Investment Q&A

Q: Hello Peter and the 5I team
To me VNR looks like a reasonable buy at this time. I look at the PE ratio( 15.3), PB ratio (1.0), low debt metrics, excellent dividend yield (6.3%) with a 96% pay out ratio. Are these metrics a good way to value the company? Is there other factors that I should take into account when it comes to this stock or with other utility companies? What are other companies in this sector do you like?

Thanks for your service

Q: Today I checked out INK insider selling/buying reports on all 40 or so stocks I hold, a very conservative diversified across all sectors mix of mostly dividend growing and paying US and canadian stocks. INK indicates almost all of my positions have net insider selling except TCK.B. which has small net insider buying. I have never done this exercise before. How useful do you find insider buying/ selling info. Is this perhaps an indication the market is frothy and perhaps we should be selling some portion of our positions and not buying? Teck as a long term hold does look pretty good right now, would you buy?
Thanks Manfred

Q: 12:29 PM 10/6/2014
Hello Peter
I am principally interested in stable low risk higher-yielding stocks for my income portfolio as I depend on the income. I am thinking about taking a small position in one of the smaller higher-yielding Renewable Energy Utilities and am considering Capstone Infrastructure [CSE], Transalta Renewables [RNW], Northland Power [NPI], and Innergex Renewable [INE].

I see you rate both Capstone and Northland as C+, However the other two are unrated. Could you please give provisional ratings for RNW, INE, ENF, EMA, and TA.

I already own large positions [2% to 5% in each, totalling 28% of my portfolio] in these "Utilities" : BIP.UN, BEP.UN, PKI, ENB, ENF, EMA, FTS, PPL, and TRP. Is 28% getting too big? The rest of the portfolio is well diversified in Banks, Gold, Consumer, Infotech, Telecom, Industrials, and Oil stocks.

So my question is should I be "reaching" for yield by buying one of the 4 small renewables which may be much higher risk or should I be content with a somewhat lower yield and just add to one of the strong companies I already own?
Just what would you recommend [large cap or small cap], which one, and why?
Many thanks...... Paul K

Q: Hi: your comments on the deal today and in particular the plan to redeem units of a 3rd party owner. What is the net result, is this a good use of investor funds? thanks

Q: In your response to Rajeev, you indicated that Superior now may not be able to increase it's divvy in the near future. Based on today's price decline, the current divvy looks pretty good for an income oriented investor. Do you consider the current dividend secure, and would you view Superior as a buy at the current price (with income being the primary objective)?

Q: Hello 5i. There was an interesting article in Monday's Globe & Mail about retirement investing strategies. Intent is to help retirees protect their capital, given that their ability to recover from a major market crash could be more difficult due to more limited time horizons.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/retirement-rrsps/two-ways-to-game-plan-for-retirement/article20937727/#dashboard/follows/

Would appreciate your thoughts on the article, and the two ways to approach stock market investing it describes.

As always, thanks for your advice.

Q: Is it time to get in.
Tom

Q: Hi Peter and team, Banro Corp down nearly 72% YTD. Will this stock eventually be worthless? I hold a smaller position and down about 45% on it. P/B ratio is only 0.01. Is this a cheap stock with a chance of revival or a bad investment that an investor should run away from?

Q: BB has been showing some promise lately. What is your current evaluation of this company. Really enjoy reading your questions & answers. Thanks

Q: What do you think about Contrans Group at the moment? Did Transforce successfully buy them out?
Thank you.

Q: It's down again today(8%) on heavy volume and the towel is ready to throw itself in. Is there any significant insider selling on this stock?
Thanks

Q: Hi Peter and crew, please give me your thoughts on APP. There is a stir in the air re; this stock.

Thanks Mo

Q: These companies are getting very high yields with the stock price drops-can these be sustainable ?

Q: Kelso being added to the New York Stock Exchange. Good exposure for the company? And can you explain book value of .23 and p/e of 59? I know it is a growth company but how can a stock that trades at $6.40 have a book value of only .23? Are forward earnings going to increase by so much that the book value will dramatically increase?

Q: Why is PCLN falling. Is it a buy, hold or sell. Thank You.

Q: yourbuysellorhold opion

Q: Hello Peter and team,

I am looking to get some exposure to the US market via an ETF in a non-registered account. My criteria is that the ETF must pay a dividend and have some growth potential; this is for a 3+ year hold, medium risk investor. Searching through the Q&As it looks like your favourite US ETFs would be SPY, IWO and VIG. Based on the current market environment which is your favourite ETF that will meet my criteria today?

Can you remind me about the withholding tax issue? Is it worth the hassle of the withholding tax, or is it better to get a Canadian $ hedged ETF instead (and which one)?

If I buy before the end of the year, will I get a large taxable distribution (e.g. IWO in Dec 2012)? Is it better to wait until January to buy? Many years ago I bought a mutual fund in a non-registered account in November, and got stung by a large tax bill when they paid out the distribution in December even though I was not in the mutual fund for most of the year. I don’t want to repeat that, and I am not sure if ETFs work that way as well.


Paul J.

Q: IFP looks interesting at this level. Can I have your opinion.

Q: Hi team. I would like your opinion on (FCU)Fission Uranium.

Q: It is now in the big apple, you're thoughts?