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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: Hi Peter and Team:
I hold 7% of my overall total portfolio in individual Preferred shares. 82% of that 7% is minimum rate resets. I am looking to make that 100% to ensure that I know the minimum dividend rate going forward upon reset. You have recommended PPL.PF.A in another question recently.
Couple questions:
1. Do you see anything wrong with this strategy overall?
2. Minimum rate resets tend to be in the oil and gas storage or utility. PPL, TRP, CPX, CU. My largest holding is PPL. They are rated P2 to P3L (if this means anything by the rating agencies). This means that I am basically ignoring the financial sector with regards to Preferred shares. Do you see any undue risk associated with the above mentioned companies and being weighted towards one industry classification within the context of preferred shares?
Thank you for your continued advice and knowledge.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on August 29, 2019
Q: Hi team,
Your thoughts pls. on: AnywhereCommerce Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Square

The lawsuit, filed in the California federal court (case number 3:19-cv-04311) on July 26, 2019, asserts the unauthorized use of patented technologies, which is prohibited by law, and is intended to protect AnywhereCommerce's significant investment in its innovative mPOS technology which is regarded and recognized as the de facto patent family relating to a variety of payment card reading apparatuses tethered to a smartphone or tablet.

The complaint asserts that Square has knowingly infringed these patents for years despite previously acknowledging the priority of these patents in various filings before the United States Patent Office and continues to willfully infringe these patents today. Among the patents at issue is U.S. Patent No. 8,281,998, issued on October 9, 2012, which is ironically cited as prior art in a patent later issued to Square founder Jack Dorsey.

Per Oliver Griffin, lead counsel for Kutak Rock representing AnywhereCommerce, "Square simply took that same technology for itself, becoming one of the largest and most famous companies in the world by falsely holding itself out as the originator of technology allowing the use of smartphones and tablets to accept credit card payments."

AnywhereCommerce approached Square in January in the hope that Square, "given all of its market share and business success, it might find it appropriate to compensate AnywhereCommerce for the use of AnywhereCommerce's technology on which Square's business was largely built."

Knowing about this lawsuit, do you think prudent to add to a position?
Thx!


Read Answer Asked by Silvia on August 29, 2019
Q: Greetings 5i

I continue to focus in on dividend producers that offer security as I enter retirement. At the present time in my TFSA I already have a 20% weighting in VBAL and 5% in XRE. I have another 5% to allocate which will be coming from my sale of BAD as I slowly transition to more security. Which do you suggest as the best alternative? Any other suggestions?

I know VBAL and XRE are very different in context and dividend payout so I need your insight. What I do know is that I’m having a great long ride with Shopify. For that I’m happy not to receive a dividend. Thanks 5i!

Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 29, 2019
Q: Never heard of EIT.UN until I saw question here the other day so I had a look at it. As well as looking at previous 5I questions and answers. What 5I doesn't like appears to be the fees and 20% weigthing in energy. Looking at it this is what I see.

1} Over the past five years trading between ten and thirteen dollars. Currently trading at the lower end. I assume because of oil and gas stocks being hammered. Though there is always the possiblity of going lower I have to think that sector is near bottom.... I have no representation in oil and gas so whatever percentage of " energy " they have in oil and gas as 20% of a 4% position in EIT.UN doesn't seem unreasonable.

2} If I were to insert EIT.UN in 5I's income portfolio I would in comparison classify it as lower risk, lower volatility, and higher yield than many in there. So assessing it from a risk point of view doesn't seem any more than other securities in there.

As a covered call ETF I realize up or down swings may be capped. But what I see is the bottom end of the trading range nearby { maybe nine bucks if things go for a tumble setting aside a 2008 2009 scenario where it was somewhere around 7 dollars } and the upside if lucky maybe twelve or thirteen dollars. That seems low risk for an 11.5% yield.....

Please comment on my reasoning ? I trust 5I's opinion way more than mine....Also what are the fees ? On their site they list three numbers ranging from 1% to 2.8%.... And would a 4% weighting be appropriate in a moderately conservative portfolio that is comfortable keeping the odd high yielder in there ?.......Thanks for your great work and advice.
Read Answer Asked by Garth on August 29, 2019
Q: My earlier question on buybacks was which 5i portfolio companies are most active in buybacks and which take no part among all the portfolios?

The 5i response listed 5 of 8 that do buybacks, but I don't know to what degree or if the 5 are the only ones that do. If I'm not mistaken CSU has never done a buyback, are there others?
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on August 29, 2019
Q: Hi Guys
I have no Healthcare stocks in my portfolio, i was thinking of purchasing the above Mutual fund to cover it. What weighting would you recommend and would you buy 50% now, or take a full weighting. Maybe taking a full weighting is fine as i will not be selling this purchase for years to come. However 2 years out we might see this fund drop maybe 40%..
Your opinion please.
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on August 29, 2019
Q: Although the data shows that staying invested in low cost index funds over the long term is the way to go, why is it that pretty well ALL of the financial media just guess and predict all day long about which way the markets are going, or when the next recession is going to hit? Same for interest rates, if they're going up or down, by how much and when.

On any given day you'll hear completely opposite opinions. Some will say you should buy because stocks are poised for a rally, while others tell you to get out because a massive 2008 like correction is coming before the ned of the year!

Since timing the markets has been proven to be impossible why is it that's all you hear from the financial media? They're SO irresponsible and dangerous and create a massive amount of anxiety. Your thoughts?
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on August 29, 2019
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