Investment Q&A

Q: My wife and I have defined benefit pensions that meet all our needs. We are conservative investors looking for a 8-10% total return. I am proposing the following equity allocation to enhance our financial position and would appreciate any comments you may have. Thank you 5i team.

50% diversified blend of 5i covered stocks
15% XSP US. stocks CAD hedged
15% high yield bonds
10% ZRE real estate
10% CDZ dividend stocks

PS If I hold XSP in my cash account, would the dividends be subject to the US. withholding tax?

Q: I currently own a small position in Cerner and was wondering what your thoughts are on this company as a 1 to 2 year hold. Are there other companies in this sector that you would recommend (U.S. or Canadian)?
Thanks

Q: Good afternoon:
Northcliff Resources is normally a very thin trader, but in two days this month it has traded over three million and two million shares respectively. It has traded at unusually high volumes for the last three days. I wonder if you have any insights as to what is causing this activity?
Thank you.

Q: I would appreciate your assessment of LGO as a viable addition to the materials sector of my sector balanced portfolio?

It has had a good run. Still upside potential? Too late? The best is behind it?

Thanks,

Q: Out of your fav cdn growth stocks, how would you rank their relative risk (from lower to higher)

Q: Hello Peter et al.

I am finally starting to see the bounce back in my Ithaca Energy investment. My average cost is now at $1.38 so I am still down on my original investment. As you probably know based on my previous question history I have been invested in this stock for a long period of time. I have been burned by the two delays in the upcoming Stella FPU start-up. The company has been wise with its hedges over the years and I know that this has prevented certain bankruptcy of the company in this oil industry downturn. Some hedges come off in July of this year and the remainder (6600 bbl/d) come off in July 2017. They have reduced their debt over the last year, currently at $670M and have survived their RBL redetermination at the end of Apr/16 with $100M of headroom. The production of Stella is said to add an additional 16K boepd to the production portfolio in late Sep/16. With the oil price now hovering around $50/bbl do you think there is still a huge risk to this stock? There has been a lot of rumours to a Delek take-out since they own about 10% of IAE at $1.05. I worry that they will take it out before Stella or after Stella start-up at a low premium and I will not get my potential return for waiting. It has been up approximately 85% YTD which is nice to see but I am hoping to see a $2.50 to $3.00 price after a full quarter of Stella production. This I would expect in 4Q 2016 results. My other lottery ticket Iona Energy never paid off. It went bankrupt in the end. What is your viewpoint on IAE-T? Seems to have a lot of volume in the UK but very low volume in Canada and I am surprised by this compared to past history. It use to be covered highly in Canada before the delays with Stella and when it was trading in the $2.50-3.00 range. Any possible reason for this in your opinion or is it still in the doghouse by Canadian oil analysts?

Thanks in advance

Brendan

Q: Hey Guys,
I am trying to create a balance portfolio and I also need to consolidate a few of my positions, way too many individual stocks (40+)!
What are your thoughts on both Keyera and Prairie Sky (total of 3%) for a long term hold. Should I sell one of them and move it into they other one OR sell both and purchase something else (please provide a few names).
Thanks
Jim

Q: Hi Peter and Ryan,

I'm interested in getting exposure to the health care sector by using an available ETF. I ran across this one (IHI) through my research and would appreciate your analysis of the ETF. I think this one focusses on medical devices. Please let me know what you think the future holds for the ETF. If you think there are other investments that would be preferable I would appreciate your suggestions.

Q: Can you tell me about this company and its prospects? Is it a buy hold or sell.
Thank you

Q: which one should I add? or perhaps buy both? the goal is to have long term stability + moderate growth. if in your view there are better options please list them. thanks for excellent service.

Q: What do you make of their quarterly results released today? Any hope here? Is it worth sticking a toe in the water at this price point?

Q: Historically, US Stocks have taken off in the 2nd. Half of an Election Year. What are some ETFs I can look at to see if my thesis is right? I prefer Canadian ETFs that capture US Stocks as opposed to US ETFs, e.g. SCHB.

Thanks as Always! Austin

Q: I am looking to add one of these stocks to my TFSA. How would you decide amongst the three based on today's valuations.
Thanks

Q: Hi Team, Could I please get your thoughts on Greebriar Capital? Both their management (if you know of them) and likely future prospects? Thanks!

Q: What is the the consensus for Q1's revenue and eps?

Q: I am currently underwater 60% on a small position of NAL (1% of my portfolio). In your view, is NAL likely to survive this market cycle and are they worth holding onto? I very much enjoy the dividend, is this likely to remain? Finally, should I consider doubling down on my position for a long term hold?

Thanks for the service!!

DON

Q: Do you have an update on the approval process of SPB acquiring CUS? The last news on it was this will be known before Q2 of 2016. Can I assume that the decision will be handed down on or before June 30, 2016?

By the way, thank you for your blog on this merger that led me to take a position in these two companies (60% SPB, 40% CUS). This combo is currently up 24% in about 3 months time. Not bad. Since I have unusual high risk tolerance when it comes to investing, do you see the combined company (if approved) will be a viable long term hold?

My own investing philosophy is that you have to have commitment in a stock (you're either in, or out, and no sell half and wait and see). If I don't see it as a long term hold possibility I really should cash out now since I'm sitting on a good size gain for such a short time.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Q: Hi , LRE currently has a bid of .52 cents a share under review by the Investment Canada Act . CEO told me Investment Canada came back with 3 undertakings ,and the undertakings have now been completed and the application is proceeding towards final review.
Without asking about this specific deal. What is the criteria for approval from Investment Canada
Thanks,David

Q: From what I read on this company,
P/E Ratio 3828.00
Earnings/Share $ 0.01
Dividend/Share $ 1.78
I do not understand why you recommend it a favourite holding.
Could you explain? I read your company report (2015).Do you still agree with an A quote?
Thank you.

Q: Hi Team ,What do you see as the prospects for Rifco: would a wait be worthwhile ?Andrew