Investment Q&A

Q: Hello,

Do you consider boardwalk as a good long term hold. It would be a new position for me. I do already have real estate exposure (7 - 8 %). This would be new money. I was also looking at H&R but I prefer the usual stability of apartments vs commercial. Thank you for your thoughts. Maybe a mix 50/50 would be a good idea.

Q: At 6.95% yield is TEVA worth holding? Or is the dividend at risk?

Q: Please comment on the recent q results. Do you think the stock is undervalued based on current results? I recognize that there are lots of growth opportunities. Thanks.

Q: I know SLF is primarily a Lifco however, does it have any indirect exposure to HARVEY relative to its' co-insurance liabilities with other insurance Cos. or Groups?? Thank you.

Q: Hi Peter and Associates,

I hear some talk of tax selling as early as August? Some professionals speak of setting up their portfolios to avoid and/or to take advantage of year end tax selling pressures? Some sectors and/or specific stocks have seen modest to significant declines this year and risk seeing above average volumes of yearend tax loss selling?

Many experts do not suggest trying to time the market but also talk of good entry points to initiate a position if not starting with partial ones to begin. Then there are those who factor in seasonality or other technical indicators. Without wanting to sound pessimistic, more than a few guests on business programs express caution, have increased cash weighting to have dry powder in reserve.Markets are not seen as cheap but opinions vary as what to do?

Bottom line, market corrections are part of reality and one has not occurred in some time? What percentage cash might be viewed as a reasonable cushion for a middle of the road risk investor with a 65/35 (Equity/ Fixed Income) objective who would prefer to reduce equity exposure by building up some cash reserves at this time? What suggestions might you have in response to the above and specifically, what reduction in equity exposure might be reasonable and/or sufficient to have substance? Assume a 5% weight in gold forms part of the overall strategy and a sufficiently large portfolio to provide diversification and no over weightings within it.

Fundamentally, are there any specific strategies an investor might use or at least consider in the last months of any year and more specifically this year?

Thank you.

Mike

Q: Hi Team

I'm interested in adding to the fixed income component of my portfolio. I prefer active management for my fixed income, what would be three solid funds where the managers have flexibility to hold a broad range of fixed income (corporate, government, prefs, etc.)? PMO005 looks solid for a portion of the fixed income component, are there any other funds you would suggest? Thanks for your great service!

Q: Good Morning Team,

Would you switch NXPI for GIlD?

NXPI isn't really going anywhere after the cash offer by Qualcomm (is it still on?) and has no dividend.
After the initial hesitation, the recent deal by GILD seems to be welcomed by the market.

So, I guess my question is: which one has the most upside potential at this point?

As always,thanks for your wise input.

Q: AD seems to be on a continual downhill slide. I am contemplating selling it in my RRSP and replacing it with 50:50 EIF and KWH.UN for income and more optimistic growth potential. Your opinion is appreciated. Joe

Q: Both FEZ and XEU follow similar European stock indexes. Over the last year, they basically tracked each other. However, since May, FEZ has been relatively flat at $40 US, while XEU has dropped by about $2 from $25 to $23 Can. The divergence is difficult to understand, but I assume it is mostly due to three currencies being involved - the Euro, $C and $US. My question is which is the better investment for a Canadian investor given that XEU seems to be going in the wrong direction?

Q: GDP for both Canada and USA are speaking to economies that are coming back sooner rather than later. You wouldn't happen to know what "short" theory that Alingvest may have to suggest that the companies that Alaris is invested in may some how not enjoy the inevitable return to NORMAL economic activity.

Q: The Star shows a Div Payout Ratio of -146%. Exactly, what does that mean?

Thanks!

Q: I have been a holder of Valener (VNR) for the past couple of years and during that time have enjoyed a nice yield as well as some modest capital gains.
I am now thinking of switching to Inter Pipeline (IPL) to take advantage of what I consider to be a temporary mispricing by the market.
What do you think of this strategy ?

Q: Hi: I am slowly building a diversified portfolio one stock at a time. I currently have equal amounts of BNS, BEP.UN, DRG.UN, ZUE, and GUD. Which would you recommend for my net purchase CGX or SIS. Or a better choice?
Thanx

Q: HI Peter;
I would like to get your valued opinion on GTT GT Gold Corp. The stock was halted on Wed, Aug 30 and when it opened on Thursday Aug 31 it took off like a rocket.
Would you invest in this company after the good news drilling results?
Cheers
Ron

Q: Hello team,
Which one has the most downside risk? Which one has the most upside potential? Which one you would buy today and why? Would you consider all three as buy-and-forget kind of stock for the next five years? (Everyone is waiting for a correction, if not a market crash, and I am afraid of causing one by finally accepting to invest a bit.)
Thank you as always!

Q: I am doing a little cleanup of my losing positions. I have small "leftover" of BDI, HNL, AIM and PD which all seems to be dead money right now but I wonder if one of these companies could bounce back (BDI for exemple is trading at 0.3x book value) ?

Can you suggest a couple of good companies to replace these losers?

Thanks again for your good advice and use as many credits as needed!

Michel

Q: I recently heard an investment advisor outline the importance of diversifying beyond “public” equity and also invest in “private” equity (he was quoting the huge amount of private equity that public pension plans typically hold). Do you agree with this thesis and do you have any suggestions on how a retail investor could invest in private equity? Would buying a company like Onex be a good way to gain exposure to private equity?

Q: Although I know you do not cover US companies, I was wondering about your take on JNJ. Especially given recent lawsuit activity with regard to their baby talcum powder and ovarian cancer, and possible upcoming class action lawsuit with regard to same. I know of at least one advisor recommending a sell due to this issue, but I am puzzled as there has been no negative reaction to the stock price so far. Your thoughts? Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter, Would you advise on to buying more of BNS/TD ( recent strength) or pick up BMO instead to take advantage of its price as it lagged recently ( Yield @4%). I am more inclined towards BMO as they perform similarly over the longer term. Please advise.
Thanks.

Q: With the decline in the stock price of CBL my weighting has come down to 3.5% from a full 5% position. Would you buy at current levels to get back to the 5% or would you suggest a wait and see attitude for the next few quarters before doing anything?
Thanks for your help