Topic: Dividend Stocks

A Yield to Caution

CANOE EIT INCOME FUND $14.42 (Toronto symbol EIT.UN; Units o/s: 178.8 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; Divd. yield: 8.3%; www.canoefinancial.com) is a closed-end fund that invests in a portfolio of dividend paying stocks. U.S. stocks account for 49.2% of its holdings, followed by Canadian at 47.5%.

Canoe pays a monthly distribution of $0.10 a unit; that makes for a high 8.3% yield. However, the fund’s yield may only be sustainable if stock markets keep rising. Canoe EIT’s portfolio does not pay enough dividend income to cover its distributions to its unitholders, even after allowing for management expenses and fees.

To make up the difference, the fund must trade its portfolio’s securities in pursuit of capital gains. It also aims to raise its returns by writing call options on its holdings.

Selling call options generates an income stream. However, selling calls also tends to diminish any capital gains—when the stocks that the fund owns go up, holders of the call options it has sold will exercise those options and buy the stock from the company at the price set out in the terms of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Canoe EIT will need to hold on to its losers—stocks it owns that are going down—to offset any future obligations under the call options it has already sold.

As well, the fund’s high 1.28% MER additionally cuts your potential returns.

We don’t recommend the units of Canoe EIT Income Fund.

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