First National Financial (FN.TO)

Are the preferreds a good long term investment? They are in the mortgage origination financing business. It has a speculative triple ‘B’ rating. There is a possibility that the company does not do well. Thinks it will not get called. 5.5% yield. The return on the equity is 7%.

Stock has performed well and it is very well managed. Would be comfortable adding to your position right now. Very nice dividend. They are set up for a good year coming up.

In the business of originating and then later bundling and selling mortgages, mostly to some of the larger Canadian banks. With his views on the Canadian consumer, where housing is and slowing mortgage growth, he thinks this company’s business will slow. Would prefer places where you get higher growth in financial services.

(Market Call Minute) Always screens well. Has HCG but would have no trouble switching.

Are the preferreds a good choice? It is about 7%. Also has a great discount at about $17. With a reset in early 2016. This is a P3 preferred, not in investment grade territory. Because it is trading at such a discount, there is upside potential. Come 2016, this is not going to be Called, but is going to be Reset. This is why it trades where does. Also, we are getting to the tax loss selling season and a lot of these names that have been down tend to take it on the chin going into December. Not an income play he would look at.

Chart looks beautiful. Shows a long base running from late 2011 with a breakout occurring later this year. This kind of strong breakout is going to have to pull back. On any kind of a reasonable pull back, when the momentum oscillators become oversold, he would be all over this.

Rate Reset Preferred? This is not a big issuer in Canada. Has been hit by the overall “perfect storm” that we went through in the summer. (See comments in Past Top Picks.) Even though the credit may be stable, it is not easily tradable within a larger portfolio so he doesn’t own. If you’re happy with the yield you are getting and it is a longer-term hold, you could hold this. If you are looking to trade in and out, you might be better with something else.

On the very long-term, there has been some sort of a lid at around $19. We are right near the top of the basic trading band. He would be a little bit cautious.

Above average quality company. Very well run. In terms of valuation, he would favour Home Capital (HCG-T) and Equitable Trust instead. If you purely want dividend and give up some of the growth, he would go with this one. 7% yield.

Probably a beneficiary of the tightening up of lending standards. Mortgage rules have changed and there is a slowdown in transactions so if there is a big shift in mortgages as the market reacts that is when you will see the mortgage market react. His guess is that this company will do fine. Very well managed company. Feels the 6.9% dividend is sustainable.