Investment Q&A

Q: Bought Teva in a dip a few years ago and have done pretty well with it. Know they face competition as patents for their MS drug roll off, which I believe represents 50% of their current profits, but never seems to be a bad as analysts predict. See the stock has dipped a bit as they've announced a couple of large acquisitions which look to me to be accretive. Any thoughts on the stock, thinking I might add some more here.

Q: Just wondering at current valuations what you feel about accumulating shares now in Canadian Tire and CP rail for long term holds. Thanks.

Q: Hershey had a bad third quarter results. Headline, Hershey cuts forecast on weak demand (slower growth)and higher marketing costs. Hershey's executives are saying. There is a growing gap between low-income and high-income buying patterns. Sanford Bernstein analyst says, there are health and wellness concerns and the premiumization of the chocolate category. Thus, what are your opinions--sell or buy and etc.? Is it a permanent or temporary shift?

Q: This project seems to be progressing nicely on budget and on time. What are your thoughts for a longer-term speculative buy. Apparently the major owners are looking for this to provide dividends -- at quite a high rate -- versus growth. Clearly we will not know until it is up and running if they can do that. Micheal Smedley just rated it as a buy. Thoughts?

Q: Hello Peter, can you tell me where can I find details of cumulative redeemable preference shares like, life, call price/date,etc. Which one of the above would you suggest, perhaps a better on or two.
Many thanks, J.P.Burlington

Q: I just received your reply to my question about LIF and in the reply you used the term OK 4 times. Once you had ' ' around OK. I have noticed the use of OK in many of your other answers as well. I am never quite sure how to interpet the use of this term. Does it mean JUST OK. i.e. "We don't really like it but it's not bad enough to dump on it" OR is it to be viewed in a more positive light. It always seems to me to be a bit of fence sitting.

Q: I realize past performane does not not indicate future performancebut MRU has outpermormed L and EMP.A on 5, 10 and 20 year metrics. I am looking for a long term consumer staple so at present I am thinking MRU or maybe all 3 makes sense also.

Q: Good morning, I am considering adding either IT or AYA do you have a preference looking at risk/reward and potential for future growth and dividend potential.
thanks as always.

Q: Q3 results are out; smaller dividend and a lot less debt. The company is doing the right things. Is this a good entry point for a small position?
Thank you.

Q: I had held LIF for a few years and sold it earlier this fall to take advantage of a tax loss. Am thinking of buying back in once Tax Loss Selling season starts (late Nov). Materials would represent 10% of my Cdn Equity portfolio broken down between SJ, AGU, AFN and LIF in fairly equal percentages.
In the short term I am buying primarily for the dividend income and understand Capital Appreciation may not take place for a few years till Iron Ore prices improve.
Your thoughts on my plans for the materials section of my portfolio and at current Iron Ore prices is LIFs dividend secure?

Q: This is a Canadian company with operations in the US. Not much info on it yet. Can you supply some numbers and give your opinion on this stock please?

Q: I am interested in the technology of plasma furnaces and its application in waste management. Do you have any insight into this area? PYR is one company I have uncovered. It appears that Westinghouse plasma corp (Alter NRG Corp) has been taken private by a Chinese company. What do you consider the best way to play this technology?

Q: P/E is 3.1 and it pays a 6.9% dividend. Would this be a safe investment for a retired person looking for a decent yield?
Thanks
Cathleen

Q: Dear sirs,

Looking for your opinion on the recent weakness of this reit, specifically with rescpect to today's $.50 decline.

Thank you,
Brad

Q: Seems to be on a steady downward spiral and the dividend is getting high.Is this sustainable and forward prospects ?

Q: Hi guys, I still hold both First Service and Collier and would like to reduce the real estate portion of my overall portfolio. I would like to sell only one and would like your opinion on which of the two you feel has the best outlook going forward. Which of these two would you let go? Thanks, Mario.

Q: Hello Team,
Could you give me your opinion on this company and how would you rate it compared to csh.
Thank You,
Barry

Q: I have been rebalancing my portfolio which has been heavily skewed towards Cdn Dividend payers as I am retired and use the income to supplement my Pension. My Cdn holdings are now fairly well diversified using your Income and BE portfolios as guides.
I have targeted 15% of my total portfolio for Cdn ETFs which hold US equities. The following are my current holdings and the % weighting: ZDY 9%; ZBK 2%; ZUH 2%. I am looking at adding 2% Tech exposure and am considering either ZQQ or XQQ.
Your recommendations for the Tech exposure and my overall plan for my US exposure would be appreciated.

Q: Imagine an investor setting up an RRSP with $15k, a 30 year time horizon, a desire to keep it simple (CAD ETFs), an ability to sleep at night when markets are down and a desire for a somewhat aggressive strategy. What CAD ETFs would you suggest as a portfolio? Thanks as always.

Q: Hi Peter and Staff
Like many subscribers confused now about what to do. I do like to keep a certain percentage in non dividend stocks and in the O&G sector have names like PPY,TOU,RRX among others.
In theory if these companies are making money but not paying dividends ,their stock price should rise and if I did need a dividend,I could instead trim say 5% of them annually and have the same value left as I would have if a dividend payer of 5% held flat in value.
I am confused like many as to why HSE would think paying a stock dividend is better than no dividend...after all we would own the same value of the company in theory whether we got no dividend or got more shares and our % of ownership in HSE did not change. Is it because they hope that if a cash dividend is not paid out, and their stock price holds steady, that we should be able to do what I outlined above for TOU,PPY or RRX if we wanted to raise cash?
Do you think all things being equal,this would actually happen..ie stock price per share hold steady so our value does increase due to more shares..cutting dividend for prudence sure did not help BTE price..wish I had sold it when they did cut the dividend.
Lastly ,do you have they will handle prorated shares that could be due to us on each dividend declaration?
Thanks for all you do
Dennis