Does BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) represent a good investment?

In Canada, despite the worldwide recession that been hitting quite hard since 2008, our banks had performed well. But while looking a bit more closely to the big scheme, can we say that BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) represent a good investment?

BMO Bank of Montreal is the only Canadian bank that registered a negative EPS for the past 5 years.

EPS Growth (5 years):
Bank of Montreal (BMO): -4.59%
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC): +0.32%
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): +1.46%
Toronto Dominion Bank (TD): +1.13%
National Bank of Canada +3.30%
Canadian Western Bank (CWB): +16.73%
Laurentian Bank of Canada (LB): +19.29%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM): +169.51%

In November 2010, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) was the only Canadian bank to suspend its DRIP. Before November 2010, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) was offering a 2% discount on dividend reinvestment plan, commonly known as DRIP. But in November 2010, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) announced the suspension of the 2% discount. Investors are used to a discount of 2 to 3% under DRIP when it come to Canadian banks. When it come to Canadian banks, investors are also used to very good financial results. But none of this exist at BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO).

To the question "Does BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) represent a good investment?", we can certainly answer by no. BMO Bank of Montreal does not represent a good investment. They might be the worst bank, with the worst financial result for the past 5 years.

But that's not all. BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) own a wealth management division, BMO Nesbitt Burns. BMO Nesbitt Burns is like BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO): BMO Nesbitt Burns is poorly manage.

One example among other: in February 2010, a lawsuit has been filed against BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) regarding BMO Nesbitt Burns. Employees of BMO Nesbitt Burns had declared owed unpaid overtime. Those employees were working for BMO Nesbitt Burns.

BMO Nesbitt Burns didn't paid overtime for the period of 2002-2010. Also, according to the claim, it's been reported that employees of BMO Nesbitt Burns expected to work up to 80 hours per week! In this case, the BMO Nesbitt Burns employees are being represented by the law offices of Juroviesky LLP. The case is still ongoing. Are you really going to invest in a bank that is facing a class-action lawsuits related to employee overtime compensation?

Does it make any sense to you?

No, of course, not.

This is pretty hilarious, especially knowing that BMO Bank of Montreal gaga sentence is: "Making money make sense". Yeah, make money, but treat your employees correctly, at least, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO)....

And it's seemed like for the past 5 years, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) hasn't make that much money (remember the EPS Growth for 5 years of -4.59% for BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO).

But that's not all. By treating their employees incorrectly, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) had created itself a bad karma...

In May 2010, it's been reported that BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) had been involved in the biggest mortgage fraud in Canadian history. A Montreal man (who else other than a Quebecker could had been linked to such outrage?) of the name of Robert Manuel Moniz had been arrested by the RCMP had been named responsible for the mortgage fraud exceeding $5 million.

BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) has a bad reputation as a bank. When investing, just avoid completely BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO).

Hit and run: my investment selling of 2010 in review

Back in 2009, Shirley Won had reported the extraordinary result of the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. Despite the recession that was hitting worldwide, the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund, under Steve Martin management, had reported gains of 94%.

Following my search and after reading about the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund and his young manager (in 2009, Steve Martin was only 28 years old!), I decided to invest in the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. I initially invested 1 000$ in the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. I was in heaven. In my mind, the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund was going to be the investment that was going to double the value of my initial investment. I never had any doubt on Steve Martin skills, even while knowing so little about the majestic.

Steve Martin had joined the Creststreet Asset Management Ltd. in 2005. But on February 2010, Shirley Won announced Steve Martin departure of Creststreet Asset Management Ltd. In result, Steve Martin was leaving behind the management of Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. Oh noooooo!

I took time to study my options. After what, I decided to sell the units I was holding of the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. I sell my 29.229 units for 1 110.69$, making a cutty profit of somewhere of 100$. Selling my units of the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund was a good decision to take. Following Steve Martin departure, the value of the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund take a plunge. The Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund later catch up, but without Steve Martin, my interest wasn't there anymore.

2010 selling(s) in a flashback...

Basically, the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund was the only investment that I sell in 2010.

Will Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) ever be paying any dividend?

When I first decided to invest in Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN), I did it for 2 reasons: because it's a gold investment and also because Horizons had announced, at the time of the public offering, that Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) was going to pay dividend.

