Investment Q&A

Q: Hello,

I have a previous position in RioCan that has lost 6.5% value. I also have some spare cash from distributions to reinvest. I am tempted to add to the position in order to bring it to the allocation target and also average down cost. I see a lot of the REITs are suffering though, probably due to the recent interest rate hike. In addition RioCan has been mentioned in the news regarding Sears Canada stores shutdown. They defended very well though saying that Sears only attributed very little to their income.

Would you add to REI in this situation and do you see any fundamental concern going forward with RioCan?

P.S. I don't need the distribution income immediately and will reinvest it anyway.

Thank you

Q: What odds (high, medium, low) do you put on Riocan's strategy of building more residential on their existing properties having a 'worth while' impact on growth or dividend increases over the next 2 to 3 years?

The Financial Post reported Jan 2017 "The Toronto-based company has a portfolio of about 300 malls across the country, and is seeking to redevelop stores and add housing to at least 50 of them." Link to story: https://goo.gl/HZQQxG

The dividend increases have been small and infrequent over the last 9 years: Jan 2013 up 2.17% and Oct 2008 up 2.22%. Earlier dividend increases used to be roughly annual.

Note that I don't need the income from this stock, so it may be time to move on.

Thanks!

Q: I have investments in the listed Investment Trusts for income.
With the problems in the Retail Sector (Sears, The Bay, etc), and the growth of on-line shopping, are the values and incomes of any these Trusts exposed?
REI.un and CUF.un have been on a steady decline.
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Dietrich

Q: Morning,

Would like to know if the dividend from Cominar is currently safe and your view on the stock on an income based portfolio? Would Slate Office REIT be a good replacement if Cominar is deemed too risky?

Thanks!

Q: Can you rank the stocks best to worst in your opinion. These are the stock s that are in my real estate sector which is 3% of my current portfolio. Would you add, swap or remove any of them? My portfolio holdings/thoughts are very similar to your BE Portfolio as I am a middle aged investor.

Q: I have been thinking about selling Riocan a bit concerned about the dropping price. I am in a positive position. In a previous questions I asked your opinion on PD. If I sell this position I was thinking of selling on the US side and have the funds deposited to the US side of my portfolio. My discount broker is TD and sure how that would work and would like to know your opinion. Thank you

Q: Hi,
I've been accumulating a position of REI and SRU for a number of years for income. I've noticed not so good performance in REI, would like to know if I keep accumulated just SRU over REI.

Thanks

Q: Hi,

My wife has $10000 funds available for her TFSA. She's looking to buy RioCan her reason being is it has a good yield and good source for income. Do you any alternatives you think better than this stock that fits for an TFSA account which can give a good yield and the same time growth and stability.

Thank you for you great advice.

Q: I have heard that the recent downturn in price has been due to the "Amazon effect". To which REI has decided to build apartments in some of their properties they acquired to develop malls. Considering that REI.un team is a smart group, it is reasonable to assume that they will succeed in this plan ?, maybe they will have a mishap in their first project (due to inexperience) , but in the long term they will create a stronger company. Then, when is the best time to buy their units ??

Q: The CEO is getting long in the tooth. Are you comfortable with their succession planning?

Q: What are your thoughts on Riocan please?

Q: Not all REITs are equal; so, would you say that HOT.UN is more sensitive to the economy than some others - say 50% interest rate- and 50% economy- sensitive? And what about REI.UN? Thanks again.

Q: Hi, I've sold my REITs in my cash account but am thinking of adding two or three in my RRSP accounts for long term holds. Is this a reasonable move? I've noticed that your recommendations generally include CSH, CAR, and REI. I can't help but be attracted to the yield on AX. Am I "reaching" for yield and likely to be disappointed if I buy AX? What would be your top 2 or 3 REITs for an RRSP that consists of a balanced group of etf's? I'm looking to be a bit more conservative here than in my cash account which mirrors the balanced equity model fairly closely.
Thanks, Rod

Q: I manage my husband's and my TFSA's as if they are one account so we do not duplicate the stocks in the 2 accounts and can have a reasonable size of position. We have a similar weighting of ALA, REI.UN, SIA, WSP, ZEB, BEP.UN, CGX, and HR.UN and PKI, and a double weighting of CPD and CDZ. We currently have about $110K in the two accounts and $20K of that is in cash. Can you suggest what we might add to or change in the above list, considering that we prefer income paying securities with some growth prospects and want the TFSA's to act independently of our other investments as a relatively conservative growth vehicle.

Q: In answer to a recent question about real estate exposure, you noted that you prefer apartment-focused REITs to office REITs and office REITs to retail REITs. Is this preference only if you are purchasing a REIT for income first and foremost as opposed to hoping for some growth as well? It would seem to me that the residential REIT does have almost a guaranteed income stream but very limited growth potential due to rent controls (aside from takeovers). The office/retail companies eg. REI, however, are able to participate in a growing economy as rents are often based partly on sales and there is the ability to raise rents in an uncontrolled market albeit while benefiting from long-term contracts. If a company has a greater mix of assets, is that not better than being reliant on one sector? So, is this just a case of risk/reward as to what REIT to purchase or is there a lot more risk in REI than I realize?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: H&R real estate investment trust calls itself an "open-ended" trust compared to others that call themselves a "close-ended" trust.
Is the internal structure of H&R more like a mutual fund? Should it be a concern?
Which of these three do you prefer for a long-term hold, as the only REIT in a portfolio. Thanks for your help.

Q: I just sold about $5,000.00 in stocks inside my TFSA, with a little profit of $500.00 over the period of 8 months. I did it so I can add it to my self directed RRSP account to lower my taxes this year. In my RRSP I own approx 20% oil,15% financial, 10% utilities, 10% auto, 5% marijuana and the rest is in CDZ. I want to diversify this portfolio. It accounts for 75% of my investments. I am considering a REIT and some technology. What do you recommend?

Q: I only hold one REIT:REI and I am not too happy with its performance. I was up 15% and now back to 0%. What do you think about a switch to AX to almost double the dividend and (I expect) capital gain when the stock recovers.
What do you think about the future prospects for both?

Thank you.

Q: I have held rie for many years as a core holding In the last week it has been under a lot of pressure .Don't know the reason but is it time to move on
Kind Regards
Stan

Q: Yesterday in the Globe & Mail Gordon Pape suggested "moving on" from Riocan, into "better" REITS.
I can understand his argument, and it would suit me to do this, if I could find the better REITS.
Which Reits do you consider good for income plus a bit of growth?