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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: My local newspaper had an enlightening article on opioid prescriptions to treat chronic pain. The article stated that over 9 million prescriptions were filled "in Ontario alone" during 2015-2016. I found this number astounding considering the population is about 14 million which means one in every three people had this prescribed during that time which was an increase of 500,000 from three years previous to those dates.
Does this not mean Knight's announcement of Health Canada's approval of Probuphine for opioid treatment is a huge event? Why would they announce this after the close on a Friday - it seems like a big deal. What do you think?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on April 23, 2018
Q: A friend recently sent me an article on Enbridge written by David Milstead and published in the Globe And Mail Dec. 3 2017. The article refers to the cracks in the Enbridge dividend story. I think the following quotes from the article summarizes the author's contention that Enbridge does not have the cash flow profile to be an income investment.
THE MISSING BILLIONS
ENBRIDGE EMPHASIZES 'AVAILABLE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS' TO INVESTORS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS DIVIDEND. IN CALCULATING THIS MEASURE, IT IGNORES MOST OF ITS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, DEDUCTING ONLY 'MAINTENANCE' CAPEX TO ARRIVE AT THE NUMBER. THAT HAS LEFT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPEX OUT OF THE MEASURE OVER TIME. WHEN ALL OF THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE DEDUCTED FROM OPERATING CASH FLOW, ENBRIDGE POSTS NEGATIVE FREE CASH FLOW IN NEARLY EVERY YEAR. STILL, THE COMPANY PAYS DIVIDENDS — AND ISSUES DEBT, AS WELL.
Can you please comment on this based on your analysis of the company, your assessment of its cash flow profile and its ability to maintain and grow its dividends.
Thanks
John

Read Answer Asked by John on April 23, 2018
Q: Pricing in SJ's railway tie category is under pressure, negatively impacting operating margins (granted, margins are forecast to improve in H2 2018). My understanding is that alternatives, like concrete ties, are much more expensive. Given SJ produces an essential product for the railway sector, why does the company not have more pricing power? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Edward on April 20, 2018