Investment Q&A

Q: In a recent response to Carla on purchasing gold stocks, you suggested the purchase of 3 stocks to fill her position. That would suggest to me that I would require 60 stocks for a portfolio. I am trying to square this answer with earlier advice that portfolios need only have 20 - 25 names. Did you suggest 3 names because gold is a particularly volatile sector, or that current market conditions require much more diversification than "normal" or is there perhaps some other reason.

Apprciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: I've read that this company is having problems with shortage of natural gas supplies in some countries. With the drop in price, what is your assessment at this time? A good buying opportunity?

thanks,

Paul

Q: The market has spoken and even the Heroes have come down sharply.(They haven't become Zeroes like Nortel!!)
Which you think is a good one to buy and put it away? Apple,Google or Amazon? Can't afford to buy all of them even in this down market b/c of their price and the low loonie!
Thank you for your informative answers.

Q: Can you provide an updated analysis and recommendation on Cogeco Cable (CCA)? I don't currently own it but would like to and noticed that its at a 52 week low. I've been a customer of cogeco for a very long time. Is the dividend safe? Is the business vulnerable to larger competitors like Rogers/Bell? Thanks again - John

Q: I am wondering why you think biosyent hasn't moved in the past six months, depute excellent growth in revenue and earnings, ROE above 40%, no debt, and new products coming on stream. Any thoughts?

Q: I had kept a cash reserve of 12% to use when markets get unreasonably oversold. Recently , with prices falling, I used up much of that reserve which I am now looking to re-build. I have Pepsi in an RSP and thought of selling. My ONLY purpose is to raise cash for future use. I have nothing specific in mind to buy:my purpose is simply and only to top up reserves to take for those market plunge days.

Granted, PEP is holding up well relative to the market. I also recognize you dislike market timing. Nevertheless I would appreciate your insight (with substance). I sold McDonalds for similar reason only to watch it climb 20%. I can't quite see that happening on PEP, and ask your educated thoughts or opinion given I am looking only to top up cash reserve.

Q: 1st quarter financials tabled today with earnings of $2.15 per sh compared to 1.63 estimates,adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was a record $161.8 million, or 20.2% of revenue, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share payable on February 10, 2016 to shareholders of record as of January 20, 2016.

Business Outlook Based on current business trends, industry forecasts and production schedules for fiscal 2016, Greenbrier reaffirms previously provided guidance for:
• Deliveries of approximately 20,000 - 22,500 units
• Revenue will exceed $2.8 billion
• Diluted EPS will be in the range of $5.65 to $6.15
_What is further surprising the book value is $25.35 and the stock is trading today @$24.86.
-P/E is 4.8x
ROE is over 31 ROI is 36.

I know the markets tanked today however why is this stock,- to me it seems to be a screeming buy. I know it perhaps in linked indirectly with the price of oil, but what am I missing.

I would appreciate you candid thoughts and reply. Thanks in advance

Q: Happy New Year Peter. I thoroughly enjoy your service.
I bought EFN in May of 2015. It is about to hit my "25% Mental Trailing Stop" when I have to re-evaluate this stock as to whether or not to sell it at market price. It is currently at 24.4% while my actual loss is 15%. I use Trailing stops to limit my losses. It has worked very well for me. I have an option to raise my "trailing stop" after the evaluation to a higher level. What's your current view of EFN, the good and bad?

Q: I bought pulte group when it was 15% higher than it is now assuming US housing sector improvement. I also hold Tricon(TCN) also down about 10%. Combined makes up about 4% of my portfolio. Do you think it is wise to hold this for the long term..or should I be looking for better opportunities..

Q: With cash available in my TFSA and markets down, what are your top 3 picks for value at this point from each of your portfolios? Thanks!

Q: I have investments in the US and Europe and have started to think that India might be a good place to enter into the emerging markets as part of my Global diversification. Would you agree?
What are the options for investing in India and can you make any recommendations?

Q: Hi,
Response to Peter this morning "But if you are not withdrawing capital from your portfolio, this is just another week in the markets." prompts me to ask for all us retirees who must withdraw capital, what would your response change to?
Thanks for all your guidance.
Ted

Q: Would you trade any holdings in the big Canadian banks for HCG , the later 's price having dropped substantially.

Q: Your thoughts on Sandvines earnings report today & initiation of dividend. Love the service Thank you If asked, answered & posted already pls disregard.

Q: PKI seems to be stable in an unstable market overall and for oil in particular. As a long term investor is it a buy or would IMO a little lower from current price be a better buy? Thanks for your valued opinion.

Tom

Q: Hello Peter and Team,

I've been looking at WPK for a while and I quite like it. If I already have a full position (~6%) in CCL, do you think adding to a similar company like WPK is a good idea? Or will the two companies perform similarly? Am I better off holding just one?

Thanks,

Jordan

Q: 10:30 AM 1/7/2016
Hello Peter and team
I am interested in buying one of RPI.UN, ITP, WPK, and CCL.B. Could you please analyze these for me and suggest the best one to purchase. I am mainly interested in a good dividend for income [hopefully growing] so probably would pass on CCL.B, but the other three all have decent dividends and reasonable P/E ratios.
Thank you...... Paul K.

Q: Hi guys,

Happy new year and as always, thank you for your valuable service.
I have a small position in both ECA and WCP in my TFSA.
I am considering collapsing those into a single position and I am leaning towards WCP. I know they are very different but do you think that is the better choice.

In that account my other exposure to the resource space is RUS but I would like to add CCO..so I am considering selling RUS.

If I had two choose two of the four stock for this space: ECA, WCP, CCO, and RUS, which two do you like. If you feel strongly about another choice outside my list...feel free to add it as well.

Thanks, and sorry for this poorly constructed question(s).
:)

Mike.

Q: BNS down 20% and TCN down 25%. Good horses, keeping riding down ?
Is this insisting on keeping wrong horses ? How long should one remain hopeful ?

Q: With the market sell off again, can you suggest 5 stocks in either of the portfolios in the best position for a quick rebound once the market settles down and with a balance risk/reward leaning to conservative. A dividend would also be nice.