I don't know if any Quebeckers of the like of Brian Mulroney are under the management of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN), but it's seemed like Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) had broked their dividend payment promised.

I had invested in Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) using funds available in my margin account. For that specific reason, it's extremely important for me to be able to earn dividend from this investment. The dividend income earn need to exceed the interest own on the money borrowed through margin. My margin interest rate is currently of 4.25%.

Back in November 2010, AlphaPro Management Inc. announced the public offering of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). This is part of the information provided by AlphaPro Management Inc. in their November 2010 press release:

"TORONTO, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - Horizons Gold Yield Fund (the "Fund") is pleased to announce the filing of a preliminary prospectus in respect to the initial public offering of its Class A and Class F Units (the "Units") at $10.00 per Unit.The Fund's investment objectives are to provide holders of Units with: (i) exposure to the price of gold bullion hedged to the Canadian dollar, less the Fund's fees and expenses; and (ii) tax-efficient monthly distributions, initially expected to be $0.0542 per Unit ($0.65 per annum to yield 6.5% on the issue price of $10.00 per Unit). It is initially expected that monthly distributions received by investors will consist primarily of return of capital.

The Fund was created to offer investors a low cost exposure to the price of gold bullion, while providing monthly tax-efficient distributions. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objectives by gaining exposure to a portfolio consisting of securities and other instruments that provide exposure to the price of gold bullion (the "Gold Portfolio"). The Gold Portfolio will be managed by JovInvestment Management Inc. (the "Portfolio Manager"). The Portfolio Manager intends to write at-the-money covered call options on approximately, and not more than, 33% of the securities in the Gold Portfolio. The Portfolio Manager will not manage the call option writing strategy to achieve a specific target return, but will manage it to generate attractive option premiums that temper the volatility associated with owning the Gold Portfolio.

The Fund is expected to automatically convert into an ETF by no later than July 30, 2012."

Back in November 2010, Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) had promised a monthly dividend distribution of $0.0542 per unit. This distribution represents a yield of 6.5%, which I find pretty good.

Since Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) completed it's public offering in December 2010, nothing had been announced at dividend distribution. So what's going on? I did my search of course. I took a look here and here. But no trace of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). So what does it mean?

Different answers are available:

-Some Quebeckers are being the management of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN);

-The dividend will be paid only when Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) will convert into an ETF in July 2012;

and/or
-Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) decided not to pay any dividend at all.

I don't know what to think about Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). I am just getting frustrated about Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) dividend payment situation.

Using Videotron as Internet service provider?

If its the case, well than, be aware, you should stop using Videotron as a service provider. Why? Well, Videotron is just a Quebecor company and you might know Quebeckers as well as I do, they don't give a damn about anything. Here's another proof of Quebec unwillingness to be good toward others.

The Montreal Gazette had reported the story of Amber Hunter. Amber Hunter is an university student of Concordia. She studied political science. Amber work at a bar to pay up her bills. But now, Amber Hunter has more than she can afford to pay. What happen?

Amber use Videotron as a service provider. Since she studied and work at the same time, Amber need the Internet at home. Amber used a Wireless connection for her Internet. In the past couple of months, an unauthorized user has hacked Amber Hunter account. And than the problems began. Amber Hunter own Videotron 1 800$ in Internet fees.

Since Amber account had been hacked, someone has used Amber account and did a massive usage of it, leaving Amber with a bill of 1 800$.

This is the kind of situation that could happen to anyone. Amber is a student, the income she earns go for her tuition and living expenses.

In this case, Videotron claimed that Amber Hunter is responsible for the fees, despite the fact that she got hacked. The Quebec based company Videotron only credited Amber for 313$. Is that suppose to be fair?

A Videotron representative of the name of Isabelle Dessureault had declared that Videotron "don't like these kind of situations". Videotron doesn't like those kind of situation, and they are not willing to do anything else to help other than crediting a tiny 313$.

I know what it is to live in Quebec and having to deal with stupid Quebec independentist people everyday. The kind of individual you really don't want to deal with.

Videotron decision to not fully credit the hacking fees is just another example of Quebec stupidity. Just another example.

