Investment Q&A

Q: This is a follow-up to our question from last week (see: https://www.5iresearch.ca/questions/140708).

Based on your response that nothing in the list gives you much cause for concern, we would understand this to imply none of the 30 stocks would be considered a "sell" today.

Please divide the 30 stocks into a pair of ranked (best to worst) lists, one of "buys" and the other of "holds". As well, for each of the "holds" indicate the principal rationale for caution.

Q: About 1 year ago we created an equal-weighted 'balanced' portfolio of 30 Canadian companies in a non-registered account. Most were chosen from companies either covered by a 5i research report or included in a 5i model portfolio. The remainder were chosen, based on the 5i Q&A section, from what appear to be 5i sector favourites. All purchases are made with the intent to be long-term holds (10+ years). As well, we intend to increase our investments over the next 2-3 years, and then adjust over time as needed. Currently the amount invested represents ~40% of the eventual total.

Although a goal is to keep the portfolio roughly equal weighted, of the 30 companies, the following 14 were acquired in 3 purchases (full position) and currently have weights in the 2.31% (SHOP) to 5.00% (ATA) range for an average of 3.71%: CSU, MG, GSY, WSP, LNF, ATD, ATA, SLF, BAM.A, BIPC, FTS, DOO, SHOP and TFII. The remainder were acquired in 2 purchases (2/3 position) and currently have weights in the 1.98% (BEPC) to 3.17% (TCN) range for an average of 2.56%. So, overall, the weightings currently range from ~2% to ~5%.

Over the next 6 months we will invest another ~25% of the eventual total. As we make additional purchases, we need to strike a balance between keeping the weights roughly equal while taking advantage of market opportunities. Please provide some broad guidance/wisdom.

Of the 30 companies in the portfolio, which 10 would you have the highest conviction in today? Please rank them.

Are there any of the 30 that you might consider as candidates to be replaced because there are better options, and if so, what replacements would you suggest and why (disregard tax considerations)?

What additional 3 Canadian companies might you consider adding to the portfolio and why?

As always, thanks for the great service!

Q: Good afternoon,
As a follow up to a previous question about an infrastructure investment. Would you buy BIPC in the US or Canadian version? And, would you hold it in a registered or non-registered account? I would appreciate a brief explanation. Thank You.

Q: For the infrastructure sector US and global - what would be a good ETF to reference. Do you have any high conviction infrastructure stock recommendations? Thank you.

Q: A year ago both BIPC and BEPC traded at a 25-30% premium to BIP.UN and BEP.UN respectively.  Today BIPC still trades at a considerable premium to BIP.UN whereas the BEPC to BEP.UN premium is now less than 2%.  Why is that?
Also if you were to establish a Brookfield Renewable Partners position today in a registered account, would you go with BEPC anticipating that a premium may return?  Other than a nominally higher dividend, is there any other advantage of going with BEP.UN instead of BEPC in a registered account?
Thanks...Glenn 

Q: Please suggest tax loss proxies for CCL.B and BIPC. Thank-you.

Q: My broker bought for me positions in three different versions of Brookfield Infrastructure. Is one better than the other to own in an unregistered account?

Q: Can you explain the difference between BIPC and BIP ? Of the two which would you prefer for a long-term investment.Many thanks,Joseph.

Q: What happens to my IPL stock if I did not select any option to liquidate the shares from Brookfield when the sale completed on Nov. 1

Q: The recent price decline seems to be reversing with similar voracity. We took the shares for our IPL position, primarily because of the name "Brookfield". It seems to be a name that attracts money.
Is there any other reason that you can see, for the recent volatility ?

Q: I have been holding BIP.UN for several years. Does it make to sell it and buy BIPC to get tax advantage. BIPC is about 3.5% more expensive than BIP.UN, which has narrowed down significantly in the last couple of years. Why did the difference narrow down so much and can it narrow down even further? Thanks.

