Investment Q&A

Q: Hello, according to the company profile of TCL.A, the price-to-cash-flow ratio (P/CF) is 4.70. When one looks at the P/CF ratio of any company, above what ratio would you say that this is a good P/CF? In your opinion, what would be the top 5 utilities company right now? Thanks, Gervais

Q: Hi,
For the Industrial portion in my RRSP account, I am considering the above companies. With RTN, I wanted to diversify outside of Canada with a large cap stock. Do you see any issue with this company at this time? Is there something else you would prefer? I know you don't cover the US but respect your opinion.

As for the other three (TFII, TCL.a & NFI) could you rank best to worse buys at this time? I am considering adding 2 of the 3 to limit the number of stocks owned. My criteria are: to hold for long term (5 to 10 years), lower impact by any slow down of economy, good growth in dividends and low leverage. Is there another stock or two that would be better than the ones I am considering?
Thanks as always for your help.
All the best,
Dan

Q: How do you feel about the various debt metrics at TCL?

Q: Could you please comment on TCL.a results, with special reference to progess on Coveris acquisition. Do you see stock rebound in near term ? Thanks

Q: Charge as many credits as you see fit...at least 4...got lots. Annually, I follow the O'Shaughnessy system and go through the tedious process of ranking over 90 stocks into deciles. I am screening for stocks that are good value, less volatile and have a good + growing dividend. For value, I use P/E, P/B, P/CF, P/S. For volatility, I use Beta. For dividends, this year I have added 5 year growth % into the process. The resultant summary number is the cumulative of the 7 metrics, with roughly 60% value, 15% volatility and 25% dividend weighting. I then marry this up with a technical screening, using charts with a 200 mda, looking for a rising vs rangebound vs declining chart.

Question 1 = your thoughts on my screening system? I thought of adding in other metrics, but I wanted to keep it relatively simple. Factors such as payout % and ROE can always be a looked at in the next phase. Should I drop any of the metrics if they are redundant?

Most of the stocks screened as expected. However, 3 stocks didn't screen well at all and I am trying to figure out why. It may be that my population of stocks is skewed to value stocks, so if any of the other 3 stocks had growth or REIT characteristics, then they might be seen as outliers.

Question 2 = CSH's fundamentals screened horribly = 10th decile. Could it be that REITs may screen out differently, due to their very nature?

Question 3 =Both PBH and WSP screened poorly = 8th decile. Could it be their fundamental metrics exhibit more growth characteristics?

Question 4 = Reading past 5iR questions on these 3 stocks leads me to believe you are still strongly in favor of all 3. Please confirm.

Thanks...Steve

Q: I am down to 30K in my RSP and no TFSA, looking to have 6 total positions. Thinking SPB, TCL, AQN & DIV. I know Diversified is higher risk but I feel comfortable with that company at today's levels. Would you be okay with those 4 and what 2 would be best to add for Dividend with some growth but overall safety. Should I add a specific bank like BNS or would ZWB be better for me right now?
Same question for AQN, would I be better removing single stock exposure and going with ZWU?
Charge as many q's as necessary.
Thanks!

Q: I am planning to realize losses on the above companies to offset capital gains with a plan to repurchase after 30 days. In order to maintain sector exposure in the intervening period I would like identify proxies for each holding. My thinking is as follows:

TECK.B == XMA
BNS == TD
TFII == ZIN
NFI == ZIN
WEF == CFP
VET == XEG
WCP == XEG

Please review my suggested proxies and add / amend as needed. Alternatively, if you think I would simply be better off holding cash until repurchasing please say so. Thank-you very much for your help.

Q: TCL reports on Dec 13. What does your crystal ball say? Positive Coveris integration impact? Should I buy prior to or wait until post-Dec 13? Thanks...Steve

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend-income investor. My current equity-only asset allocation is 22% financials, 8% real estate, 25% tel-pipes-utilities, 15% consumer (owning CGX, PBH & others contained in ETFs and MFs), 3% health, 8% tech, 8% industrials (owning WSP among others), 9% energy, 2% materials. I am mostly invested with roughly 8% cash available to deploy.