Hacking is something that exist. It's a criminal act that is being perform by individual who knows how the system work. Those criminals don't hesitate when it come to steel from individual.

Also, Videotron should credit Amber in totality because Videotron system is not well build. According to the Gazette, Videotron "has tools for users to monitor their usage but doesn't advise customers when they have exceeded their limits". Which mean that in case of hacking, the account user won't have a clue of what is going on until receiving the invoice.

If you are with Videotron, you should think about switching of service provider. A hack happen to Amber Hunter, but it could happen to anyone. It's not common, but it can happen. It's just like Interac fraud or other kind of informatics fraud. I think that Videotron should reversed the charges, all of them, not just 313$. And you, what do you think? Like wow, those Quebeckers...

The Canada Revenue Agency is after me - Part 2

Today was my day off, as a colleague of mine desperately need its Saturday off. Since I am not currently working at my weekend job, I decided to give a hand. So today, I had time to write everything I felt about Canada Revenue Agency. I have to say, despite my very hard feeling, our agency is doing one of those good job... let me explain.

2009 had been a very good year financially speaking. I had made over 40k in salary, I had earn thousands of dollars in dividend income. Yeah 2009 was an awesome year. But it was the first year I had massively invested in stock and income trust funds, the same one that had been converted in corporation just in time for 2011. And there was from where I got problem from. From the income trust funds. TD Waterhouse is very great to use because if you registered to their eService, they won't ever send you tax papers over the mail. So this mean that you have personally have to print them.

Myself as an individual, I am always in a ruch, working at several jobs, etc etc etc. But myself as an individual, I might have forget to print one of the form, because when I visit my accountant just an hour ago, I was told that the form that Canada Revenue Agency refer to in their letter, well, that form was not from my tax declaration. Not at all.

So the mistake was all mine and I am taking the whole responsability and yes, despite the governement people having access to free French courses, yes, I will be paying that $168 and something cent I own Canada Revenue Agency.

The Canada Revenue Agency is after me

Just when things are going so well, something have to happen. This time, the something is coming directly from Canada Revenue Agency. When I open the envelop, I freak out: I own the Canada Revenue Agency 165.88$. Reason behind: there is an extra payment that need to be made for my taxes. Those federal government jerks have really nothing better to do than reviewing my tax declaration of 2009 almost one year after it's been done and completed. Brian Mulroney can be out in the world when he had steeled million of dollars from federal taxes money but I, small investor is being ripped off! Totally being ripped off. Those people working at federal agencies shouldn't be getting any benefit or pension privilege because myself, I don't get any of those privileges but on top of that, those government idiots are sucking me to dead. I am the one who work hard for my money, I am the one who invest and create financial health with MY OWN MONEY. I am not a money sucker. I am not a cheater like Brian Mulroney.

Ok, so now, you will ask yourself, what's going on? In 2009, the total income that I declared was of 40 916$. Quite some money! But the people of the Canada Revenue Agency had revised my 2009 declaration and had decided that my total income was not of 40 916$, but of 42 195$. We are talking here of a difference of 1 279$!

According to Canada Revenue Agency, the money is coming from my dividend income received from Bell Aliant, Livingston, Energy Savings, Yellow Pages, Pembina, Enbridge Income Fund and Pengrowth. That's what they say in the letter without commenting more.

In 2009, I had gave to the accountant who did my tax declaration all of the papers received from TD Waterhouse. My tax declaration had been done correctly the first time. It's just those Ottawa morons who are messing up with my taxes. On top of that, the little jerks had charged me an interest of 5.43$ on the amount due!!!! MORONS!

I am going to write to those jerks of Canada Revenue Agency that I don't own them any money because I had declared the dividend that were on my T5 form. The jerks should had access to the information, since the T5 directly come from the Canada Revenue Agency itself!!!

I worked in Ottawa previously before and I know how selfish the federal government employees are. They don't give a damn about anything. They only care about their salaries and pension benefit. In Ottawa, a lot of are federal agents are taking free French courses. They had all of their life to learn French, they never care about the French language. Where the money is coming from to finance those French courses? FROM MY TAXES.

This is the way Canada is for French Canadians. Enough of the bullshit. I had pay my taxes in April 2010, the little idiots of Canada Revenue Agency.

