Investment Q&A

Q: Dear Peter:

Is INTC a value play or Value trap?! Is it a turn around candidate or a potential "taken over" candidate?

QCOM offer seems to have faded!

Just for the heck of it I asked the two of the popular AI apps, Chat GPT 3.5 and Perplexity about this. I got some interesting answers! Perplexity was more "informative" and thought it could have a target price of 40$. A double from it's current price level. Chat GPT3.5 on the other hand demurred! Perplexity also thought Private Equity firms like Apollo, or AAPL/Samsung or some Sovereign wealth funds like Mubadala(Abudhabi) may be interested!

As you well know one can get different answers depending on how one poses the questions to these AI chatbots!
Words do matter with AI apps I have found out.

It is struggling to stay above 20$. Where is the floor?!

Any words of wisdom?

Q: Curious if you read Howard Marks latest "Memo" published yesterday https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/memo/on-bubble-watch ? He addressed issues of bubble characteristics, market concentration, market valuation and forward expectations relative to current market valuations. What is your impression of his Memo?

Thanks.

Q: Can you explain the differences between money market funds PSA and CIB238? Which generally provides the better rate of return? Looking for somewhere to park money when not in use. Which would you recommend?

Q: MEQ is down today by 4 % on high volume. Is there any news that might explain this loss. It has been a strong performer for many years

Q: Happy New Year! I like investing in themes (aging population, infrastructure, internet retail, water, security ect) and am wondering if you have 3-4 thematic stock suggestions that you think are interesting here. So ya know, I am chock full of AI names at the moment as you might guess. Thanks

Q: Thoughts on this stock?

Q: Hps.a has pulled back to its 200 Day MA.Is this a good entry point?

Q: Hi I was hoping you could clarify an answer you provided on January 7th about NVDA and trimming below 10%. In past, you have said “ let winners run.”

I’m torn with which approach to take as it seems contradicting. I do hold a very large position in NVDA (exceeding 10%) and need some clarity. Thanks so much.

Q: Hello,

Constellation was at its 200 day yesterday. Is it a good buy here?

Q: I would like to purchase a NASDAQ ETF and S&P 500 ETF for a long-term hold 15 years plus in a TFSA account
1. Should I buy in USD (QQQ, VOO)or CAD(ZNQ.TO,XUS.TO) I am wondering how the returns are affected if the cad appreciates in future ?
2. If I buy on tsx am I correct in thinking no tax will be withheld as it’s in Tfsa account ?
My ideas : NDAQ QQQ XQQ.TO ZNQ.TO
VOO. XUS.TO ZSP.TO HXS
Appreciate your opinion as to best ones to own
If you can rank best first
Thank you again

Q: For the past while I've been hearing about an opportunity in small caps and how they are undervalued versus large caps. Typically I consider diversification between fixed income vs equity, and then diversifying by geography and then by sector. However, I'm curious on your thoughts on the proportion of an equity portfolio that is invested in small cap vs large caps?

Of course, understanding that you can't provide personal advice and it highly depends on an individuals timeframe and risk tolerance.

Q: What is causing the drop in ATD? Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter,
I want to invest in a large cap energy stock that is well run, with solid balance sheet and generate increasing free cash flow. Valuation is lower than peers with lots of upside for capital gain. I’m debating between SU, CNQ and CVX. Which one of these would you pick and why? Or if there is another better candidate? Thanks.

Q: Between the two, which would you buy today?

Q: Hello,

I understand Warren Buffett recently purchased OXY and I was wondering if you might share a rationale that would favor this stock versus CNQ, TOU,IMO or other CAD producers trading at approx. equally low 52 week levels, with higher mkt cap, dividends and dividend growth.

Thank you and all the best to you and your families in 2025.

Q: Questions on QSR:

- Are falling margins on rising revenues a concern at all (maybe the cause of the drop in stock price)? Maybe continued digitalization helps margins in the future? I noticed that they had a Technology Officer hired in 2018.

- The current P/E looks good relative to historical, but is the somewhat high-ish P/S ratio normal for the restaurant industry?

- Regarding long term safety and quality, would you consider QSR in the top 10% of all Canadian stocks, and do you have any long term concerns?

- Any thoughts on their ambitious international expansion goals including China?

- Is the stock price more influenced by the direction of the TSX or NYSE or not necessarily either?

Q: I see 3 new analyst ratings this week. One buy and two holds. Small sample but not a ringing endorsement. Has anything changed? It had a particularly rough day yesterday. Does it still make your top 5 growth stock picks or has it fallen down the list? What do you see going forward>

Q: How do this companies forward PE and cash flow multiples compare to those of its 2 closest US competitor and compared to its own historical #'s. Has it made progress on its profitability and ROIC measures which as you have said the company uses to measure its own performance. Would you buy it now with the thought that the freight recession is largely over, and the metrics previously mentioned are attractive, or would you wait until after January 20th when we find out more about tariffs and how that will impact TFI?

Q: Hello 5i,

We were reading a report on the risk for corporate bonds due to a tightening of spreads. Our goal from a previous question is to protect funds needed in the next 3 years to augment CPP and OAS (no pensions).

We added bonds, but that plan may require a new assessment. Currently, our portfolio has a small position (2%) of Bonds consisting of AGT, VCLT, VCIT, & VAB. We also have laddered GIC’s for 5 years, plus PSA & BIL (for vacations in the US).

We are looking at replacing AGT & VAB with PSA and VCLT & VCIT with BIL. Do you have any other suggestions that may meet our goals?

Thank you
D&J

Q: My long term etf, HTA has just announced a distribution increase of approximately 7.7 %. How do they manage this as the underlying stocks have not increased their dividends anywhere near this % ?

HTAE holds HTA and uses leverage for enhanced performance ( up and down .) It borrows 25 % of the portfolio value to do this. What are the typical terms regarding such borrowing ? Is this liability reflected in unit price ? Is a liability of the etf provider or the unit holder ?
Any light you can throw on these questions would be appreciated. Thanks. Derek.