Investment Q&A

Q: "I have 300k to invest, I am 65 and plan to live off the dividends. Should I invest all in or do doll cost averaging? What are your recommendations? Thanks so much for the great advice.

Q: Hi Peter,

Could you please choose and rank the top 5 in the list of stocks below based on value today for a 3-5 year hold;
PBL, FTS, ET, KXS, SLF, PKI, GC, PBH, WSP, ATD.B, AEM
The stocks would be purchased for RRSP's

Q: I am a retired, conservative dividend-income investor with a company pension, CPP, annuities, Fisgard Capital and the following equities:
1. 17% Mutual funds (RBC Cdn Equity Income, Sentry Cdn Income, Sentry REIT)
2. 10% ETFs (ZLB, XIT, ZWE)
3. 41% stocks (listed above)
4. 32% fixed income (annuities, Fisgard, but not including my pension nor CPP).

I plan to reduce my Sentry Cdn Income holding from 9% to 5% and purchase ZWC. The benefits would be a) saving $1k in hidden MER fees, b) receiving an extra $1k in dividends and c) a better asset allocation. I like the covered call strategy that ZWC provides, as well as the 30 companies inside the ETF.

Question = is this the right ETF product? Are there other Canadian Covered Call ETF choices that offer this diversified asset mix that I should consider? Are their other ETFs that have slightly less financials, less utilities, and more industrials that would result in a better asset allocation for me?

Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: what would be your top 3-5 Canadian dividend paying stocks for someone with a lower risk tolerance?

Q: hi,

wondering which one of the noted companies would be your top choice for a long term hold? Would you be comfortable taking full position at this time?

Q: About a year ago (Nov 2016), you provided 10 "forever"stock ideas. Would you still categorize those same 10 stocks as "forever" stocks today?

Q: Aa aging seniors, my husband and I are beginning to feel our "investing for the long term" is probably less appropriate than investing for the short term. Following your observation that CGX is less reliable than it once was, therefore, can you suggest a good replacement for it? It has done extremely well for us. And we are still well "up" on it. Thanks for your continued sage advice.

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