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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi team,

I go to the U.S. largely for tech, as you likely know from my questions. I have a small (for me) position in ROKU. I have some profits in TTD that I am now considering using to top up ROKU. There were always a mix of opinions on ROKU but now it seems that analysts are warming up to it. ROKU is moving away from hardware sales and more into platform services or a gateway for over the top services. Some analysts are saying it is gaining a lot of traction, picking up advertising dollars and is currently undervalued.

As an aside, late last week, Citron closed its short position and went long on ROKU. I hate all these guys when they are shorting my stocks but for some reason I don’t find them so bad when they go long. Citron also says that ROKU would make a nice tidy acquisition for NFLX to get into the advertising space where it is now lacking. I have SPOT as well if NFLX goes the musical route but am wondering about your views on the prospects for ROKU from here?

Thanks again,

dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on May 30, 2018
Q: Hi team,
I know your focus is Canada, but I find you have great expertise in the U.S. as well. So here goes again.
I have been following ROKU on a casual basis since they went public a few months ago. Yesterday, they blew past earnings expectations although still a small loss. Stock was up over 50% today (wish I had bought a few days ago, LOL).
The big problem I have with them is that I do not understand their business model or its advantages, if any. They are a video streaming company, so they compete with Netflix I think, so the 1st negative. Disney now wants to get into video streaming so more competition for ROKU, another negative. ROKU’s sells/leases hardware as far as I know, using some sort of video set-top box. Who needs or wants another set-top box these days, so another negative. I think their longer-term plan is to become an integrated component in the smart TV. Isn’t Apple still active in the smart TV area? Another negative. I think that is 4 negatives.
Can you clarify for me the nature of their business model and what is your view of ROKU from here? There must be something positive to say that I am missing.
Thanks again,
dave
Read Answer Asked by Dave on November 10, 2017
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