Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning gentlemen,

Which of these two securities do you believe will provide the highest total return over the next few years? I am inquiring because I have some Extra cash and a 5%. Discount on A&W looks like an enticing buy .

Thx,

KR

Q: Would you please clarify your answer to Chris. It looks like A&W is offering up new shares for sale. This dilutes the value of existing shares. But the money from the sale of those shares is going to 'indirect shareholders' (the people who own Food Services) rather than to something like reducing debt for A&W or doing something else that will eventually improve shareholder value.

Q: A&W issued a release regarding a private placement this morning which itself isn't out of the ordinary.

However what caught my eye was what will happen with the proceeds. They will be given to 'certain indirect shareholders' for 'their personal financial planning requirements'. So the fund is selling units to Laurentian, and all of the money is being handed out to unknown shareholders. None of the funds will be distributed to other shareholders, nor will the Fund hold the cash.

I'm no expert but this doesn't pass the smell test. Am I missing something?

Q: AW.un just issued at private placement with the stock price being $39.25. Currently the stock is trading at about just less than $41.00. Should I expect the current price to decrease to be closer to the private placement price, today or over the next few days?

Q: Could you comment on the private placement, is this why the shares are down ~$1 this morning? will this put a ceiling on the share price until the placement closes?

'VANCOUVER, Feb. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. ("Food Services") announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. ("LBS") to complete a secondary offering of 373,300 units of A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX: AW.UN) in a private placement on a bought deal basis. Under the agreement, LBS has agreed to purchase 373,300 units of the Fund (the "Units") from Food Services at a price of $39.25 per Unit, for gross proceeds of $14,652,025. The transaction is expected to close on or about February 28, 2017, but not later than March 8, 2017.'

Q: Hi Peter Can I have your comments on the 2016 results.
Look Ok to me.I would appreciate your comments.
Kind regards
stan

Q: Did I wait too long to Buy more of A&W? In other words, can I buy more today (now)?

Q: Hi guys,

I have held a position in AW.UN for a long time and it represents about 3% of my portfolio. CIBC's Investors Edge shows 2015 eps at $1.56. If I estimate 2017 eps to be $1.76, that gives A&W a 2017 p/e of 23.4

It seems like Pizza Pizza (PZA), Boston Pizza (BPF.UN) and Cara Operations (CARA) all trade significantly cheaper than A&W on a 2017 p/e basis.

Against this backdrop, would you sell AW.UN for any of PZA, BPF.UN, or CARA?

Lastly, does A&W's corporate structure make itself less likely to be taken over?

Thanks for your time and expertise.

John

Q: I am assuming that the rise in AW can be attributed to their new initiative to get younger entrepreneurs to buy franchises. Seems like a good idea but I am wondering what risk the company (i.e. the Royalty Income fund) is taking on given that the new franchise owners are in effect being subsidized by not having to pay for leasehold improvements, although rent will recoup those costs. From your past remarks, you have noted that the Fund has few real expenses so who pays for these improvements and does the new program add any new risk to the dividend or earnings?


Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Good day!

With the recent misstep by McDonald's in allowing nuts in their restaurants and no longer claiming nut free space, do you think this may have a positive impact on A&W which is nut free? Could the impact be significant in store sales? McDonald's seems to be receiving a lot of backlash from this.

Q: Canadian restaurant income trusts were marvelous investments last year. A&W was up over 40% in the last year in addition to a healthy dividend. The others were up between 26%-33%. Do you expect this kind of growth to continue in 2017? If not, what would be more reasonable to expect?

Q: Please could you rate these 3 similar companies for:-
-Dividend sustainability
-Dividend growth expectations
-Insider ownership
-Debt Levels
-Current outlook for growth

Are any suitable for a full position in a RIF account?

Are any buyable at current prices, and if so which would you favour?

Q: I am currently up 30 to 60% on these companies, all are held in an RSP or RIF account. Would you add, take profits, or sell full position in any of these funds. I have about $20,000 to invest currently in my RRSP and am wondering if it is to late to start a new US position. I am considering facebook or google? Thanks for your input!

Q: I’m looking to add the equivalent of about 1 full position to consumer cyclicals.

I currently hold DHX.B (2.9%), AW.UN(3.4%), QSR(2%), CGX(2.4%). Right now I care about total returns and I lean towards profitable companies which pay, and regularly increase, dividends. I am not opposed to swapping out companies or adding in new ones though I do tend towards the buy & hold philosophy.

Your thoughts on this list, other options in the sector and where to introduce the new cash would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gord

Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team, I need to top up my consumer discretionary holdings and already have close to full positions in the above stocks. Please recommend several possible purchases, or are there any of the stocks I already hold that could be overweight by a bit (excluding XTC)? Alternatively, since I don't have much US exposure, might there be a suitable ETF with decent growth? Thanks in advance.

Q: Peter and team:
I hold all equities in your balanced portfolio and a couple from your growth in a portfolio worth about 450K (Thank you). I currently have about 35K to invest and would like to choose one stock from your growth and two from your income to "round things out".
At current valuations and looking at a 10 year plus time frame could you please rank each of the four equities per group. Sector allocation is not a consideration.
Please deduct 2 credits and Thank you as always for a fantastic service.

Phil

Q: is this category and these stocks good picks and or are there better ones in this field.
also how will rising interest rates 1 2 percent effect these stocks and dividend stocks in particular

Q: Hi 5i,

I am retired and have a 5-10 year investment horizon. I love your Q&A database and find it provides almost all the answers I need.

My question is a general one around interest rates, but I have provided A&W as an example.

I have heard for, it seems like more than a decade, that when interest rates rise, then the price of dividend producing equities will suffer as folks move to bonds and other more growth orientated companies or funds. I have always thought that, say A&W with a 4.4% dividend (and a visible healthier food strategy driving higher sales) would retain its value unless interest rates rise "a lot". The dividend is likely very stable and tax beneficial, so very attractive.

Now, with conditions forming out there that may lead to rising interest rates, and maybe "a lot", how concerned should I be with, say, holding my A&W.

General comment. I notice that some of us who ask questions like to define our status (retired) and time horizon (5-10 years) as we pose a question. I would be supportive in providing a general profile that is maintained at your end so you can "look me up" when answering questions. Optional for us, as some might not want to share. Just a thought.

Love your service.

Q: Hello I5, my cash position is over 25% and would like to reinvest some of it. I would like to have your help to choose the ones with the least downside effect in case of interest rate increases, safest with some growth. Also, would appreciate your assessment of the Manulife (MFR and MBK)ones. Many thanks, J.A. P., Burlington

Q: What would be your outlook for A&w royalties going forward, In terms of total return ( understanding that this years 30% gain is unlikely to be reproduced). And would you consider these types of royalty stocks to be bond proxies sensitive to interest rate increases?

Thx

KR