If, like me, you had received such letter, you have the right to contest. The jerks even provide ways you can contest their decision... Yah.

Conversion now completed for JE.UN, BA.UN, PGF.UN, ENF.UN, DHF.UN and CWI.UN

I use to be an income trusts lover for the awesome dividend they were provided me every single month of the year. With the new legislation regarding taxable Canadian corporation, income trust companies had until 2011 to convert into corporation. Because I hold many income trust companies in my portfolio, lately, a lot of changes happen recently. A lot of changes, but it's always the same good companies. In my portfolio, I hold Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN), Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and the The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN). Let's see the changes that occur now for those companies:

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) conversion into Just Energy Group Inc. (JE)

I begin this post with Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) because JE.UN is my favorite stock! I like everything related to Just Energy, I like the story of their CEO Rebecca MacDonald, their newest US acquisitions and, more importantly, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) awesome dividend. I am a huge Just Energy fan and I am very proud to be one of their unitholders! As a unitholder, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) never failed at meeting my expectations. Since I began to invest in Just Energy, the company had paid me year after year a special dividend of 20 cents per unit.

Like other income trusts, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) paid a dividend income on a monthly basis. Just Energy Income Fund dividend is of 1.24$ annually. To this you can add what is now commonly usual, the annual special dividend of 20 cents per unit. That make an awesome 1.44$!!!!

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is not Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) anymore. But that's only to get better. Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is now Just Energy Group Inc. and its trade ticket is JE. Good news for stockholder: the dividend of Just Energy Group Inc. (JE) will remain exactly the same!

No news regarding the special dividend yet, but please, one thing at a time! lol...

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) conversion into Bell Aliant Inc. (BA)

I am coming from New Brunswick and I am always very happy to be able to hold stocks from "back home" if I can say. In Maritimes provinces, Bell Aliant is huge. No one outside New Brunswick can have a taste of what's Bell Aliant represent for New Brunswickers.

Before its conversion, Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) was generous enough to pay its investors a dividend of close to 3$ per unit (2.90$ exactly annually per unit). So yeah, that's a lot of cash!

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) conversion into a corporation is affecting the company in many different ways. In result, Bell Aliant had decided to cut its dividend. But when dealing with companies who are paying a huge dividend like close to 3$ per unit, you need to be ready for dividend cut one day or the other. That's my own opinion. I live a similar experience with Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) before, but we will get back to it.

Anyhow, Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) dividend is quite still generous and it's still interesting to hold Bell Aliant Inc. (BA). Even after conversion, Bell Aliant dividend is quite strong and way much better than what BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) can offer to their investors.

Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) new dividend is going to be of 7.3% per cent. That 7.3% is based on the closing price of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) on date of December 31, 2010. Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) is going to be of 1.90$ annually. The dividend will be paid quarterly, which mean that Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) will no longer be paying a monthly dividend. Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) dividend will be of $0.475 per share quarterly. Quite interesting, don't you think so?

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) conversion into Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF)

Ahhhhhhhh Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN)! If Just Energy is my number one stock pick, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) arrived on second place. I "just" love Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and I have a longtime trade story with them.

Back in 2008, I had purchased my first units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) following the discovery of Derek Foster. The Stop Working strategy? It's seemed unreal to me and I wasn't really interested in reading Derek Foster book at first. But time pass, I was getting no where with my mutual fund investments and while reading Derek Foster posts on the Canadian Business forum, I told myself: Why not? 

That's was the beginning of quite of a journey for me in the stock market. In now almost 3 years of trading, I could say I almost saw it all: the 2008 stock crash, the quick up and downs. I made money, lost money.  The stock market is not the same anymore and so I am. But overall, I did quite well, but the reason behind my trading success in the stock market was Derek Foster, that we discuss quite a bit in the past couple of years together readers, but things needed to be say.

Believe it or not, I was holding Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) units when its dividend was of an awesome 2.70$ per unit! Those were wonderful time for me. The dividend of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) was so huge! That was back in the year of 2008.

In November 2008, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) announced its first dividend cut from a monthly amount of $0.225 to $0.17. Nothing major, I continue to hold the units. That dividend cut wasn't drastic. At $0.17 a month per unit, I was still enjoying a great dividend. Since I like the company and it was a Derek Foster stock, I decided to stick and hold, what I do the best.

