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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: It seems like Groundhog Day regarding the Rate Reset Preferred Shares,
and my laddered holdings of Minimum Rate Reset Preferreds are getting thrown away with all the rest. I hold them with an annuity-like mentality, meaning I don't really care anymore how the market values them, and plan on holding them until the stones are bouncing off the casket lid. While interest rates are widely viewed as being "lower for longer" (at present), why shouldn't I be happy to collect (at least) the minimum dividends (commonly 4% - 5%) which are much better than most fixed-income alternatives) from issues of blue chip credits? The outside risk of dividend suspensions is recognized, but aren't redemptions (if and when they occur) limited to a return of the issue price? What am I missing?
Read Answer Asked by Howard on March 13, 2020
Q: In my RRSP accounts I have built up a laddered GIC portfolio in addition to a variety of stocks and equity etfs, taking the income generated by the portfolio and adding to the ladder. Given the low rates for 5 yr GIC, under 2%, I’m thinking of taking this years income and purchasing CVD, which has a lower payout but more stability than the above mentioned Preferred share ETFs.
I may split my purchase between CVD and one of the above Preferred Share ETFs and am leaning towards ZPR as performance and MER of the 3 is similar but ZPR has a higher dividend payout.
In addition to better income, interest rates should be close to bottoming and if I stage my purchases over the next 3 months I will benefit from unit price appreciation when rates start going up and will have locked in a 5-6% return.
Your thoughts please.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on March 13, 2020
Q: I’m looking deploy some cash. I read your report on which Canadian stocks to look at but can you recommend 3-4 American stocks to start picking away at?
Read Answer Asked by sean on March 13, 2020
Q: These companies are trading at close to 10% yield. The share price is back to where they were ten years ago and the dividends have since doubled. Are these companies not the buy of a generation right now? In my life I will likely never see these valuations again. Or I missing something huge??
Read Answer Asked by Joel on March 13, 2020
Q: Hi 5i team,
Publish if it is any help or not. There is not much to do in the market these days, as it is what it is. I am just catching up on the Q&A and notice some negative comments about 5i on repairing damaged portfolios. Well, I don’t put any blame on 5i. We are in a bear market. I have been around the markets for a long time and bear markets happen, although this one was the quickest from peak to trough, although I doubt this is yet the trough. In a bull market, cash is trash. In a bear market, cash is king. You have said many times in your answers that asset allocation is our own personal decision. It is up to all of us to manage our own portfolios, raise some cash once in a while, review our asset allocations and to be able to sleep at night.
Thanks for all your work, especially during rough patches.
Dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on March 13, 2020
Q: Hi Peter. I own ZWH.U which is down about 26%. I had thought that the covered call strategy would have provided some shelter from the downdraft, but it appears that really isn't the case. Oh well. My question relates to going forward. Since the covered call strategy will likely limit future gains, what ETF would you suggest for ZWH.U's replacement in my US accounts? thanks, J
Read Answer Asked by John on March 13, 2020
Q: Peter and team
I sold off all my equities part way through this recent collapse.
I have followed your BPort, along with some picks from the GPort.
I do not have the time to diligently follow individual stocks anymore, and was thinking of switching to ETFs.
What are your thoughts about splitting some 400k in cash between ZCN,ZDV, and ZUE. Is there too much overlap in the two Canadian ETFs, and what are your thoughts on going with the "hedged" ZUE?
This is a non registered account. I am pretty sure that ZUE is treated as a Canadian Equity with no foreign withholding tax. Correct?
Thanks

Phil
Read Answer Asked by Phil on March 13, 2020
Q: I see the Jeffries downgraded Welltower yesterday, with a price target of $52. I realize that COVID-19 isn't helping here, but this stock is being beaten down to similar levels to that of airline and cruise ship stocks. Do you see that as logical?

I see that this stock can fluctuate from about 20% below Morningstar's Fair Market Value to as high as about 10% above. Of course at the moment we're talking closer to -30%.

In your opinion is the balance sheet okay?
On my TD Wealth screen the dividend payout ratio - 290% - seems out of whack but I believe it should be calculated differently for REITs (?)

As always, thanks for your informative responses.
Read Answer Asked by James on March 13, 2020
Q: So if they close the markets for an extended period, does one still receive the dividends?
Have they ever had a "brokerage holiday" akin to the "bank holiday"
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 13, 2020
Q: I currently own IHI and GOOGL (only about $8000 in each} and with the recent severe downturn am looking at adding additional funds ($16000) to my portfolio. Am considering MFST and/or ESLT or would you recommend just adding to my existing holdings. These funds are in an non-registered account.
Ed in Montreal
Read Answer Asked by ed on March 13, 2020
Q: Hello 5i
This is a mixed bag inquiry. Looking for some perspectives on the above watch list. I m wanting to increase my overall US & tech sector exposure plus add to my CDN financials. All positions have yield income to weather the storm for the next few quarters
I m considering half positions (2%) in each.

Read Answer Asked by Brant on March 13, 2020
Q: Hi,

If you were to look at your Income Portfolio with a critical eye, are there any companies or ETFs there that you would consider at high risk of reducing their dividend/distribution? If so, why?

Thanks,

Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on March 13, 2020
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