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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Which oil companies are your best Equipped to make it through the current mess? Could you make a top 5?
Read Answer Asked by Mark on April 22, 2020
Q: I have had CHE and EXE in my RIF for quite awhile.
Cost $74,526 total and currently worth $35,010 for a loss of $39,516 (Ouch!!)
Being in my RIF, there is no tax write off but selling either or both will free up $35,010 of cash for other more (hopefully) rewarding items.
The same with VET in my TFSA but even with VET's dividend cut its still paying me about 10%+ dividend on my cost of VET.
Given all the issues with Long Term Care Facilities and Corona-19, is EXE still a good long term bet?
I'm inclined to sell CHE and stay the course with the other two.
Your thoughts?
Brian
Read Answer Asked by Brian on April 22, 2020
Q: What is the best option to buy gold as a hedge in the event of weakening USD?
Read Answer Asked by Raj on April 22, 2020
Q: Regarding Gayle’s question today and reference to BOC backstopping the real estate market by purchasing mortgages,etc.

Question: Would knowing this give you more (i.e. me) more confidence in buying Canadian banks now given their current share prices and more importantly attractive dividends?

Call me a “worrier” but I have held off adding to my already losing positions in BNS and CM thinking that dividends might become vulnerable if mortgage defaults start to increase significantly.

Question: I am retired, income oriented and combing the market for yield. Bonds seem unattractive and preferreds have a number of inherent risks as I think you have pointed out. Or am I perceiving your opinion incorrectly.? Hence my looking at banks again.

Thank you in advance for your help with these decisions.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on April 22, 2020
Q: Since the world is engaged in massive bailouts and handouts, does taking a position in US treasuries become more appealing. I know very little about govt bonds other than they are supposed to be safe and they are uncorrelated to the stock market, but if the US govt (and everyone else) is going to buy huge amounts of their own treasuries, it seems this might be a place to make money, not just store it. Is this thinking flawed?
If i take a position in ztl, is this just a safety play, or can it continue to make big gains? Are there other long bond etfs that i should consider?
Thanks for all your help in demystifying the investing world
t
Read Answer Asked by treva on April 22, 2020
Q: Hello Peter,
My daughter holds ECN at a 2% weight. I’m considering buying preferred share ECN.PR.A to provide additional dividend income but in this market believe I need additional company info.
From their AIF, ECN appears to manage financial assets for other entities. To what extent do they carry financial risk of losses of those assets? And if they carry little loan risk, what is the prime risk of the company not surviving a prolonged downturn in the economy?

Final question; ECN is in the growth portfolio. If it was not, would you put it in at this time?

Many Thanks!
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on April 22, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,

You mentioned in your last question that Veolia Environment has a 5% dividend. Was the dividend cut recently? What is the forward yield. Also, how high is their debt and how manageable is it? I know utilities normally have high debt, so is it in line with others?

TIA!
Read Answer Asked by Wayne on April 21, 2020
Q: Looking to buy into companies that are currently considered "bargains" due to the pandemic. I have a five year time-frame. Any objection to these five? (CAE, AC, PLC, GSY, BCI) Any suggestions toward other companies?

thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Jacob on April 21, 2020
Q: I take note that in the reply to Maureen’s query on gold companies that MMX was omitted. Is there any reason for that other than size and risk. What is your view on MMX potential if gold rises during the massive QE effort going on. Do royalty companies have any extra leverage to the price of gold when it rises
Thank You
Clarence
Read Answer Asked by Clarence on April 21, 2020
Q: I have 5% in KL. Less than 1% in phys.
I think owning a total of 10% in my portfolio could be appropriate sooner than later,
I would like your opinion of the top five small gold and five silver cos. As well 5 of the top larger larger gold and silver companies.

If bto is not in your list please advise your reasoning. Thank you very much.

Read Answer Asked by Maureen on April 21, 2020
Q: I would like your help putting together a yield portfolio of between 15 and 20 names.
This would be the entire investments for my wife and I. We are both retired and now live full-time in the U.S. And at some point I expect my Canadian newspaper pension to disappear, so I am looking to replace that money.
I would like your opinion of the above names with regard to safety of the income and overall diversification.
I would also appreciate some additional ideas and would like to know if I`m off base on any or all of these names.
I am currently only invested in CM, BNS and BMO and DIR.UN.
Please take 20 credits (or more).
Thank you in advance for your invaluable assistance.
Read Answer Asked by Kyle on April 21, 2020