But things were going to get more difficult for Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) during the recession. 2008 was just the beginning of the years of capitalist destruction. But overall, the recession, I benefit from it. I build my stock portfolio, I get those debt to use for leverage, got laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal for no valuable reason but what no one was going to know but know certainly now: I was going to make money like crazy in a recession world. Ok, well like "crazy" I guess its depend of your criteria of success, but 4 000$ in dividend earning + a close to 8 000$ increase value of my investment for 2010 is what I call crazy money... Crazy money for a crazy girl lol...

My story with Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) do not end here. In September 2009, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) reduced its dividend for the second time. That time, the dividend was reduced to 7 cents per unit. That's when I decided to sell all of the units I was holding of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) to invest the vast majority of the money in Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL). And gees, that was so an incredible good move coming from my part!

Later on, while searching something cheap to invest in, I decided to invest again in Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). I currently hold just a bit more than 200 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). Me and Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), its a love story set for life. Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) were the first stock I was selling on the stock market. My very first sell. WOW.

And now today in 2011, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) converted into a corporation. Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) new name is Pengrowth Energy Corporation. The new symbol ticket is PGF. The dividend of Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF) remains the same, $0.07 per stock. And good news for investors: Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF) will continue to pay a monthly dividend just like before! YEAHHHH!

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) conversion into Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH)

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) is another Derek Foster stock. I was bright enough to purchase 300 units when their price was around 13$ only... Now, at more than 18$ per stock, Enbridge Income Fund is fabulous. And I own it to who? To myself, of course because I am the one who decided to invest in Enbridge on the first place lol.

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) new name following its conversion is now Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH). Guess I will have to get use to the new trading symbol.

The dividend for the new Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) will remain the same as it is now, 1.152$ per unit. The only change is in the payout of those dividend. Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) plans to pay its dividend on a quarterly basis.

Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) conversion into Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH)

Things are going pretty well for Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). What catch my attention at first in this company is the + symbol between Davis and Henderson, that I always found quite mysterious, no matter how bizarre it can sound. Like why Davis + Henderson and not simply Davis and Henderson? No matter what catch my attention, this is good stuff because I made a profit of 320.84$ this year on Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). Yeah! And the dividend was also very great.

Ok, so regarding the name, nothing to worry about, the magical + remains were it belong! Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) had now become Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH).

Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH) is going to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.30 cents per unit or, if you prefer, an annual $1.20 dividend per stock. Still great stuff, despite the dividend cut. Before Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH), Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) dividend was of an extraordinary $1.8396.

The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) conversion into EnerCare Inc. (ECI)

We had talked of the future of The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) previously before. The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund is another Derek Foster pick that I decided to add to my portfolio. After Derek Foster announced that he had sold his units, The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) has some hard time in the sense that the value of its units was somewhere around 5$.

In the last quarter of 2010, The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) had done extremely well. As a stick and hold investor, I didn't sell my The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund units when I found out that Derek Foster sold his. I am grateful for taking the decision of not selling. I hate to sell my investment. Whenever I sell, there's a good reason behind.

I had confident in The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund. I like the company and I always remember what Jean-François Tardif had said about The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund, that it was a really safe company to invest in or something of that nature.

However, I still hold The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) in my portfolio. All of the units I hold from CWI.UN are inside my TFSA. 

The now EnerCare Inc. (ECI) will maintain the same dividend amount as for the late The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN): $0.648 per share annually or, if you prefer, $0.054 monthly per stock. And yes, EnerCare Inc. (ECI) will maintain a monthly dividend! Bravo to EnerCare Inc. (ECI)!

Conclusion

2011 marks the end of my success story with income fund. Conversion had been done quite smoothly for those companies. But I just can't imagine what kind of work all of those changes might had represent in term of work for all of those companies.

JE.UN, BA.UN, PGF.UN, ENF.UN, DHF.UN and CWI.UN no longer exist, but the same companies will continue to operate a different name and symbol ticket. A dividend cut is being experiment in some cases, but some very strong companies like Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) and Just Energy Group Inc. (JE) just to name those 2, had been able to maintain their dividends at the same level.

