It’s time for that festive holiday tradition – the annual Investor Clinic money quiz!
I’ve included a mix of easy and challenging questions to test your knowledge of money and investing. If you’re stumped by anything, drop me an e-mail and I’ll explain the answers in a future column.
E-mail your questions to jheinzl@globeandmail.com.
1Santa Claus is planning to sell his marijuana stocks and claim a tax loss. The last day he can sell his shares so he can claim a loss for 2019 is:
A. Dec. 26
B. Dec. 27
C. Dec. 30
D. Dec. 31
2As of Jan. 1, 2020, the annual contribution limit for the tax-free savings account will:
A. Rise to $6,500 from $6,000
B. Rise to $6,000 from $5,550
C. Remain at $6,000
D. Rise by the same percentage as the consumer price index
Answer: C. Remain at $6,000
3Which of the following companies did not cut its dividend in 2019?
A. SIR Royalty Income Fund
B. SNC-Lavalin
C. Kraft Heinz
D. Corus Entertainment
Answer: D. Corus Entertainment
4Which of the following companies did not raise its dividend in 2019?
A. Russel Metals
B. Rogers Communications
C. Cineplex
D. Toromont Industries
5As of Dec. 17, the yield on the five-year Government of Canada bond was about:
A. 2.29 per cent
B. 1.67 per cent
C. 1.23 per cent
D. 0.98 per cent
6As of Dec. 17, the three best-performing stocks on the S&P/TSX Composite Index for 2019 were, in descending order:
A. Home Capital, Air Canada, TMX Group
B. Boyd Group, WestJet, WSP Global
C. Shopify, Ballard Power Systems, Alacer Gold
D. Chorus Aviation, WSP Global, BRP
Answer: C. Shopify, Ballard Power Systems, Alacer Gold
7Years ago, Mrs. Claus purchased 200 shares of Rudolph Transportation Co. at $21 each. On Dec. 19, when the shares were trading at $53 each, she donated the shares to charity. If her marginal tax rate is 40 per cent, she would pay capital gains tax of:
A. $6,400
B. $2,560
C. $1,280
D. zero
8For an individual who started Canada Pension Plan benefits in 2019 at age 65, the maximum monthly CPP payment is ______. The average monthly CPP amount is ______.
A. $717.87, $651.76
B. $921.35, $870.19
C. $1,038.76, $345.15
D. $1,154.58, $679.16
Answer: D. $1,154.58, $679.16
9North Pole Candy Cane Co. trades at $87 a share and pays a quarterly dividend of $1. If the stock has a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 21, the company’s dividend payout ratio is about:
A. 97 per cent
B. 68 per cent
C. 4.6 per cent
D. Not known
10In a non-registered account, Steve buys 300 shares of XYZ Corp. at $55 each. A month later, he sells 200 shares at $80. Finally, he transfers the remaining 100 shares to his tax-free savings account when the share price is $90. The transfer results in a capital gain of:
A. Zero
B. $500
C. $1,200
D. $3,500
11Assuming the S&P/TSX Composite Index finishes this year with a gain, it will have risen _____ times and fallen _____ times on an annual basis in the 20 years through 2019.
A. 18, 2
B. 16, 4
C. 14, 6
D. 12, 8
12On Dec. 4, the Bank of Canada _____ the target for the overnight rate, which is currently ______.
A. Left unchanged; 1.75 per cent
B. Left unchanged; 2 per cent
C. Lowered; 1.75 per cent
D. Lowered; 2 per cent
Answer: A. Left unchanged; 1.75 per cent
13If you’d purchased $10,000 of Royal Bank shares 20 years ago and reinvested all of your dividends, as of Dec. 16 your stake (ignoring taxes) would be worth about:
A. $42,100
B. $83,300
C. $136,200
D. $2.1-million
14All else being equal, when a stock price rises:
A. The dividend yield and P/E both rise
B. The dividend yield and P/E both fall
C. The dividend yield rises and the P/E falls
D. The dividend yield falls and the P/E rises
Answer: D. The dividend yield falls and the P/E rises
15Which statement is false?
A. Old Age Security benefits are taxable
B. Minimum RRIF withdrawals are not taxable
C. Return of capital reduces the investor’s cost base
D. Reinvested distributions increase the cost base
Answer: B. Minimum RRIF withdrawals are not taxable
How did you do?
Answer all of the questions to see your result
Not bad!
Nice try, but you missed some.