I capitalized on tax loss selling of NFI and TCL. I am considering topping up CGX and WSP to a full position and re-initiate a partial position in either NFI or TCL or another suggestion from you.

Question 1 = Could you please rank these 4 stocks based on a) security of dividend, b) growth of dividend and c) potential stock price appreciation (rebound potential).

Q2 = I am normally a buy-and-hold investor and do minor-trims-adds around core positions. Being we are in late cycle, should I just maintain my existing allocations and avoid adding to my consumer cyclical and industrial stocks?

Thanks for your help...Steve

Q: Hi 5i:
I have held both before and sold for gains. Would you favour one over the other now or take partial position in both assuming they both are buys? TFSA or RIF or it doesn't matter which? I am a long term investor and I feel well diversified.
Thanks for your thoughts,

Tom

Q: TCL.A is near its 52 week low. My average cost base is $18.88. I am considering purchasing more shares because my portfolio is under-weighted in industrial stock. Would you recommend buying TCL now or would you recommend waiting till after 13 December when the fiscal 2018 results are released? Can you recommend an industrial stock other than TCL that yields 4% or more?

Q: Is having a good day. Anything 5 i sees to account for this. Thx

Q: Following up on a recent question regarding allocating the appropriate amount of monies to each stock, the amount depending on the size, safety, etc of that security. Would you agree with the current split (full, partial, small):

Full = AD (should be partial), AQN, BCE, BNS, FTS, RY, TRP.
Partial = CGX (could be full?), CSH, NFI, PGH (could be full?), TCL, WSP (could be full?).
Small = WCP.

Thanks...Steve

Q: I track my asset allocation in detail...retired, lots of time and interest to do so. I break out ETFs and my few mutual funds by sector. A few of my stocks are split into a pair of sectors. As an example, TRP is sometimes referred to as a Utility, but seems to track the Energy sector...so I split it 50-50. Ditto for CSH...I split it 50-50 between REITs and Healthcare.

Both NFI and TCL are listed on the Company Profile as being in the Consumer sector, but I have seen them both in the Industrial sector as well. Using my TRP and CSH examples above (to be consistent in my tracking methodology), where should NFI and TCL be allocated...solely to one sector or 50-50?

Thanks,
Steve

Q: Hi, we already have 5% weighting in this co. with average cost of $28-$29. You have commented that stock, current levels is very inexpensive and Coveris acquisition, although had teething troubles but should eventually work out. Is it OK to add 1% to take advantage of current low price, in a Taxable account to average down and benefit with 4% dividend yield while waiting ? Thanks

Q: Good morning,
I sold the above in early October to capture tax loss, and can rebuy next week. Are there any among these 4 that you would pass on for now.?
Thanks for the hand holding.
Ted

Q: Which of TCL and CCL do you prefer and why? I own both and am considering selling one and buying more of the other. Tax loss is not a consideration.

Q: Hi, The listed companies have been where I have taken a big hit. As a novice investor the lesson I've learned is that it makes sense to average into a position, especially in an uncertain market. Losses in these stocks have taken over 5% of my portfolio. Can you comment please that all of these companies show promise for the long term, and there is good reason to say they will bounce back when the markets do recover? I know that MFC has a litigation issue, and TCL.A has an acquisition that is somewhat off the rails. I don't need this money for at least 15 years, but also want to feel sure I'm setting up my RSP for an increase within a few years. Thanks.

Q: Would you buy TCL.A today or does this stock fall into the "catch a falling knife" category?

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend income investor and have 1/2 to 2/3 positions in each of these securities. I trim-add to my stocks when my asset allocation needs adjusting (recently topped up BCE, BNS). I am considering topping up these 4 stocks, but am fully aware that Tax Loss Selling Season will soon be in full swing. Having said that, all 4 of these stocks have already been beaten up a fair bit.

I know you are NOT a market timer, but does your crystal ball foresee further downside as we work our way through the next 2 months of Tax Loss Selling? Using TCL as an example, you just added 1% to your position. I am sure you must have had quite an internal 5iR discussion about "when" to add that position vs. your 10% cash position at that time and the need to deploy some of it. OR...is it as simple as...this stock has been beaten up so much, it has excellent value now, we know we can't time the bottom, so let's just buy it now?

Thanks...Steve