Investment Q&A

Q: Can you please comment on the payout ratios and free cash flow of these companies. As they are both growing and acquiring other companies, I thought the payout ratio was low. How would you rate their capital allocation over the last few years (cash flow, debt vs issuing new shares) ? Thank you!

Q: I would appreciate if I can have payout ratios for NFI, PBH, SIS, CGX. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Ryan, Peter and excellent team.

Q: Morning guys:
I own the these 3 I’m down significantly with all three. All three of these have solid management teams and I have confidence to hold and dollar cost average for the long haul. Is it time to add at current prices.
Thanks
Mark.

Q: You recently published a list of companies being subjected to tax loss selling. I would be interested in your opinion of the top 3-4 companies that might be appropriate for a TFSA (some growth and a bit of income) come January 2. Thanks.

Q: Internal Damage?

When companies go through a major drop from their 52 week high (TSGI -60%, SIS -41%, GRUB-51%, NVDA-53%, KXS-35%) What kind of internal damage is created? I'm thinking employee moral, to stock options, to the ability to finance future growth? Other items? It's very tempting to continue to average down (although my dry powder is getting low) but when a company loses 40%-50% of it's value is it the same company anymore? Or is buying something like a Microsoft (down only 11%) a more prudent investment? (i.e. it hasn't breached a point of internal damage)

My holding period is very long, but I'm wondering if the current steep discounts currently are somewhat false illusions...

Q: Hi Peter:
Season greetings to you and your team.
I would like your opinion on the trade(s) I was thinking about.
1) Sell full positions in POW and NFI.
I've had POW for 5 years and it has done nothing during that time except go down about 20%. However, I also think that at $24.00 it has potentially hit a bottom support number. I would be happy collecting the nice dividend it pays.
I also think based on your recent answers to questions that NFI has potential going forward.
2) If I sold POW and NFI, I would add to the positions that I already have of the other companies that are mentioned.
I'm well diversified and this would not interfere with my sector or geographical weightings or the amount of dividends I am receiving.
I think both scenarios have their positive attributes and would appreciate your thoughts. Do the trade or remain the course.
Thank you very much for your valued opinion.

Q: Down considerably with this stock. I notice that it is not one of your top picks going forward. Your thoughts

Q: Each of these companies have a 2% weighting in my rrsp.I have losses of 20% for TOY,4% for SIS,11% for GSY and 13% for KXS.
Buy,sell,hold?
Your recommendations please.

Q: The market is again very vicious today,hitting all,including the above 5 darlings (& RAY.A)of 5I,Any reasons? Buy/add or hold or sell.Please rank them starting with best for buy Txs for u usual great services & views

Q: An analyst from Citi has warned that “debt service ratios for non-financial firms” in Canada are very high, and a crisis is possible within a year. Is it safe to assume that none of the companies you recommend would have any trouble servicing their debt (TSGI, SIS, PBH, COV, TOY, etc)? Do any prominent names come to mind which might be at risk? Thanks for your thoughts.

Q: Could I get your opinion on purchasing these stocks going into the new year. If none your choice of some income and dividend suggestions. Also comment on bce for a long term hold. Merry Christmas to all.

Q: In your response to Robert re: Savaria, "the share adjustment already done keeps it at a hold" means what ? Are you saying its no longer a buy ? Lol if so when did that change ?

Q: Hi

I have not had time to do the research lately, but what is happening to SIS. I bought it at $16.60 abut a month ago when it was showing good potential and growth. I know that the stock market is turbulent right now, and affecting good companies negatively, but did I miss something important about this company. I bought 300 shares, should I hold on to them or is there something tragic looming on the horizon for SIS.

Q: Whats going on with sis is this tax loss selling, market, china or something else. Should a person sell and take his lumps.

Q: I trade with td Waterhouse and get their Technical alerts via e mail. Dec. 7th. Alert has downgrades on the above noted stocks. ipl- Close 20.92 down to 18.00 range. mre close 10.28 down to 4.75 range. sis close 13.01 down to 8.00 range. Your view on these technical downgrades, and are they fact. Sis was a recent top pick of Ryan Modesto. Should I be selling on Monday?

Q: I hold approx. 6000 shares of each of the following at hIgher prices.VET,SIS,PXT,COV and GUD.Which would you sell,add or hold.Your input is appreciated.
Thanks Richard

Q: In your reply to Michael this morning you stated: "So we think it is a little too soon to write the company off." Your response implies that there is some possibility that SIS will be written off, whereas your previous comments on SIS have been very positive. What level of confidence do you have in SIS as a viable investment for the long term?

Q: Hi, SIS has added a significant amount of long term debt over the last 4 years, and free cash flow seems to have hit a plateau, with a lot of cash coming from financing. Do you feel the growth by acquisition story here looks sustainable?

Q: With the recent market correction, I have several stocks that are down quite significantly and others that stayed flat or went up a little. This involves that the weightings changed quite a bit for some stocks. I know 5i isn't a big fan of averaging down, but in such context what would be your advice? I have the followings (%loss, weight) :
SIS (-19%, 4%)
PHO(-41%, 1.7%)
KXS(-10%, 3.3%)
NFI(-32%, 2.6%)
PBH(-28%, 3.4%)
TOY(-23%, 2.5%)
MX(-22%, 3.1%)
I currently have 13% cash and would consider reducing it to 7-8%. My sectors are well diversified. Which of the above would be your favorites today for a position increase?

Thank you!

Q: Hi, I am looking for 2-3 stocks which have recently come down, but have strong revenue projection, low debt, and good track record.
I am not looking for Oil & Gas, Pipelines, or Utilities.
Please let me know if CGX, SIS, WEF, QTRH, NFI meet that criteria. If yes, how would you rate these.
If not, please suggest few other names.
Thanks for your help.