Investment Q&A

Q: These questions are in regard to Peter’s comment today about maintaining a balanced (sector weighted) portfolio: 1. If one was starting fresh with a $1m equity portfolio, how many names would you choose if building a portfolio from the Summary List? Regardless of sector (next question), would they all be equal weight by name?
2. I see that you have applied 14 sectors to your summary names – 4 more than the TSX/S&P breakdowns (Services, Industrial Goods, Financial Services and Consumer Goods seem to be adjuncts to the usual 10). In determining sector weighting of the portfolio, would you choose names so that all 14 sectors were of equal weight (i.e. 7% each)? If so, how far would you let a sector run before re-balancing?
3. If one decided to follow your Balanced Portfolio, would you buy all 27 of your current names? Would they be all equal weight or at the current weights in your portfolio?
4. What would be the highest percentage for a single name to run before re-balancing?

I realize sector/stock weighting cannot be made into a science, but I’m just trying to get a toehold conceptually. Thanks a lot.

Q: Just wondering if your position on CPX changed since May 20. How would you rate the stock today (buy/hold/sell)? CPX is now less than 2% in my portfolio and I am approx 20% down on this stock. I like the dividend but the stock chart worries me - it's been steady downhill YTD. I know that the last quarter was bad due to facility outage, but the stock price is likely to go down even more due to tax loss sale, it seems like an ideal candidate... Do you consider the dividend safe? If yes, I have no problem holding it for a few years. If not, should I take a loss and switch to a better name (???) in the same sector?
Thanks.

Q: I have just joined and am examining the balanced portfolio. Can you tell me the initial purchase dates for the companies in the portfolio. Thank you

Q: Hi Guys,
Any recent update on VLE? it's been awhile since a question has been asked. I see Scott Lamacraft is still the largest shareholder.
Thanks

Q: Good afternoon:
I would appreciate your recommendation with respect to Trevali in light of the recent news release and the upsurge in volume. Thank you.

Q: Regarding the proposed merger, would you advise holding or selling this stock? I'm up 28%.

Q: Comments on PRV.UN, is Yield sustainable?
Thanks
Cec

Q: I agree that it is a great business but I would appreciate more details on the valuation metrics you look at to evaluate the company. You mention that it is cheap but I see it at 24 times LTM earnings of 6.57 per share. I find that to be on the high end of it's historical range. Maybe I am missing something here ? Is there a better metric to look at ? Thank you!!

Q: What is your current opinion on CXI? I am down quite a bit on this one and it seems to be drifting lower.

Q: What do you make of the CFO resignation today. How instramental was he in Couche Tarde's recent growth? Do you know how deep their bench is for an internal replacement? I noticed that ATD was Peter's top pick on BNN today. Whoud this recent development concern you?

Thanks,
Hans

Q: Hello, I have owned Boston Pizza for about 2 years and while I like the dividend the stock is down about 15%. If you were going to stay in the same sector, would you stick with Boston Pizza or switch those funds to A and W? Thanks for continued great service. Bill

Q: Hi Peter and team,

Of the following stocks that I currently own: GXI,CSU,AVO,WSP,IPL and XSR; how would you evaluate their status as to long term holds given the fact that GXI,AVO, and XSR are down approximately 33% - 46% ? What replacements would you otherwise choose?

Much thanks,
Dean

Q: Hi 5i,
In the tech portion of my portfolio I have:
Apple 3%, Google 3%, Enghouse 1.5%, Cognizant 1.25%, Open Text 1.25%, and Qualcomm 1%.
Would any of the above be a sell in your opinion?
I am considering adding about a 1.5% position in either Kinaxis (kxs) or Tucowsn(tc). For a 2 to 3 year hold, would you recommend one over the other?
And if neither of these stocks are to your liking could you recommend 1 or 2 others to consider.
Thanks for all that you do.

Q: I was hoping to get your thoughts on Venator's position on CSU:

http://www.venator.ca/uploads/FEB_2015__Final_.pdf

"I just don't like paying for acquisitions that haven't happened yet, and when you pay more than 20x earnings for an otherwise no growth company that is exactly what you are doing. This is why we own Open Text but not Constellation Software. If Open Text doesn't make an acquisition for the next two years it might drop about 10%, putting its valuation on par with Oracle (to name another low growth consolidator); the same scenario played out with the aforementioned Constellation Software would send that stock down over 30%."

CSU's share and earnings growth is largely based on its excellent ability to acquire businesses and less so on on its organic growth. If CSU is unable to acquire companies at the same pace (the larger it gets, the bigger the acquisition required to make an impact), would this not cause a material negative affect on its valuation?

Q: With the price drop I see the yield is in excess of 8%. Any news that would be of concern here.

Many thanks

Paul

Q: What is your opinion on the IPO of Hydro One closing on November 02-2015 the yield look decent at 4.20%?

Q: What about this new issue of common shares that ENF is doing so quite large at 700 million dollars.

Q: For your readers:

https://www.bloomburton.com/research/CXRX20151012.pdf

Research report dated Oct. 12 from Bloom Burton (investment bank specializing in Healthcare in the US) regarding CXR. Please note that valuation is in USD in the report. A $78USD target price would imply ~$100CAD.

It appears there is a massive disconnect between CXR's current share price and its earning potential. The selling is become almost ridiculous at this point. Thoughts?

Q: Last 5i comment on EMA appears to be almost two years ago. Could I please have your current thoughts on this utility for income and some growth? Thanks.

Q: Just to clarify the tax treatment re: BPY.UN distributions. I have held the TSX listed BPY.UN, BEP.UN and BIP.UN for a long time in a taxable account and there are no US withholding taxes withheld on the distributions. The distribution is taxed differently than a straight dividend (via the T5013) however. If you held the US listed stocks I think there would be a US withholding tax. Hope this helps.