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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: How seriously should we take the Canadian banks when they all increase their year-end loan loss provisions significantly? Is this really a harbinger of a slowing economy or am I being too cynical to think that this is a good way for management to build in some "wiggle room" going into the new year? Loan loss provisions are the one area management can use to massage headline numbers and perhaps boost profits next year if results are not so good.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on December 09, 2019
Q: With most bank results in, just waiting on TD now, and the biggest hits to earnings having been loan-loss provisions and capital markets (in the case of RY) can you see if short interest has again spiked on the backs of these earnings, or has it remained relatively flat since the famous 'big short' trader publicly shorted them in the early part of this year?
Read Answer Asked by Warren on December 04, 2019
Q: I bought SLF a few years ago expecting to benefit from increasing interest rates. SLF has been a stellar performer despite the trend of lower interest rates this past year, especially at the longer end of the curve.
I’m certainly not complaining but am a little confused by the strong performance in a weakened rate environment.
Could you shed some light on the reason for their outperformance and prospects going forward. (I’m thinking of taking some profits)
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on November 28, 2019
Q: Good morning, Please comment on Versabank's recent quarter. Also, how does their forward PE compare to similar companies and the big banks? They now have a book vallue of $9.98 vs, stock value around $7.30, why the gap? Also, any thoughts on their new initiatives, specifically Versa Vault. I know you removed this from the growth portfolio early this year, do you think you would put it back in based on growing divvy and new initiatives?
Thanks
Rob
Read Answer Asked by Robert on November 27, 2019
Q: Much like KL's acquisition of Detour Gold, it doesn't seem that investors like Sun Life's arrangement with its subsidiary, Sun Life Vietnam Insurance and Tien Phong Commercial Bank (TPBank) which have formed a 15-year bancassurance partnership in Vietnam .
The agreement combines TPBank's distribution network with Sun Life Vietnam's market-leading life insurance products, giving 2.5 million TPBank customers access to a comprehensive range of innovative insurance solutions.

May I have your thoughts on the share price drop? Short term? Perhaps a switch to MFC is in order.

Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Martin on November 27, 2019
Q: I have read that Canadian banks this week are gearing up to report their slowest annual earnings growth since the global financial crisis.
Do you anticipate a negative market response to my holdings listed above? With all 3 at 52-wk highs, how would you rank them for a continued "Hold"?
Read Answer Asked by Ted on November 26, 2019