Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter

For precision Drilling Debt/Equity level on a quarterly figure Morningstar has Sept/2014 at Total Liabilities at 2,773 and Stockholders Equity at 2,544 which would give you a ratio of 109% is this correct.
thanks Gord

Q: It's down quite significantly after earnings. Is it a good entry point under 25? Thanks.

Q: I just read Cam Hui's piece in the 5 for 5i. I notice he isn't positive on Canada and the Cdn. banks. Would you suggest we concentrate on small caps with large exposure to the U.S and avoid companies such as ACQ.
Do you agree with Hui that Cadn. banks face some strong headwinds this year?

Q: Hi!! Now that Cuba has been given the nod from the US, would Sherrit International Corp be a goood investment? Thanks, Tamara

Q: Could I get your opinion on this stock as it has pulled back from its 52-week high. Much appreciated.

Q: hello 5i:
I note that,while you've had questions on Interfor and other forestry companies, no one has asked about CFP since Sept of last year. in your opinion, how does CFP compare with others in the group, and what do you see for the sector going forward.
thanks
Paul L

Q: Please rank these companies as a medium to long term hold (two to five years) on security of capital, growth of capital, and security and potential growth of dividend. Thanks for your advice.

Duncan

Q: I have held STZ for over a year and the return is good, it has moved appreciably since the latest earnings. The question is, I (and probably many others) do quite well at buying stocks, but often miss the signal of when to sell stocks. I know you believe in holding as long as things are going well, but still I have found in my experience that stocks often fall dramatically and give up much of their gains when things go poorly and often there is no warning. For e.g. I owned SYNA saw it go from $50 up to $90 and then drop back almost to the starting point. I would like to have a better way to judge when to sell a stock, or am I asking the impossible. I do apply technical analysis to my stocks as well, maybe I am expecting too much. So if you owned STZ would you continue to hold for the long term, seems no reason to sell and beer sales are up and with summer coming that should continue to bode well or do I look at it and say I have made 30% sell. What are your thoughts or suggestions. Thanks very much.

Q: I have read your recent comments on AHF and would like to know if yesterdays release of Q4 assets under management has you concerned. I understand the decline in AUM is related to them trying to get out of lower margin products. My concern is I am not seeing where the offsetting increase is for higher margin business. I am not a fan of the "liquid alternative" funds they are currently promoting if that is where they think the higher margin business is going to come from. My guts are telling me to take my losses and move on. Am I too negative on this one?

Q: Do you think owning these stocks here is a good place to leave money or would you suggest, more solid, steady stocks and if so which ones. Thank you.
I am thinking of Sherwin Williams and or Plum Creek or another lumber stock, would you pick a Cdn lumber instead and if so which ones?

Q: Hello, Peter and your team
I want to buy mnd(Manadalay Resources Corp).Could please tell me the fundamental and management team of this company?
Thank you!
Yingzi

Q: Here I thought I was a cool hand Luke, a cold hearted, non emotional stock trader but when I read in the Globe today that Bank of America's number two stock recommendation is to short Canadian Banks I could feel my dander getting up. Putting my patriotism aside do you reckon that there is there any reason to to think that they are on to something.

Q: Dear Agent. Would RY be a good stock to purchase at the present time 1/11/2015. Eddie.

Q: I have no energy stocks in any of my portfolios at present and wonder if taking a position in ARX for my RRIF would be prudent at this time. As you know, the stock has been trading significantly lower than the new issue price of $22.55 and provides a dividend over 5%. I have room in both my non-registered account and TFSA if you think either would be a better strategy. Thank you.

Q: Hi Peter & team,

I call this a Quicksand Market cause it seems like every other week my portfolio sinks just a little bit but I know the more I move around the faster it will sink.

I own high quality companies with good growth (ALA, AYA, BAD, HCG, GS, AQC, STN just to name a few) but its hard to sit on your hands and do nothing. I'm sure other investors feel the same way. Any advise or insight that would be helpful?

I always appreciate your reassuring perspective.

Q: Hello Peter & Co.:
I hold the following energy infrastructure/utilities
ALA, KEY, IPL, PPL
(I also own VET and PEY but I'm hanging on to these 2 because I think they are really good companies that will come out of this oil mess in good shape.)
I really like all of these names but have been thinking that since the only transportation company I own is CNR, I should sell one of these and get another transportation stock, possibly trucking to try to take advantage of the lower gasoline prices.
Which one would you sell and which transportation stock would you buy? Or tell me if you think this is a bad idea. cheers

Q: Hi Team

I am trying to decide about buying in the utility sector and am considering

PPL, ALTA, KEY, BEP,ENB, EMA AND VNR

please help me out with the following fundamentals metrics in this sector

I was looking at the P/E ratio (but is that the right metric ???)

what range is cheap, average and expensive for this sector

please rank them in order of "best buy" at this point based on value and safety moving forward > 5 yr hold.

if P/E is not the best metric please let me know what is (dividend payout ratio etc.)

also as a side note, would BEP or any of them pay out the dividend in US dollars / currency

thanks

Ernie

Q: I am in the process of rebalancing our portfolio and I want to sell about 1000 shares of ALA. As I will be at work when the market is open I am thinking of placing the order on the weekend. I assume the trade will happen when the market opens. Is it OK to do the order at market or should I sell at the bid price? Does it make sense to sell all 1000 shares at once or should I break it down into 2 lots of 500 shares each? You have cautioned in the past about "weird" trades at market opening.
Thanks

Q: Hi,

Would this be a good time to buy a stock in the forestry sector? If so, what are your thoughts on Western Forest Products (WEF)? If you had to choose between it and WFT, which would you choose? I see it has a three percent dividend.

Thanks,

Carla

Q: Central Gold Trust appears to be undervalued. The Trust holds segregated bullion in a major Canadian Bank. What do you think of this method of participating in the gold sector without personally owning gold?