Investment Q&A

Q: A fairly topical (and volatile) name these days... Your view on today's earnings please?

Q: Hello team,

I am down 87% on this stock and I learnt my lesson not to speculate again. I have 4 questions:

1- Why the steady drop since July? 2- What is the likely future for this company? 3- Is bankruptcy a real likelihood? 4- should I hang on or take what is left of this disaster story and call it a good lesson?

Thanks for all your help!

Q: What do you think of Ebix?

I did a simple screen of US stocks and came across this one with a low PE (below 10) and a modest dividend (above 2%). Why has it performed so poorly and is it reasonably safe to invest for the medium term?

Q: I am a risky investor and was thinking to buy AVO last week but due to market volatility and specially volatility in AVO, I avoided it and today when I refreshed my monitor I saw a sudden jump by 30.67%. Do you think at the price of around $20 this is a good buy if I were to hold off this stock till next 6 months or a year?

Q: Hi everyone,

What if this is all a lie. I am talking about the recent Q3 earning report? What if there is really no smoking gun and just smoke? I never believed it when the CFO left so suddenly literally a day before Q2 release. And now I read in the G&M that he is alive and well working for another company since he left AVO. What is your take on this article and the accounting concerns pointed out by Veritas. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/avigilon-silences-the-doubters-or-at-least-most-of-them/article21465928/

Is this another case in which naive shareholders like me will have to learn the truth well after the share prices have completely collapsed? I look forward to your reassuring perspective. Thank you!

Q: Hello Peter & Co,
I (age 71) have recently made adjustments to my RRIF portfolio (for 70% of my retirement income)
2014 ytd return 22%, yield vs book 3%, beta 0.40
Consumer discretionary (5%) LNR,MG
Energy (10%) BTE,CPG,HWO,TOU,VET,WCP
Financials (8%) BNS,EFN,HCG,TD
Health (11%) CCT,CXR,DND,GUD,RX,XHC
Industrial/Transport (7%) CHE.UN,CCL.B,CNR
Infrastructure (6%) BIP.UN,SJ,STN
Materials (3%) IFP,WEF
Pipelines/Midstream (11%) ENB,IPL,KEY,PPL
Retail (4%) ATD.A,DOL
Services/Media (8%) BYD.UN,CGX,DHX,FSV
Technology (13%) CSU,ESL,GIB.A,MDA,OTC
Util/Telco/RE (9%) ALA,BCE,BEP.UN,TCN
Cash (5%)
As 5i Research has rated many of these holdings, a general commentary would be sufficient.
Thanks,
Tony

Q: Hi Peter and team, I have a very high risk tolerance and a very long time horizon. I consider there are huge bargains present in the gold mining sector. My plan is to systematically buy quality names like YRI and G. I expect these companies will revert to their fair values creating very high gains over time provided they won't go out of business. Your evaluation on this contrarian strategy please.

Q: Can you please give me your opinion of che.un. Why is it not profitable? Its P/E is shown as nil.

Many thanks as always
Joanne

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

2 questions for today. Firstly thank you for your continued advice - I have and will continue to subscribe to it, as I find it invaluable for the Canadian market.

My questions arise from 2 sources, firstly that my investments are currently 100% Canadian, and secondly Mr. Poloz' recent letter to the CCPPP (link below) titled "The legacy of the financial crisis – what we know, and what we don’t". I think it's time to diversify out of Canada a bit.

Here are the questions:
1) Can you recommend a US 'no conflict of interest' equity research firm similar to 5i that I could check out?
2) I take the overall message in Mr. Poloz' letter to be Diversify out of Canada. Would you agree?

Thanks!
Keith

link:<http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2014/11/legacy-financial-crisis/>

Q: What do you think of transocean? Is it safe to get in for a long term (3-5) year hold

Q: Your thoughts please on the recent news and decline in stock value. Many thanks!

Q: I would like your opinion on the direction of the US dollar as it relates to our precious metals market here in Canada. It seems the dollar will continue to be strong but gold and silver prices cant go much lower than the cost to produce them. Is this the time to nibble away at the the higher torque mid-sized names in the space or wait? Which names do you like for the next 6-12 months?

Q: I am a large holder of intertape polymer, believe it or not since 2.75. just curious as to why you do not cover it. it seems to fit into your mandate. dave

Q: Your thoughts on yesterday's earning release and short term outlook on the stock.

Thanks

Q: would you say TOU is a good purchase for a TFSA right now, given the fundamentals are good and the sector is beaten up.
Assuming your answer is yes, would it make more sense to wait as the sector may not have hit it's bottom yet?
Thanks for everything, as always!

Q: I am looking for a short term investment (less than 1 year) and was looking at Questor or Shawcor (SCL). Would you recommend one or another company for a short term, appreciating that you prefer a longer term approach? Thanks.

Q: Just heard that there has been an oil pipeline explosion in Saudi Arabia. Could be the cause of the rise in oil today.

Q: Would you recommend which company(s) to sell in my cash account for tax loss selling? PRW, BAD, VET, BTE, BDI?

As others have mentioned, I certainly appreciate your service. Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter and company. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the SAND BAGGING most analysts took last/this week. The company lowered there numbers to analysts and in turn the stock had large short positions gaining and down grades. I bought some shares last week and Monday and sold this morning. Does this change your thoughts on managements communication with the public in whole? Have you set a new target price?

Thank you Jason

Q: Regarding Lyondell for the member asking (I hold it as well) - Lyondell uses a great deal of energy in it's business and retooled to use cheaper natural gas. That action boosted it's margins and gave it an advantage over other chemical companies. Now that oil is cheaper, that advantage is gone. For now.
Can I ask - Canadian oil was receiving much less than the WTI price a year or so ago. That seemed to improve more recently. What price are the Canadian companies receiving now? Is the much different than the oil price they received when transportation was an issue? (I guess I am asking - is this downturn really, relatively, so bad?
Thanks