Investment Q&A

Q: Q3/25 reported in November, EPS declined 26% vs. Q3/24. Can you go over the Q in more detail and advise whether fundamentals have changed. I am a holder of this company and had been thinking of adding since it has declined from its high of $134 in August. Would you be comfortable adding or do you see more attractive financial names? Thank you.
John

Q: I currently only own TD, X and EQB in my RRSP. I would like to sell EQB and thinking of buying BN. Is this a good replacement stock or is there a better financial stock you like at this time. Money not needed for 20 years.

Thanks

Q: Olympia Financial's stock price has dropped about 15% since hitting an all-time high shortly after releasing their earnings in August. Do you know of any reason for the drop? Is it a buying opportunity?

Q: Olympia is currently on a run (no complaints); any idea why ? Do you think its justified ? Thank you.

Q: Hit "enter" to fast on my last question. Looking for some ideas with the understanding you can't offer direct recommendations. I have 40 K to add to my non-reg account. I have full positions in all the pipelines, OLY, GWO, BNS, CU, NPI, BIR, PEY, TPZ, CNQ, PRL and BMO. I have no need for any income for at least five years, not opposed to going overweight if necessary, have lots of higher yielders so would perhaps benefit from some choices with capital gain and dividend growth potential versus just high yield.

Q: Would appreciate your thoughts on the recent results and outlooks. Thank you.

Q: Please comment on earnings and guidance for these 2 companies. Thank you.

Q: You have spoken highly of OLY in the past. Is it a domestic story and would tarrifs have any impact on their business ? Would you have any concerns about increasing exposure before they report on 24 Feb ? Lastly, is the high dividend well covered ? Thank you.

Q: Could I please get your opinion of OLY. It is a new financial company for me, thank you
Maria

Q: Good afternoon!
I have some substantial cash to deploy, ideally into Canadian dividend payers at 4% or more. I already have many of the usual suspects, including the following: ENB, BCE, PPL, BNS, CM, LIF, SIA, T, LIF, BEP.UN, DIR.UN, FSZ
I have been waiting until the December sell-off (i.e. Benj Gallander’s suggestion that it is the best time to buy), hoping to find some that have made the sell list that are good candidates for bounce backs in the future. After observing the market in the early stages of tax-loss selling, would you have some names that might fit that bill? Ideally maybe 5 or 6, although I realize that is a tall order, perhaps! Again, I am seeking dividend paying Canadian equities paying 4% or more.
Thanks! Paul

Q: Your comments please on the earnings release of OLY. Thanks.

Q: Is there a List of Companies with Monthly Dividends somewhere? Thanks!

Q: My husband is 8 years away from retirement and wants to buy dividend stocks to leave mostly alone (not checking daily like me!) - he'll check in on it now and then. This is the list he's come up with - slightly higher positions in BCE, BPF.UN and slightly lower in AW.UN, CAR.UN and OLY, otherwise fairly evenly split. Do you see this a good list for his purposes, and is there anything you would leave off, or add? Any other alarm bells? Thanks!

Q: Your comments please on earnings and your views on the company going forward.

Thank you.

Q: What are the 5-7 best quality CDN dividend stocks would you recommend to achieve an above 5% dividend with this latest market correction.

Q: Hi Peter, Can you provide me your updated thoughts on Olympia. The growth has been outstanding and it pays a 7% yield. Do you think they can grow the dividend. Also any comments on the management would be appreciated - I haven't heard much about them but they keep delivering.

Thanks

Q: In an earlier response to Olympia Financial Group regarding a 1% interest rate increase/decrease having a 33% increase/decrease on the companies annual earnings you said:
"this sensitivity to interest rates is common for financial companies that earn interest on a large investment holding (such as brokers, insurance) "
Please name 5 Canadian companies more sensitive to interest rates (on earnings) then Olympia Financial Group? I want to track a basket of these stocks.

If you expected rates to be revert to 3-4% for the next 10 years is Olympia still a good investment at these levels today?

Q: Still considering OLY and after reading the report it seems clear what drives earnings as of now, and what can bring them higher or lower quite quickly and that would be, Interest Rates
Olympia noting in the annual report that they are exposed to interest rate risk as the cash portion of the off-balance sheet arrangements ($1.00 billion), from which Olympia Trust earns trust income.

2023 Earnings this year were $21 million... according to the Annual report (pg 26) if rates change +/-1% it is estimated that Olympia’s after-tax earnings for the year increase/decrease $7.69 million (noting prime rate at 7.2%)

So rates drop to 6.2 % and earnings drop over 33%?! Is this not essentially a bet on rates at this point or am I missing something?

I guess reading annual reports could pay off (as knowing this when rates were on the rise with no slowdown coming would have been beneficial)

Thanks for your Input

Q: Hi Peter,
In regards to Adam's question regarding OLY. Would it be appropriate to look at the interest income that OLY has been able to generate as a hedge against higher interest rates. If rates were to move higher, OLY is set up nicely to outperform. The business delivers high ROE in the 50% plus range and should be able to do well in low interest rate environment especially with a dividend in the 7% range. Would you consider it a compounder?
Thanks

Q: I'm looking at starting a position in OLY. But I saw an update yesterday from an investing site adding a new major risk that earnings are forecast to decline and avg of 6.1% for the foreseeable future. Also a high level of non cash earnings (23% accrual ratio). In the recent ER they stated that expenses had increased due to bonuses etc in their investment arm because of the strong performance of the company. I'm wondering if these things all point to a stock that got so high due to a few great quarters, but is now expected to normalize and pull back as earnings decrease? Which could maybe impact the div down the road also. Is the high performance behind them and the future looks to normalize? Thx