare an investment in BAM versus BIP.UN,please.

Thanks
Bob

Q: Hi Team. I've seen your responses to various questions regarding Prairie Sky. I'm looking at purchasing some of this, but I would be interested in knowing how would you compare it to FRU which has been around quite a bit longer, and also has a nice yield.

Brian

Q: Hi Peter & Team,
I was wondering if you'd had a chance to look at the upcoming Kinaxis IPO and have any comments on it.
Appreciate your insight,

Q: It appears to me that Bio-amber BIOA offers a very cost effective means of producing fine chemicals as an alternative to sourcing them from hydrocarbons. Given a long time horizon, say >3 years do you regard this as a good investment?
thanks Lawrence

Q: Hi 5i team
I have held Power Corp (POW) in my retirement account since Jan/94. It is now trading at about the same price as it did in Jan/09 and the dividend has not increased in at least 5 years. Would you consider still holding this stock and if not what would you recommend that has a similar dividend but is not in the financial sector? Thanks.

Q: re: ViXS Systems VXS - is this the next "Renegade Petro type" growth story?

As you know through my previous questions... have been watching VXS for some time. I like the story as they appear to have the only system on a chip that's going to meet the requirements of the big TV companies and set top box systems for the next generation technology. And I just saw for the first time the new technology advertised on TV.

VSX has been hovering at $1.40 now for almost a month which is it's lowest point since the IPO last yr. Stephen Takasky on Market Call mentioned share price between $1 & $1.50 has tremendous value. He then mentioned Q2 yr/yr we should see "some nice signs on the profit side."

Always looking for the "buy low" opportunities, especially in today's market.

Where do you see VXS a yr from now? And can you comment on the financials relative to the share price?

Thanks for all you do

Gord

Q: Hello fine team. Which of these 2 companies do you prefer for growth - RRX and HWO? I know HWO offers a dividend but I am looking to strong growth for this buy. I am very well balanced with 3 Portfolios and 34 stocks (mostly your picks for your Income and your Growth PFs). As always thank you for all that you do!