Investment Q&A

Q: Hello Peter,
Shawcor has been hit quite hard lately. It is getting close to the value it was over 10 months ago. Other than the oil issue, are there other reasons, why Shawcor is down so much. Also, if you had a choice between DesCarte Sytems and Absolute Software, which one would you choose? I am looking for growth. Thanks very much.

Q: This question could apply to all dividend paying oil company's, SGY Div on the TSX now indicates 13%+ due to the lower stock price, how quickly do company's cut the div to bring payouts back under 100% of cash flow and get the div back to a reasonable value of say 8% , at today's price of SGY it looks very attractive to add to my position for the div. and potential oversold bounce in price. Most energy stocks seem to be oversold and trading at $40 oil values seen in 2008. Your thoughts please.

Q: Hi Team,
I am looking to buy shares of the Magnum Hunter preferreds. There are 3 series- C,D,E. I am relatively new to buying pref shares- is there a way to quickly assess the difference between series. Is there one you could recommend of the three? I plan to hold it for 3 years. Thank you

Q: Could you please provide an update here. Insiders are buying. Would you buy RZZ or HER for a speculative very high risk mining play? Thank you.

Q: Hello team,

I have way too many losers and I want to bring down the total number of stocks (56) held in various registered portfolios. Knowing that I will not have any tax benefits by selling them, I would like to start with the following list:
Stock down
ESP -19.85%
LGO -30.27%
MX -15.35%
TWD -33.49%
WIN -28.87%

Total -20.55%

And here are my questions:
1- Would be wise to sell the above companies at a loss and use the proceeds to buy cxr?
2- Would you know anything about short term catalysts for cxr? like rumors that a major acquisition is imminent?
3- When would it be the best time to sell these stocks? Should I wait until the tax loss selling is over? ie. sell in January 2015 for a better return? or would that be too late to catch cxr?
4- I do hold cxr but it is not a full position? should I add to it or would you suggest something else (in any sector) with a better upside potential?
5- Would any of the above stocks is worth keeping? I know you might say MX but I have held it for too long and nothing really has happened and now it is gone down with the rest of my oil stocks.

I sent a similar question about a week ago but did not hear anything back....hope it works this time.

All the best to all of you at 5i for helping us participate in the markets with some confidence.

Q: Peter, this funeral company just reported and numbers look good. EPS dropped however due to dilution. Personally, I like monthly dividend payers and consider the industry recession proof. Do you like this firm and should I invest or would you consider this to investment to be....dead money?

Q: I hold Aecon stock and the stock has dropped measurably in the last while. What are the prospects for the future and do I sell and purchase stock in another company? Thanks

Q: Looking to build my telecom position to 5% (up from 3%) of my total portfolio (mostly BCE, some VOD and VZ). Thinking of adding Telus to make up the remaining 2%. Would today's pullback be a good entry point? I'd be buying approx 250 shares. Thanks

Q: Hi
Could you please let me know what you think of today's news.
Thank you!

Q: http://email.seekingalpha.com/track?type=click&mailingid=2725315&messageid=2800&databaseid=&serial=2800O2725315O1417550693.ee8baa118f6bde76b6a9a57f2d931657&emailid=1079842&userid=1079842&extra=&&&3000&&&http://seekingalpha.com/article/2725315-canadian-oil-sands-whats-it-worth?source=email_rt_article_readmore&uprof=46

Mr.Hodson, this is a follow-up to my recent questions on Canadian Oil Sands Ltd (COS). The market is currently doing a carnage on COS, but this paper puts things in a different perspective. See also comments by Uncle Pie, who owned COS for a long time. To what extent do you agree with the author and Uncle Pie ? Should you think this would be useful to other members, feel free to act accordingly and let them see your response. It just does not make sense to discard a company that had better days, and still might continue to do so in the future, while having a superior product (SCO or synthetic oil). Of course, the market is king, and should it decide to punish COS, just like other oil producers (with regular Canada crude), it might be better to acknowledge the market is always right. What's the correct view in such a case ?

Q: Could you comment on NPR.UN. It seems to be sliding more then the general group. Thank You

Q: Supposing we make the assumption that oil (WTI) is going to average US$60 over the next 5 years. Are there ANY companies in North America that could continue to operate at that price for that length of time? Secondly, if that happens how much of the world oil production would disappear? Thirdly, if this lost oil production is a substantial amount of world total production (which it must be because world oil production is way up over the last 5 years due to the NA shale boom), could it be replaced by the remaining oil producers (mainly OPEC)? If not, then would that not drive the oil price back up to well above $60.00?

Q: Hello Peter and team, I have some money available to invest for a longish term (5 years+). Can you suggest around four names to add to a diversified portfolio, in particular companies that you think may currently be at unduly low prices due to tax loss selling and other year-end positionings. Stantec and Surge come to my mind. Would you agree, and if so can you please also suggest two or three others (though no more in the Oils; I'm already quite full there). Also, I've separately wondered about acquiring a foreign stock like Nestle. Do you know if/how I can acquire that in my self-directed RRSP? Thanks in advance!

Q: A while back I asked about WEQ WESTERONE INC. you felt it was Ok and new the management. Recently bought more at $5.75.Its now skirting 3.50> 4.00 range.
I am assuming the latest Qtr. was not great plus the pull back in oil prices are the culprit for the price decline?
Other brokerage firms have cut their target price off coarse after its fallen significantly.
Do you any updated insight into this company?
Thoughts on a dividend cut?
Where do you see this company going under the new CEO.
Should I sell as a tax loss. Originally bought 1K at 8.00 another 1k At 5.75???
Is this stock turning into a Yellow Media or Hot Water Fund debacle?
A.J.

Q: Hi 5i Team, Peter's erstwhile colleague, Peter Imhof, recommended Diversified Royalty (DIV at Toronto) at BNN. Your most recent (October) comment on the stock was "wait and see". Any further thoughts on the subject? Thanks as always. Henry

Q: Hi, I would like to sell for tax loss Tourmaline, Vermilion and Delphi. I was thinking about replacing them with 3 similar valuation/quality name as to keep sector exposure just in case it reverse shortly after I sell. Would you say this does make sense? I do have gains to offset.

Q: This stock is currently up 24% today. They announced a conference call for Friday to discuss the recent acquisition but I can see no other news. Do you know what is up?

Don

Q: May I have your fresh look at MTL.
Now holding TFI and thinking of adding MTL.
Thank you for your excellent service
D McV

Q: Peter and team I was away for a couple of weeks and see that TOG has taken a hard hit can you enlighten me what happened should I hold or sell .

Jim.

Q: Is there any reason you know of that agt is getting hit so hard today. Thanks.