skip to content
  1. Home
  2. >
  3. Investment Q&A
You can view 3 more answers this month. Sign up for a free trial for unlimited access.

Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Good morning, if one was to look for international oil and gas exposure, other than through a Canadian listed company like VET, would you prefer a service company like SLB, or a large integrated like XOM, CVX, BP, or RDS. Although you don't follow these, is there anything that you particularly like? Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Derek on December 12, 2017
Q: I looked at PUR, liked the business, but found it pricey and chose to wait. A bad call I suppose. I realize Xylem will realize cost savings on the acquisition, and will no doubt see opportunities to expand PUR's business within its portfolio, but please help me understand something. I estimate Xylem is paying over 20 times PUR's expected 2017 EBITDA. I thought 10 to 11 times was "high". Isn't $9.00 exceptionally pricey? What can I take away from this? Thank you for your time. Edward.
Read Answer Asked by Edward on December 12, 2017
Q: Hello, I have read your answer to a member asking about AGU today. I hold Agrium and I have just contacted my online broker. He told me that I have 2 choices:
1) the default action is "disposition" (if I do nothing)
2) the "rollover".
He was not in a position to tell me which one of these 2 choices is best for me (non registered account). What would you do? What is the difference between "disposition" and "rollover" ? Is there any tax implications for the investors? Best regards, Gervais

Read Answer Asked by Gervais on December 12, 2017
Q: To cut down on the length, let me get directly to the questions. Is your tax lost list periodically updated to add potential new candidates?

In the daily 52 week lows, a number of energy names reappear. Looking at them as part of an out of favour sector rather than a January bump play, what should I focus on? Clearly location is gaining importance but which financial measures would you focus on to start? The industry experts talk of their benchmarks such as excessive debt or value, often based on cash flow. Depletion rates and reserve life , the type and quality of the wells other considerations. Would they cover the basics and above/below what ratios would make you interested to look closer at any company? If not, what would you focus on?
Keeping with the spirit of the season, If one were seeking a last minute shopping list, would you kindly provide your top 1 or 2 best investment ideas in the oil, gas and service sectors? A basic reason why would be helpful and most appreciated.

Thank you for the education, as well as, the very good guidance you provide in making more informed investment decisions.

Season's greeting,
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on December 12, 2017
Q: Hi, for my US exposure, I hold the following 3 US ETFs at the following total percentages:

VTI - 50%
VIG - 20%
IWO - 30%

I have $10K USD to add and I'm wondering whether VTI and VIG are too similar or whether I'm fine to add to all 3 and keep the same rough percentages.

Thanks
Robert
Read Answer Asked by Robert on December 12, 2017
Q: Hi Peter: A few months ago Yahoo Finance changed its website resulting in a site that is much less useful and now Google Finance has followed suit. Before Yahoo and Google changed their websites these websites were very useful for giving access to financial statements of Canadian and US companies. Are there any other good financial websites that an individual investor can access that would have quarterly and yearly financial statements?
Read Answer Asked by Randip on December 12, 2017
Q: I have a question about FIH.UN

For weeks there seems to be a large seller that trips any momentum the shares develop. Is there a short position developing or any indication of an institution selling.
A recent notice of a shelf prospective is the only other explanation in my view. Some indication in the prospectus that the funds could be used to purchase shares of large sellers.
Could be that shareholders are worried about dilution.
Can you determine which of the above might explain the negative momentum.
What would you estimate fair value to be.
Read Answer Asked by Doug on December 11, 2017
Q: So everyday you hear more and more about this blockchain technology, from banks to Wal Mart, using it, and companies now like Microsoft and IBM developing it, so where does a small company like BTL, now over 200M market cap, fit into this with there size. Do they have technology and products that a large company would want and would buy them out at a large premium? Is there another Canadian company like BTL that is developing the products that they produce? Would you say that it is now becoming a BUY?
Read Answer Asked by eugene on December 11, 2017