Investment Q&A

Q: Just joined your service and am looking to reproduce your balanced portfolio. The only insurance company I currently hold is IFC. Would you recommend switching out to a life insurance company (SLF) especially with the predicted direction of interest rates?

Q: In a previous answer, you wrote:

"SLF cites that a 10% downturn in real estate assets would lead to a $175 million decrease in net income. With operating net income in Q2 of $474 million, while a real estate decline would 'hurt', we do not think it would be a company ending event."

The figure you cite here represents a 37% loss of net income in a 10% downturn. I've heard a number of times that a 40% downturn is possible, or worse, so wouldn't that mean SLF could find itself in very serious trouble? If so, are there any other insurance companies (Canadian & US) that you might recommend as a way of capitalizing on rising rates, which could weather a severe real estate decline more easily? The names I've been considering are POW, MFC in Canada and AIG, MET, PRU, CB of in the USA. Thanks for any thoughts on these or other companies.

Q: Hi,
I have a few thousand dollars to put into something looking for high potential growth. I have many years I can wait, don't need income (but all drips available are being utilized). Without considering portfolio weightings which of these would you consider to have the most upside? I'm totally ok with risk, as I have the well balanced, safer part of my portfolio in place. If not any of these could you offer a few other names please. If you like the names I've listed could you rank them in order of preference for high growth?

Thanks!

Q: i currently only hold bns for financials. It has been very good over the last year. I'm thinking about adding slf (to hedge against potential interest rate hikes) and fsz for some extra upswing potential to balance against the security of bns. I'm 31 years old, they're all held in my tfsa, I'm thinking long term and am ok with risk. Do you have issues with either of these two? Is there others you'd prefer to accomplish what I'm looking for? Do you think rate increases will push bns down enough to make it cheaper to add to or is trying to get the timing right with that not worth waiting for?

Thanks!

Q: Please comment on their recent quarterly reports and highlight concerns if any.

Thanks

Q: I have the same question for both of these equities. Any comment on earnings and the reaction? Is it reasonable here to add a bit?

Q: Your thoughts on Sun Life news today? With a 3% price drop today would you this an opportunity to increase a holding?

Q: I am wondering what your thoughts are on the year end results for SLF? Price momentum seems to favour MFC these days. Would you prefer the latter for new money?
Many thanks
Mike

Q: I would like two financial stocks for my kids RESP. One growth and one more stable/dividend stock. What should I be buying now? Thanks

Q: Hi Peter, Looking for 5-6 Blue chip (dark blue for that matter) cdn stocks as would like to DRIP and forget. This is in RRSP with 10+ year time frame. Thanks

Q: Could you please confirm for me that the following stocks qualify for the dividend tax credit.
$BAM.a, $CGX, $ENB, $WSP, $SLF, $BCE, $CNR, $MG and the ETF $CEW.

Thanks as always,

Vater

Q: From what I understand insurance companies should do well if long term interest rates rise. If these companies hold longer term bonds in a rising interest rate environment would any increase in income from higher rates be offset by capital losses on the bonds as long as interest rates increase? How does this affect the stock price?

Q: If Canadian interest rates remain the same (or even go down) this year, while US interest rates rise, what effect would this have on Canadian companies/stocks in the telecom (T), insurance (SLF), bank (BNS), and utility (BEP.un) sectors? Thanks in advance!

Q: My portfolio consists of 14% Financial stocks that include; 6.5% BNS,3% TNC, 3% ECN, and a new purchase this week of 2.5% RY. TNC and ECN are in my TFSA, the RRSP has the other two. Two questions, overall should I have more financials, if so a suggestion please? I have a high tolerance for risk and a long time frame in mind if required, of course quick gains are always appreciated. haha

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor that is, for the most part, fully invested and normally employ a buy-and-hold style. I trim-and-add around my target position allocations.

I normally don't "market time", but am aware of the market decline predicted post-inauguration and "reversion to the mean" with stocks who get too far ahead of themselves. With that as the backdrop, is it reasonable for the following:

1. ABT = can I pick it up for < $6.40?
2. NWC = can I pick it up for < $27.50?
3. SLF = can I pick it up for < sub-$50.00?
4. WSP = can I add to it for < $43.00?

I know this sounds like market timing, but I've only got a small amount of cash and I'm willing to wait for one or more of these to come back to me. Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: I am helping my son with his self directed RRSP and he has TD but would like to add another financial stock so which of the 3 listed would you suggest or is there a different one you would suggest? He is 31 years so has lots of time for investing.

Q: When reviewing the 3 year SLF chart, what is it that has happened to SLF the past 2 years, starting around Dec 22 and ending Jan 12...substantial declines? Is it related to quarterly reporting?

If it is not just a coincidence, do you think it will occur again this year?

Thanks...Steve

Q: So we've had the rate hike everyone knew we would have. The language was a tad more aggressive than expected and the market sold off. My confusion is why did Sun Life (and other insurance companies) and BNS (and most other banks) sell off too? Isn't this even better news for them?

Q: I am retired and looking for relative safety and dividends. I already own 3 banks and am looking to add a insurance company to the mix. What would be your recommendation on the companies listed above ? Or do you have another Canadian company in this area that you would recommend over this list?

Thanks Ken

Q: What would be your choice between these two for growth in the coming year bearing in mind interest rate hikes and the Trump administration effect? Would appreciate hearing your reasons. Thanks again.