Investment Q&A

Q: Although I have referenced AQN and FTS in this question, I am hoping you can apply your answer to utilities in general.

My question is how do these companies operate such that some are considered to have good to great growth potential while operating in a sector that tends to be highly regulated in terms of pricing power. The major companies tend to be acquisitors. However, unlike other industries, buying another company doesn't improve pricing power, eliminate competition or reduce selling costs through operating synergies (or at least I don't think they do.) Ontario Hydro's purchase of a company in the US northeast comes to mind here.

I can see that financially, larger companies may have lower costs of capital and higher cash flows which could lead to quicker modernization and better upkeep of equipment but is there more to it than that? What am I missing that makes AQN a growth story and not just a dividend producer?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Hi 5I, I have sold AQN and RNW with profit, but holding FTS. Sine they dropped in price, I am thinking of rebuying one or both or adding to FTS. I would appreciate your advise.
Also, has some US $ and thinkin of buying VRP or PSP or if you can recommend a better one.Thank you for your advise. J.A. P., Burlington

Q: I own FTS BCE T. I am thinking of swapping BCE for AQN. Your thoughts please.

Q: I am looking for 3 or 4 Canadian dividend paying stocks to add to my portfolio. What are today's picks for safe, rising dividends, and fairly priced stocks of solid companies? My portfolio is well balanced, so sector is not important.

Q: Hi, could you name four or five Canadian company's that you could hold through thick and thin, and not worry about, as per Warren Buffet, regardless of risk situation, thanks?

Q: I currently hold aqn, approx. 11% of my portfolio and am thinking about adding one of ema,cu or fts. I do not expect to exceed 15% in total portfolio value and am not adverse to reducing my position in aqn to add one of the above. Which of these three utilities would you add for both growth and income and why.

Thanks, David

Q: I am looking to invest/park some money for a year or so in a relatively safe blue chip dividend stock. I am thinking of either Fortis or Emera? Emera's numbers look a little better to me. My other thought, in a rising interest rate environment, is a bank such as TD. Thoughts ?

Q: Would AQN be a reasonable add for diversification to BEP.UN and FTS for a conservative senior?

Q: First of all thank you for putting the "sectors" beside the names in your portfolios - that is much appreciated.

Could you please list the "utility" companies you like best in order or preference and could you state if it is "large" company or a "small" company.
Thank you
Margaret

Q: (FTS) P/E is 22x, OP Margin 23%, Yield 3.6%. CFRA stock report says: SELL! Thompson Reuters says: BUY! I have a good chunk of the stuff! What to do?

Q: I expect to retire in a couple of years. About 80% of my money is managed professionally but I keep a small account to help me stay aware of the markets comings and goings. In my utilities holdings I have a full position in Fortis, about 3/4 position in BEP.UN and a small holding of NPI. I am thinking of adding to NPI as a source of income. Your report of last year was ok, but notes that it should be reviewed in the summer of 2017. Any new thoughts on NPI? Would you add to it, to one of the other two, or avoid them all pending changes in interest rates?

Thanks for all your help - though I don't ask a lot of questions I learn a lot from answers to questions posed by others.

Q: I'm 84 and depend on dividends for income. In the Utility category I have AQN, EMA, BEP.UN. I'd like to add a couple more to this. Can you suggest a few that I can check out. Thanks, Ted

Q: Good Morning,
I (retired and drawing cash from portfolio) have 11.6 % in Utilities as listed. AQN 2.8%, BEP.Un 2.1%, BIP.UN 5.0%, KWH.UN 1.7%. Thinking of reducing BIP.UN to 3%, and adding FTS 2.7% and VNR 2.7% to increase weighting to 15%. Thanks in advance for your comments and the always excellent feedback. Any other suggestions welcome. BTW do I have all of these in the correct sector?

Ted

Q: Hi 5i team,

Could you suggest some dividend growth companies that look attractive at current valuations?

Thanks

Q: What is a good alternative to BEP.UN? Due to the late reporting of tax information from BEP I have chosen to sell my units as I just received two $100 penalties from CRA.

Q: I have an rdsp for my son with approx.15% each in BCE, CM, ENB,OTEX and SIS. Also 4% in EFN. Can you please suggest 2 stocks to add to this portfolio? We have over 15 years before needing the money.
Thank you!

Q: 1. I want to make sure I'm not overweight in oil and gas. Since some utility companies have gas, do they count as utility sector or oil and gas?

I own FTS, ENB, ALA and WCP. Obviously WCP is a pure oil and gas stock and FTS is a utility because its electric, but how would you classify ALA and ENB? Globe and mail investor classifies ENB as oil and gas and ALA (although ALA does have gas so I am confused) as utility which would put me at:

WCP, ENB oil and gas
ALA and FTS Utility

Do you agree with the above? This would give me an 8% weighting in each?

2. I was also thinking of using my cash position to add kwh.un which i believe classifies as a utility due to the focus on electric. It would bring me to a 12% weighting in utilities if my above sector allocations are correct. I have all ten sectors represented in my portfolio and would be buying for the dividend. what do u think?

Q: Do you think it's necessary to hold both US and Canadian utilities in a diversified portfolio? I'd like to add to both my non-Canadian position and utilities, so XLU seems like a good way to kill two birds. I currently don't hold any Canadian utility companies.

Q: Hello, I want to start a small portfolio on margin with 2 or 3 stocks with good dividends to outweigh the loan fees and generate leverage. Is this a good strategy ?

Q: I'm underweight in materials, energy, and utilities. My only exposure to these sectors comes through some total market ETFs I hold. With the current market conditions, would you view adding to these sectors as imperative or would it be more prudent to add to my tech and consumer holdings? If so, could you rank the value of the sectors to my portfolio (where should I stick my next investment first)? Please note, that I do plan to fill out these sector positions eventually and that I'm a young, growth investor with a long-term horizon.