Investment Q&A

Q: I had shares of Jean Coutu. I thought the deal with Metro was that I would get shares of Metro in exchange of PJc. Instead, I got the proceedings of the sale on my Disnat account. I surely missed the document where I would have been able to select a different choice and avoid part of the capital gain at this moment. I would like to put that money at work. What would be a good choice from the BE or Income portfolios to replace PJc? The weight of Metro, Loblaws and EMP.A is already 10% of my portfolio.

Q: Hello 5i team,
Since I think the probability of a competing bid is close to zero, and the closing ability of the buyer is good, I want to understand the price at which PJC.A shares trade.
The facts: each shareholder can choose between (1) cash = 24,50$ or 0,61006 MRU (currently 26,09$); the aggregate consideration will be 75% in cash + 25% in MRU shares. Currently, MRU = 42,78 and PJC = 24,83 =>75%+25% = 24,90$.
Can I expect PJC shares to trade directly on this 75% & 25% prorata? Will the Coutu family exclusively get shares (they will get 2 seats on the board)? If yes, than there won't be that many shares of MRU available for the rest of PJC shareholders. Today, no PJC shareholders would choose to be paid 24,50$ cash, all would choose 100% MRU shares (price 42,78 x 0,61006= 26,10$). If I have no particular desire to own MRU share, and if I want to maximize my wealth, what should I do, if I cannot forecast MRU share price? The difference between the current price of PJC.A shares 24,83$ and the 75%+25% sum 24,90$ is very small for a transaction that will close between March and June 2018
Thank you, Eric

Q: Hello Peter,
My Frescii shares have tumbled 50% and am not sure if it is worth holding. What is your opinion? Do i hold or replace it with prometic or crh medical or for longer term knight (gud). With respect to Jean Coutu, would you expect the stock to go above 24.50 at a later point (higher offer) as my average cost is about that range or simply let the merger go through and I will get cash and some metro stock. Thank you.

Q: In March 2017 Metro had 32,227,000 Class A Multiple Voting Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard"), representing approximately 21.81% of the issued and outstanding Class A Multiple Voting Shares of Couche-Tard.
Do you think ATD.B went down today as some concern that Metro sells some of their shares to finance the merger with PJC.A?

Q: Hello Peter,
With the increase in interest rates, i was expecting Sunlife and Manulife to go higher but they have dropped. Any comments? I want to increase my weighting to 5 percent for Enbridge and Alimentation Couch Tard but both stocks are not responding well eventhough Alimentation had good results. Would 5 percent be too much? Also, if you had a choice between fairfax africa and india, which one would you prefer and finally, I was thinking of Jean Coutu for a 5 year hold. Can you see it doubling in 5 years? Lastly, all the stocks that the shorts went after have not really recovered (CXR, HCG, CRH, etc). What does this say about the analysis that was done by various managers including ones on BNN? I am not blaming anyone but it is discouraging that the shorts were right. Thank you

Q: I need to increase my holdings of Consumer staples. Please rank the following in order of your preference when the main focus is dividend growth with secondary goal of capital appreciation.
ATD, L, MRU, SAP, WN, EMP.A, MFI, BCB, PBH, PJC.A

I can be patient in the timing of my purchases. Do you think this is a good time in the economic cycle tp purchase this sector?

Many Thanks

Paul

Q: Over the last 2 years, I lost quite a lot of money investing in a promotional companies, or, companies with growth profiles too good to be true. On the other hand, I always made money investing in a company that meets all the following criterias: (1) boring (2) sells products I use (3) existed for 5 years (4) pays a dividend under 4%. Jean-Coutu meets passes this test so I'm considering it my father's portfolio. Is there something *not* to like about it? How about the latest news on the government meddling with drug generics pricing. This this take a positive turn? Thank you!

Q: I am looking at PJC.A as a take over candidate. My thinking is, as with the purchase of Shoppers by Loblaws, Jean Coutu has a sizeable downtown presence and while Montreal downtown is perhaps not quite as attractive as Toronto downtown, its still a quick way for a retailer to expand their urban presence, and as the Shoppers purchase showed, far cheaper and quicker than trying to do this from the ground up. My question is, is this a reasonable thesis and, perhaps more importantly, is PJC.A good enough and especially safe enough for a longer-term, patient hold, irrespective of the above thesis.

Q: What do you think of PJC for a core dividend growth holding? I find it a bit expensive, any better companies in the same space (consumer defensive)? Thanks.

Q: Could I please have your opinion on PJC.A -sell or hold - Thank you - Hanna

Q: Hello 5i Team,

Would you consider PJC to be a good long term hold as part of a diversified dividend growth portfolio? Could you comment on the health of their balance sheet as well as their growth prospects going forward.

Thanks

Q: Good morning. With provincial and federal health ministers strategizing to lower pharmaceutical costs for Canadians, what do you think will be the impact on Jean-Coutu? Is it likely or even certain that a Pan-Canadian bulk-buying program for drugs will open Jean-Coutu's sales to more provinces and increase the volume of generic drugs Jean-Coutu sells? Thanks for your excellent advice.

Here is a quote from the CBC article posted Jan 21:

The group will build on the work of the provinces' bulk-buying program, the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which saves money by negotiating large contracts with pharmaceutical companies.

"Even with that work, prescription drugs are still too expensive in this country," said B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake.

Q: Jean-Coutu has fell 15% since yesterday because the governement will effectively make generic drugs cheaper. This is a huge part of Jean-Coutu's business. Could you discuss the impact on the company? (1) Considering the extent of the impact on their future revenues, how much do you think the stock could contract? Technically, there is some support at 15$. (2) If you were close to retirement, who you buy? I like the nature of the business, 2.5% dividend and the dividend growth history. However I don't want to see the stock fall another 15%. (3) Insiders were buying a lot at 19$ very recently, they must have known about the possibility of this happenning? Thank you team.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-26/jean-coutu-slumps-most-in-7-years-on-proposed-quebec-drug-reform

Q: Any reason for the huge drop the last couple of days? Would you consider this a buying opportunity?

Thanks,

Paul

ps, the data given on my previous question for ENB came from google finance (not sure how accurate they are).

Q: Good Morning Peter, Ryan, and Team,
I purchased shares in Jean Coutu when they got knocked back to under $20. The company has had a decent history of dividend growth and could be considered somewhat safe for an income account. I noticed very recently that you added Andrew Peller to the Income Portfolio and they just reported a pretty good quarter. If you had to choose between the two would you own PJC.A or ADW.A for an income account ??? Thank you very much for your sage advice. DL

Q: Just curious on your opinion on the quarter reported today. Hold a small weighting in the Canadian consumer space and thinking to add to this position. Also, could you help clarify for me what the tax provision ruling was that dragged down net profit? Other than this it seemed like a strong quarter? Is this a canary in the coal mine?

Q: Hi Peter, at what point would you step into Jean Coutu or am I best to look elsewhere as this stock may continue to be out of favour after another earnings miss?
Thanks Rob

Q: Other than latest earnings announcement, any idea why PJC.A down significantly since April 17? Is this a buying opportunity?

Q: It's down quite significantly after earnings. Is it a good entry point under 25? Thanks.

Q: jean coutu is very strong with volume in this down market. I am thinking of going in for a short term trade. Your opinion would be appreciated.