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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: Thank you for your guidance during this challenging time.

I have followed all of the questions and answers about allocating capital during the downturn. The message of putting money to work gradually is rational and rings loud and clear. But, past bear markets took several months before a bottom was put in so why not wait at least one month to start and allow for a bit of a bottoming process? Does it make sense to begin allocating capital at the very onset of a global recession of unknown duration and severity?
Read Answer Asked by Joel on April 07, 2020
Q: Hello,

I note that each of these has sold off with the market and are now yielding between 7.14% and 9.4%. Unless people are moving out of these homes in fear, I think whatever vacancies are caused by Covid-19 will be filled by the aging population. Being on sale to the extent that they are seems overdone given that they continue to function and receive their revenues. Do you agree and would you be a buyer of 1 or all of these at these levels for growth and income? Please indicate a favourite if you have one and the reason why.
Read Answer Asked by Tim on April 07, 2020
Q: While Brookfields’s limited partnership companies such as BIP and BIP.UN “declare” their dividends in US dollars these are actually paid to Canadian brokers such as Scotia iTrade in the Canadian dollar equivalent as of the record date.
If an investor holds those units in the US dollar side of their brokerage account, they can be charged a conversion fee by the brokerage to convert back to USD. In the case of Scotia iTrade this has been in excess of 2% in the past.
Do you know if this will be the situation with future dividends paid by BIPC?
Thank you for all your due diligence on our behalf.
Read Answer Asked by Derek on April 07, 2020
Q: Good morning,
There was a fair bit of insider trading in QST in late January when the shares were around $5. Now they are trading at $1.29. Do insiders still have a solid stake in the company? Also, the shares of XBC, which seems to be in a comparable business to QST, have held up better, especially since they were declared an essential business by the Province of Quebec and have maintained operations there. Is XBC a better investment than QST at this point in time?
Read Answer Asked by Ken on April 07, 2020
Q: Someday soon the sun will rise and shine brightly. This new day we will see inflation arrive at our front door with a loud bang. Inflation will arrive quicker than we think due to a significant increase in money being printed from all countries. During inflationary times what sectors are good investments and what companies would excel.
Clayton
Read Answer Asked by Clayton on April 07, 2020
Q: I am underweight the following positions: ZDI, CTC.A, EIF, SIS. If I were to add to one of these positions, which would you recommend? For longterm hold. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Walter on April 07, 2020
Q: Which public Canadian companies do you think is reasonable to expect solvency issues in this market?
Read Answer Asked by Eugene on April 07, 2020
Q: Is there a free website that shows the institutional investors stake in public companies (small to large cap). Do you find it useful? Generally speaking, do institutional investors have a better track record at picking the right stocks?
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on April 07, 2020
Q: I have a little Brookfield Infrastrucure, and was thinking of buying more. I'm concerned, though, about short and medium-term risk given they have holdings such as timber (the demand for which has fallen), gas transmission lines (the value of which rises and falls with price), toll roads (which aren't getting much use), and rail lines that require coal demand. Do you think their next quarterly report will show a drastic downturn beyond what most people are expecting?
Read Answer Asked by John on April 07, 2020
Q: Hi, Our ACB for LSPD in non Regd account is $32. We have large Capital gains due to BYD conversion. Does it make sense to book capital loss by selling LSPD today and buying back after 30 days. Based on present market conditions and news around COVID-19, do you think it makes sense or there is risk of stock going back higher in 30 days time. Or, i
nstead, doing same exercise with BYD is a better approach. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on April 07, 2020
Q: Hi 5i,

All other things being equal, wouldn't BIPC be superior over BIP.UN because of tax implications and greater accessibility by a wider range of investors?

I ask because I noticed over the last few trading days, BIP.UN has traded at a slight premium over BIPC. I would think it would be the opposite. Maybe some investors are doing portfolio clean up after the split and selling the small amounts of BIPC they have?

Personally I think BIPC is the better one to own?

TIA!
Wayne

Read Answer Asked by Wayne on April 07, 2020
Q: From my previous question on owing BIPC in a TFSA you state that it's better to own BIPC in a non registered account because of the dividend tax credit (that I understand)...but is that dividend tax credit really applicable or needed for a TFSA? I currently hold BIP.UN in my TFSA and I'm still trying to find the reason for switching to BIPC. Would it be withholding taxes?
Read Answer Asked by Gary on April 07, 2020
Q: Do you like POW long term? Is the reported payout ratio of 60% accurate? It doesn t seem to show a lot of growth, should it be a concern? Do you see the Europe exposure as positive? Or would you just buy GWO? Generally speaking, are the lifeco / financial services companies less risky than the banks? I already have a full position in SLF. I am looking for another core holding (financial) for my rrsp acount. Thank you for your help!

Read Answer Asked by Pierre on April 07, 2020
Q: I have owned a large position of BIP.UN and done well, I have some in my TFSA account and some in my RRSP account. For future will BIP.UN and BIPC trade similar in price range and I do not see what dividend BIPC pays. Is BIPC dividend same as BIP.UN. Should I sell all my BIP.UN and buy BIPC. Can you explain tax credit implications.
Thank You
Al - Mississauga
Read Answer Asked by Al on April 07, 2020
Q: How would you rank the banks? Strongest to weakest in this environment.
I'm considering selling some far "out of the money" puts to get some income. And if I get assigned, so be it. I'll suffer with a few bank positions yielding close to 8%. Geez, we're talking about bank stocks! I figure if they get into trouble we're ALL in really really BIG trouble.
For example, TD at $40 would yield me 7.9% in dividends. That's like 10.2% in interest. Or RBC at $58 would yield me 7.4% in dividends.
So which Canadian banks would "crack" under pressure and which wouldn't.
Thanks and take care!
Read Answer Asked by Carlo on April 07, 2020
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