Investment Q&A

Q: Hello,

You frequently reference valuation ratios (EV/EBITDA, P/E, P/B, P/Sales, P/CFO,etc) in your answers to questions.

Sometimes earnings appears to be a reasonable representation of performance, other times it is cash flow from ops, others it is free cash flow or sales.

This also appears to change due to amount of debt carried or the sector.

There is definitely not a magic ratio that addresses all situations, co's or sectors but a combination of the above and/or others.

Could you add some clarity to appropriate application of ratios and if the topic is too large please suggest a resource?

Thank you

Q: When thinking about buying, adding, holding or selling how much weight do analyst’s upgrades or downgrades factor into your decision-making? Are there any top tier analyst firms that you feel are worth paying attention to when they cover a stock you own?
Of course, the information provided by 5i is a given! Thanks for your input, Lesley

Q: In deciding position weightings: when does it make sense to use “ Total Equity Portfolio Weight” vs. “Total Portfolio Weight”?
Thank you.

Q: I hold both Canadian and US self directed accounts with CIBC Investors Edge and want to accumulate US funds (dividends) in a cash (high interest) ETF but understand that there appears to be no US ETF similar to HSUV.U traded on US exchanges. My question is do we need to verbally request the brokerage to transfer (journal) US funds into our Canadian accounts without conversion in order to invest (purchase) same in HSUV.U and does this look like transfer fees are involved?
Thank you.

Q: Somehow I missed registering for the Moneyshow this past week. Am I able to access a recording of it.
Also, do the Webinars and Podcast headings show all previous recordings of video events, at least for the past year. Thanks.

Q: Just a general question on an observation I have made over time.

Why is it that somewhat often a stock will go up a bunch and then the next day they announce an offering, take GLXY for example?

Q: As far as you know, is there a way to execute a gambit between USD and Euro, similar to DLR?

Thanks

Q: What is an average DIY investor in Canada asset value?
Miroslaw

Q: Everyone, what are your rules for buying or selling stocks. I believe one was not to buy before 10:30 am… others? Clayton

Q: Is there any point to submitting a proxy vote on Company’s director appointments and resolutions when one owns such a miniscule number of shares?
If the company is doing satisfactorily well, I typically vote according to recommendations otherwise I may not agree to any of the recommendations as a signal of displeasure. I am not sure either is an appropriate response; perhaps none would be better?

Q: If a 40 year old (about 20 more working years to go) investor had: RRSP maxed out, TFSA maxed out, and $1.1 M in a NR account, and a $400,000 mortgage debt outstanding (at todays interest rates), would you recommend he sell investments to pay off the mortgage debt, and then put the extra income back into new investment positions to catch up? Or just pay the mortgage off over time, including the interest payments, while letting the investments mature? Thanks.

Q: Ross this morning commented on Warren Buffet’s advice to buy index funds. This advice is aimed at the ordinary, non stock picking expert, of which group I consider myself a member. Because of this membership I have thought a lit about putting that advice into practice. The reason I didn’t do that completely is because of the development of 5i Investing. I can see by frequenting some of the investing forums, that you are head and shoulders above even the average sophisticated amateur investor. As you say in your advertising, we are not in this alone. I, and many others, i am quite sure, appreciate your experience and skill, and especially your willingness to share this with the average retail investor. We don’t get to say it often but i thought that I would take this opportunity to let you know how much your work is appreciated

Q: This is in the context of the interactive chart in the Company Profile section. If I take Enbridge (ENB:CA) as an example here is what I get in terms of growth over 5 years:
+37.10% (Company Profile / Interactive Chart)
-2.42% (using either iPhone Stocks App or Yahoo Finance or my Online Broker).


After some research, I found out that the interactive chart in Company Profile probably uses Adjusted close price adjusted for splits and dividend and/or capital gain distributions. The others are using the close price adjusted for splits. It seems to me that if we want to see the pure growth of a company, it is better to use the close price adjusted for splits which might not reflect the total return, but is very useful for analyzing price trends without the influence of distributions. What do you think? Is it possible to adjust the chart so that we can see both versions? Thank you

Q: Good afternoon 5i
I know you sell covered call options and so this question is related that. I have several covered calls coming due on April 19. I notice that I already have a profit of 75per cent. I have considered buying back the calls now and pocketing that profit and immediately selling another covered call, once again, for about a month out. I was wondering whether you ever do this, and if so, under what circumstances? Or, do you generally just let it ride to the date? When i look at things now, prices may be rising in the next while, and i might lose out on that profit if I wait.
Thanks for your great service

Q: Personally I find very, very little value in quotes from Co.'s
Officers. Do they ever say something negative about their CO.? Even Nortel had positive quotes. That's their job.
Investors of Bankman-Fried were told great things.
Maybe some analysis would be better.

Q: I'm always fascinated to see the disclosure statement at the end of your answers about US listed companies.

"Authors of this answer, directors, partners and/or officers of 5i Research and/or affiliated companies have a financial or other interest in ___"

Do you have a full list of your US holdings for disclosure that you are comfortable sharing with your members?

Q: Question, analysts -- this comes out of a little frustration. I trade on TD Waterhouse and today wasn't able to get this questioned answered by TD. Analyst Scott Buck of H.C. Wainwright has just changed his potential price for EGLX to $1.36. Prior he had this crazy speculative stock at a huge multiple. TD Waterhouse ranks him in the top of the class on todays main trading page for this pick. He as well has MOGO @ $10.86, while it trades at $1.88 Buck apparently has an average net return on his analysist picks of -10%. For an average investor, how the heck is Buck visible and relevant?!? Why would a company like TD give him a high rating & such great exposure?

Q: Where do I find information about blackout dates for company stock buybacks. What are the blackout dates for HOM>U and QTRH?

Q: Hi, I was just wondering if there was any guidance on when the best time is to buy a dividend stock with regards to the dividend intervals? Thanks as always for your great advice.

Q: Hello. Is there any paid investment subscriptions that you have a membership to? Is there any paid investment subscriptions that you think is top drawer and a worthwhile investment? In addition to 5i of course. Thank you