The conversion of Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL), Yellow Media Inc. (YLO) and Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) had been done during the year of 2010. Personally, I only hold Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) since its become a corporation. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) is a Jean-François Tardif stock pick, which well for me at this time, despite that I previously taught about selling Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH). But I won't be selling Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) anytime soon. Unless an emergency need of cash emerge.

Happy 2011 investment party! Can't believe we are here. Are you ready for 2011?

My 2010 trading year in review

 

I am very lucky not to wake up with the flue because it was raining for New Year Eve in Montreal and I didn't have an umbrella. But who will carry an umbrella in January anyway? Some did, but they must had take a look at the weather forecast - something I barely ever do. You'll find in here some pictures I took from my iPod on New Year Eve. I was in Montreal in the Old Port.

Another year had come to an end. Overall, 2010 had been a good year for my commodity investment. I work like crazy, but I was able to made all the commodity investment I wanted and that's what was important to me, despite a laid off from the worst Canadian bank ever, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO). They are disgusting, I know. And their online commodity broker BMO InvestorLine is absolutely horrible. I wasn't expecting much anyway coming from a Quebec provincial bank, an emigrant bank. And by the way, don't expect anything good from Quebeckers. 2011 will be just the same as 2010 for Quebec people: a black hole.

Ok, I got laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) in 2010. Despite the laid off, I can assure you, I am a good investor and below is the proof. I took all of my commodity investment in this review - there's a lot of them as you'll see. I took all of them. but all of those investments were not made in 2010. My online investment in some RBC growth stock mutual funds were made somewhere in 2007-2008. Same thing for my Manulife investment. Anyhow, I wanted to take the whole monster and see where I am located in all that. Let's see how things went for the Dividend Girl online investing in 2010:

Non registered Investments:

Stocks and Units investment portfolio

Sprott Inc. (SII):

Investment initial value: 5 009.78$
Current value: 4 191.20$

-818.58$

Timminco (TIM):

Investment initial value: 4 065$
Current value: 66$

-3 999$

Blue Note Mining (BNT):

Investment initial value: 689$
Current value: 52$

-637$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS):

Investment initial value: 16 298.14$
Current value: 17 529.70$

+1 231.56$

Hanwei Energy Services (HE):

Investment initial value: 674$
Current value: 133.50$

-540.50$

Methanex Corporation (MX):

Investment initial value: 1 626.80$
Current value: 3 115.75$

+1 488.95$

Fortis (FTS):

Investment initial value: 2 680.06$
Current value: 3 635.86$

+955.80$

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):

Investment initial value: 6 313.20$
Current value: 9 309.60$

+2 996.40$

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN):
Investment initial value: 10 473.45$
Current value: 11 496.96$

+1 023.51$

Yellow Media Inc. (YLO):

Investment initial value: 2 467.68$
Current value: 2 914$

+446.32$

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund

(BA.UN):

Investment initial value: 5 513.40$
Current value: 5 223.99$

-289.41$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN):
Investment initial value: 2 290.55$
Current value: 2 722.14$

+431.59$

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN):

Investment initial value: 3 584$
Current value: 5 792$

+2 208$

Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A):

Investment initial value: 3 087.99$
Current value: 3 399.66$

+311.67$

Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):

Investment initial value: 3 664.99$
Current value: 3 985.83$

+320.84$

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):

Investment initial value: 2 955.16$
Current value: 2 851.92$

-103.24$

EnCana Corporation (ECA):

Investment initial value: 5 946.88$
Current value: 5 847.09$

-99.79$

Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U):

Investment initial value: 2 190.49$
Current value: 2 814$

+623.51$

iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE):

Investment initial value: 738.99$
Current value: 727.38$

-11.61$

Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN):

Investment initial value: 2 000$
Current value: 2 020$

+20$

Total of gains: +12 058.15$
Total of losses: -6 499.13$
TOTAL: +5 559.02$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):

RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 3 000$
Current value: 2 946.19$

-53.81$

The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN):

Investment initial value: 2 288.37$
Current value: 2 898.50$

+610.13$

Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI):

Investment initial value: 719$
Current value: 345$

-374$

Total of gains: +610.13$
Total of losses: -427.81$
TOTAL: +182.32$

RSP investment portfolio:

Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 7 000$
Current value: 7 773.76$