Q: Just a comment...this morning BMO Investorline journaled additional "cash in lieu" to my accounts for the takeover of IPL. I assume this is as a result of the many comments I made and others that the cash portion for our shares seemed very low, about $18.46/share for me. The new amount raises the cash portion to about $19.90/share. Something went wrong on the distribution and this is much more reasonable but I wish I had taken the $20/share cash offer.

Q: BIPC's stock price has been struggling as the company sorts through its IPL acquisition. When would you anticipate prices will begin to rise again? (Utilities currently held - in relatively equal amounts - are BIPC, AQN, BEP and NPI.) Thank you.

Q: Good buy at these levels? Doesn't seem to be any news to explain the weakness. Closing in on a a 52 week low, 3.5% yield.

Q: Is there an explanation of why the 4 year revenue growth is so different between BIP.UN and BIPC? Here is the data I get from RBC Direct Investing for 2017 to 2020:

BIP.UN: 3,535.0 | 4,652.0 | 6,597.0 | 8,885.0 for a 4 year CAGR of 26%
BIPC: 1,323.0 | 1,561.0 | 1,619.0 | 1,430.0 for a 4 year CAGR of 2%

Of course the amounts are going to be different, but I expected the growth to be similar between the two. Whaaaat?

Thanks.

Q: Hello 5i, I notice that comments are made as to the takeover of Interpipe IPL relating to both BIP and BIPC as the take over company's. What is the relationship of BIP and BIPC as to who really will own IPL now. Also which company BIP or BIPC would look better to invest in. I was a IPL share owner and submitted my shares for the cash option.

Q: Hi 5-i:
Not a question,but rather a comment. I notice today that some members have written in about the results of what they have received from offering their IPL shares to Brookfield. I had 40,618 IPL shares times .250 = 10,154 exchangeable units, however, RBC direct investing showed in the activity section of my account 40,618 times .24974626 = 10,144 brookfield units. I am short 10 units times an approximate value of $ 71.00 = $ 710.00. Brookfield is using the .24974626 factor instead of the .250 that they offered. I am waiting on a resolution to the matter, but encourage others to check their account, and with their broker, and if so to express their discontent to Brookfield. They will save millions by using the incorrect multiplier. I experienced a similar problem when they spun out the BEPC shares. The announcement stated that all allocations would be rounded up, but when it didn't happen, I checked with my broker and they said that they were not allocated enough shares to do that. I recall that 5-i had some questions concerning that issue.
Thanks,
Ben.

Q: Can you explain to me how Option 2 is supposed to work for the IPL takeover. Option 2 is 0.25 shares of BIPC subject to proration. In the Aug. 20 group, 90% of the IPL shares were converted to BIPC for those who chose Option 2. What happens to the remaining 10%? Are they paid the equivalent of 0.25 of a BIPC, or $20/share or ?? Since I received only $18.68 for my 10% I am thinking that I did not get 0.25 BIPC equivalent. Thanks. Feel free to answer privately if you prefer.

Q: I am confused and frustrated about the stock price movement as between BIPC and BIP.UN. Today BIPC is down approximately 1.67% while BIP.UN is up 0.60%.

BIPC recently hit a high of $100 and is now down approximately 23% from such high. Meanwhile BIP.UN is almost at its 52-week high.

I want to buy BIPC because I want to avoid the hassels preparing by tax return that BIP.UN and limited partnership brings along with it (mainly the delay of receiving the tax form from Brookfield).

My question: How do I know I am buying BIPC today at a market equivalent price to BIP.UN ? I want to avoid buying BIPC just to have it further correct while BIP.UN remains the same or increases.

The "efficiency" of the stock market is clearly lacking here and also with all the Brookfield limited partnerships vs. corporation stock variations.

Thanks,
Thomas

Q: Is there any fundamental difference (other than the structure) between the two? BIP.UN is almost at all time highs while BIPC drooped 22% in a few weeks.

Thanks