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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 5i team,

There are no questions on SGMS (Scientific Games) to date so I'll be the first. :)
Was watching BNN today and a guest talked about Pollard Banknote (PBL) which I have on my watchlist...it is a thin trader so I have to be patient to accumulate. He also indicated PBL has about 20% market share (of instant lottery tickets) but SGMS has about 70% market share. The latter comment got my attention.
Wrt SGMS, from your web site Companies page, the QTR1 and QTR2 estimates have really come down in the last 30-90 day period and thus so has the FY1 (12/19) estimate. Can you explain why these numbers have been reduced so much from 60 days ago? Was their prior quarter a huge miss and thus analysts readjusted their expectations?
The only negatives I could see from their last released Q4 and FY18 report was "Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities decreased to ($9.8) million from $118.1 million in the year ago period, driven primarily by making a $151.5 million payment to resolve the Shuffle Tech legal matter." and "Net loss was $352.4 million compared to a net loss of $242.3 million a year ago, driven by $253.4 million in restructuring and other charges primarily consisting of the $151.5 million payment to resolve the Shuffle Tech legal matter and $27.5 million for contingent consideration associated with the higher-than-expected results from the 2017 acquisition of Spicerack."

There is also now quite an EPS increase expected in 2020, again from the 5i Companies page. Does this seem like a good buying opportunity given the FY2(12/20) expectations vs FY1(12/19)? (I get a mixed message from their key ratios from the 5i Companies page.)
I see the stock popped 8% today (6/3) albeit it has gone from $60 to $20 since May 2018...so quite the drop.
How would you rate SGMS vs PBL within this industry?
Are SGMS's troubles now behind it? Or is it basically a show me story now to get back investors confidence?
Is one a buy vs the other in a diversified portfolio?

Cheers,
Steve in Ottawa
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on June 04, 2019
Q: I am a "teach me to fish", not "give me fish" kind of person, so I was wondering if there is a simple method of determining the US portion of revenue of a Canadian stock. Going through financial statements don't seem to help. Your service seems to be able to determine this, so I was wondering if you could share your source of this information. Thanks for your great service.
Read Answer Asked by Gerry on June 04, 2019
Q: I have read the most recent comments that you have answered for members on Russel Metals, My question to you is; at what price would you start to recommend this stock if someone is looking for a 10-15% return from purchase price? And, Has Russel Metals ever cut its dividend, for some reason, I think they have.?

Thanks Barry
Read Answer Asked by Barry on June 04, 2019
Q: Hi can you please tell me your thoughts on BYD.UN Been coming off the highs fairly rapidly (down 6%+). I am sitting on a lot of cash (20%) and was thinking of adding to my 4% positions also same applies to ATD and CSU . Strategy is to add to the winners does that make any sense in this choppy market. Please deduct as you see fit. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terence on June 04, 2019
Q: here's a PSA for the gang

the brookfield group of companies are generally solid businesses and good stocks

yet, the tax reporting is generally late and mostly very convoluted

PSA - if at all possible, place brookfield assets in registered accounts

you, or your accountant will be happier

bob
Read Answer Asked by Robert on June 04, 2019
Q: Assuming the RY.PR.H rate reset preferred resets today I have made the following new interest rate calculation;
The new interest rate is the GCAN5YR interest rate plus 2.26%. Today the GCAN5YR is 1.368% so 1.368 plus 2.26 equals 3.628%. This is below the initial 5 year interest rate of 3.9%. I calculate the actual Fixed Rate Calculation Date is August 24, 2019 minus 30 days is July 25 2019, which is only a month & a half away. At that time the GCAN5YR rate will probably be the same as today. Would you please confirm that my new interest rate calculation is correct. Today the RY.PR.H on the TSX is trading at a yield of 5.5%. If my calculations are correct, is the price falling because no one wants to own this preferred when the new lower interest rate is determined. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks .. Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on June 04, 2019
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