Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

Could I get your thoughts on these two companies:
1) Pacific Biosciences of California (NASDAQ:PACB)
2) Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN)

Are there any other Canadian recommendations in BioTech?

Q: I have 1600 shares of this looser,(cost $32.98) CIBC research's 12 mo target is $26.0, I am considering to sell it and replace it with a couple infrastructure stocks or ETFs. I like to have your opinion and suggestion. Looking for income and some growth.
Have looked at BIP.un but doesn't seem to have any growth in the next 12 months. I have AQN,H,RNW,FTS ZWU and ZUT in my portfolio. Many thanks J.A.P,Burlington

Q: Of my Industrial holdings, I currently own WSP, BYD.UN, XTC, and MG. Industrials are about 15% of my portfolio overall, which I think is decent, but am wondering if having BYD.UN, XTC, and MG carries too much exposure in the auto industry. Is there ever such a thing as too little diversity within a section?

Q: Is the recent drop in Power's price related to possible claims from the Fort McMurray disaster? I think the insurance holdings are mainly life assurance, not property insurance. Is there another reason for the drop?
Thanks for all you do.

Q: Comments on the latest qtr, would you add to an existing position on this small pull back? TD seems very negative compared to last qtr. Any chance of a dividend hike soon? Thank You Ron

Q: While watching Peter on BNN I heard him mention that DBO had been added to the 5i Growth Portfolio. Did not know that! When was this brought to members' attention on the 5i website - is there some place members are given the signal of a new inclusion in a portfolio?

Peter mentioned that DBO's technology has been around for 14 years. Two questions: What is the catalyst for this company to get recognition from 5i now? What is your outlook for earnings and capital appreciation over the next 1 -3 years?

While on the subject of his recent appearance, kudos to Peter for once again providing un-hyped informative investor info to build our investing knowledge! I am curious how much weight does Peter give to the "Street Consensus" info often asked of BNN hosts? How should ordinary retail investors treat such information? Is it trustworthy or does it perhaps reflect 'self-serving' biases of analysts who do curry favour to deeper pockets?

Thanks for your great service!

SGR

Q: Hi, I am an income investor and would like your opinion on the major Canadian banks right now. Do you feel that they are attractive at current prices as they are nearing 52 weeks highs? Or would you recommend holding off until they come down in price?
Which banks do you like the most for future growth?

Q: Hi there. May I get your opinion on "APPLE". Thanks!

Q: Pertaining to stock charts, I use the free Globe Investor Stock Charts which are user friendly but periodically they act up. I tried freestockcharts.com and I found them not user friendly and seemed to be for professionals only. What I am looking for are other free stock charts that are user friendly like Globe Investor. Any help appreciated. Thank you Dennis

Q: Great show on BNN's Market Call Tonight on Friday. A quick question about growth: When one says a company is growing by x%, does that typically mean growth in revenues, earnings, or share price?

Q: Please comment on Centamin.
Thanks.

Q: Could you comment on results ?

Q: I'm looking for Canadian consumer stocks. Any suggestions?

Q: Peter and team,
I have about 18K to invest in my daughters RESP which will be required in the following two years, and about 24K to invest in a non reg account for her to use in around two to six years timeframe. This is not money I can afford to loose so I need to invest it carefully. Some say I should be keeping it in a GIC due to the timeframe, however that will not even keep up with the cost of living.
Any suggestions please?

Q: What are your thoughts on IDG, and would you consider this Consumer Discretion?

Q: I am re-evaluating my Fixed income holdings and looking to increase my holdings from 10% up to 20% of my total portfolio. Currently hold CBO and XHY and based on your answers to other questions am looking to add XIG and XBB.
In doing my research I notice that, with the exception of XHY, the Yields to Maturity after MER are well under 2% for CBO and XBB and around 3% for XIG, based on Blackrocks website. Given that XIG is US Bonds with Ave Maturity of 12.7 years I would think that any increase in US rates in the next few years would have a larger negative impact on this ETFs performance.
Given this info why would I not simply buy a 5 year ladder of GICs where I can get slightly more than 2% guaranteed for terms of 2-5 years with no possible loss of capital. (based on rated quoted in my discount brokerage acct.

Q: Down 80% on PHM and 20% with AYA. Thinking of selling these turkeys and buying SIS. SIS is currently overbought, but seems to have generally good fundamentals. I bought GUD almost 2 years ago at its all time high and just broke even on that purchase. I am concerned about the current valuation of SIS and if I am giving up too soon on AYA. My new rule to avoid this mess in the future is to sell half when down 5% and sell the balance when down 10%. Thankyou

Q: How do you see growth/ risk prospects on Smith and Wesson?

Q: Which is cheaper, prism or savaria?
And what are the growth rates of the two?
Thanks.

Q: For money that will be needed in 5 years I am considering investing in some of the new recently issued bank pref shares.

TD.PF.G ,RY.PR.Q, BNS.PR.E

Assuming the shares are all called in 2021 at $25 the current yields would come out to be approximately 4.5%. This would be equivalent to approximately 7.7% on an interest rate.(depending on income levels ) If the banks issued a 5 year GIC at 7.7% the lineup would be long.

With this in mind, is the only realistic risk based on the possibility of interest rates rising?

Also, any thoughts how much these would get hit if interest rates rose , say a full 1%.

Great service & many thanks.

Paul