Investment Q&A

Q: This preferred share is currently yielding 11.3%.
No matter what happens to 5 year government interest rates you are guaranteed 6.25% per annum in the future.
With the dividend tax credit this yield of 11.3 % is approaching close to 15%.

Would you say this is a good buy? Or there are credit issues with the company issuing this preferred share ?
Thanks for your insight

Q: ECN preferred rate reset preferred shares are trading at a $3.00 discount to their $25.00 par value. That makes them over 9 per cent yield. What is the risk on these preferreds? The income is nice and it looks reasonably safe.

Q: Hi Peter and 5i,

Here is your answer to the last question on ECN.PR.C. November 2022.

"Yes; while it is a small company we are comfortable with its credit risk, and the dividend was re-set in June for the next five years. Note the shares can still fluctuate and decline if rates rise or investors worry about the company, but the dividend should be stable and fine."

Do you still feel the same way about this Preferred given the current circumstances of the company?

Thank you for your valuable service.

Cheers

Q: ECN.PR.C is currently at a 52 week low of $23.75 with a yield of 8.34%. Would you consider the dividend income to be relatively stable over the next 5 year period?

Q: Good morning and thanks for the role you fill in my investment decision making. I hold ECN.Pr.C (along with HPR and ZPR) and have for years. I have a decision to make regarding conversion. As I understand it I can do nothing and continue at a higher rate of return; convert to a floating rate and have it reset quarterly. Could you please confirm my choices along with your recommendation. Is this a buy and, if not, are there better alternatives? 3-5 year timeline.

Q: I owned ECN.PR.A in my RRSP. I bought it primarily for income purposes. They were redeemed on December 31. I am thinking of reinvesting in ECN.PR.C with the funds that I received at redemption. What is the chance that it will be redeemed? What is the earliest that ECN can redeem these preferred shares?

Q: Hi 5i,
Regarding the preferred shares of ECN and the proposed sale and $7.50 dividend. This might be to simplistic, but here goes. ECN is selling the First Service division for $2B US. Paying out approximately $1.5B with the $7.50 dividend. Leaves $500M US. The preferred shares outstanding are approximately 7.6 million units of A and C issues. Total redemption value at $25 would be $190M Cdn. Their 5 year anniversaries are coming up on December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. With coupon rates of 6.50% and 6.25% on the prefs, I would think there would be redemptions coming using the proceeds of the sale and do any refinancing with cheaper debt.
What are your thoughts on the above scenario?
Thanks for all your professional insight and advice.