+773.76$

Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL):

Investment initial value: 3 587.30$
Current value: 4 316.26$

+728.96$

EnCana Corporation (ECA):

Investment initial value: 3 230$
Current value: 2 909$

-321$

Emera Incorporated (EMA):

Investment initial value: 5 103.79$
Current value: 6 458.10$

+1 354.31$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 554.19$

+54.19$

CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 427.11$

-72.89$

CIBC Monthly Income Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 048.40$

+48.40$

TD Canadian Bond:

Investment initial value: 113.04$
Current value: 115.42$

+2.38$

TD Monthly Income:

Investment initial value: 110.45$
Current value: 109.13$

-1.32$

TD Emerging Markets:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 91.38$

-8.62$

TD Energy:

Investment initial value: 102.76$
Current value: 96.46$

-6.30$

TD Precious Metals:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 151.86$

+51.86$

TD Latin American Growth:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 106.58$

+6.58$

TD Entertainment and Communications:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 122.37$

+22.37$

TD Dividend Growth:

Investment initial value: 208.80$
Current value: 207.48$

-1.32$

TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 115.85$

+15.85$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton):

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 654.89$

-345.11$

Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 926.31$

-73.69$

Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 097.67$

+97.67$

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 066.40$

+66.40$

Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 644.05$

-355.95$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 548.88$

+48.88$

RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$:

Investment initial value: 2 300$
Current value: 1 995.84$

-304.16$

RBC Global Resources Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 238.61$

+238.61$

RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 648.67$

-351.33$

RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 100$
Current value: 1 208.58$

+108.58$

Total of gains: +3 618.80$
Total of losses: -1 841.69$
TOTAL: +1 777.11$

OVERALL GAINS: +16 287.08$
OVERALL LOSSES: -8 768.63$
TOTAL: +7 518.45$

Overall, I can say I did well. I invest without the help of any financial planners. but while living in Quebec, I prefer to invest just through my fabulous TD Waterhouse securities as  online future trading brokerage. A gain of 7 518.45$ in one year of Canadian online stock trading? From my point of view, for a small investor like myself, I can say I did pretty well. And 2011 should be even better. But remember 2010 had been an investment year in a recession one. Not easy for anyone, but even harder for smaller investors.

To all of my fellow readers, Quebeckers or not, I wish you a Happy 2011 Trading Year! Health and prosperity to you all. May my blog be helpful to you by sharing my trading experience on the Toronto stock exchange market.

My debt situation on date of January 1, 2011

9 431.36$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 447.99$ in annual interest

4 900$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 169$ in annual interest

7 978.32$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% ending in April 2011 (result of a credit card balance transfer)

= 390.94$ in annual interest

4 911$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 429.71$ in annual interest PAID OFF

7 906.87$ at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = 434.88$ in annual interest

10 000$ at 7.27% (credit line rates) = 727$ in annual interest

18 083.63$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): = 768.55$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 58 300.18$

TOTAL in annual interest: 2 965.36$

[In date of January 1, 2011]

Special New Year Edition: My investment portfolio on date of January 1, 2011

Savings:
2 348.35$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 4 191.20$
Timminco (TIM): 66$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 52$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 17 529.70$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 133.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 115.75$
Fortis (FTS): 3 635.86$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
9 309.60$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 496.96$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 914$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 223.99$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 722.14$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 792$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 399.66$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
3 985.83$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 851.92$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 847.09$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 814$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 727.38$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 2 020$
Cash: 215.53$

TOTAL: 88 044.11$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 946.19$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 898.50$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 345$
Cash: 5.59$

TOTAL: 6 195.28$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 7 773.76$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 316.26$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 909$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 458.10$
Cash: 66.99$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 554.19$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 427.11$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 048.40$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 115.42$
TD Monthly Income: 109.13$
TD Emerging Markets: 91.38$
TD Energy: 96.46$
TD Precious Metals: 151.86$
TD Latin American Growth: 106.58$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 122.37$
TD Dividend Growth: 207.48$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 115.85$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 654.89$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 926.31$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 097.67$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 066.40$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 644.05$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 548.88$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 995.84$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1238.61$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 648.67$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 208.58$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 40 104.87$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(53.35$):

136 785.96$