Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Team,
I am holding the following stocks at a loss. BABA (-52%), MED (-30%), TT(-4%),EGLX (-33%), MG (-8%), SWKS (-20%), U (-1%), PINS (-33%).

My question is, should I continue to hold the line with all of these? Or are there any that stand out to you as being better off to sell and swap out with a different holding of which you suggest? Or any of these I should be selling, and adding to another one of these? I thought perhaps after yesterdays sell off there might be some moves I should be making. (Although the market is already recovering nicely today on alot of these names). Suggestions here would be appreciated. Thanks!
Shane.

Q: Hi team,
I bought Verizon two years ago in expectation of a stable price and a good dividend. Two years later it is down 11% eating up the dividend and leaving me essentially where I started. Would it make sense to sell VZ and use the funds to buy IBM which has a similar dividend and perhaps some growth potential? I can also claim the tax loss on Verizon.

Q: this stock is on the move. Ihave held it for a long time. What is the future for this one?

Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
I know they have extended there bankruptcy protection until the end of January 2022. They also reported improved earnings after closing 27 stores. So the stock has jumped today. So your opinion please...I thought they were dead in the water and my stocks were worthless. Is there any possible further improvement or should I sell while I have a chance? Thanks...your opinion is always helpful.

Q: NO PROFIT... NO PROBLEM...

This is a story in the Globe and Mail dated Sept 25th 2021. The article made all lot of sense and there seems to be a disconnect with growth at all cost with no profit. Maybe this is how things are done just look at how our government is run.

I don't have a specific question to any of the companies mentioned above but with LSPD in the news lately maybe it will apply. I know there has been a short report put out on LSPD and from some of the comments that I am reading from 5i that they are false.

My question is how do you know?

We don't know the real workings of a company and what we get from them is what they want us to hear. Take for example XBC, that wiped out all of value from investors because we didn't get the correct information from Management. It's what they wanted us to hear and we believed them.

I think there should be some healthy skepticism with regards to what Management says and does and investors should take away that capital preservation is paramount.

If LSPD or any company that gets shorted and can't explain the reasons for the discrepancy in a respectfully dialogue then maybe there is some truth to it but like I said we don't really know.

Who is right? The short trader or the Stock promotor?

Until we get all the information it will always be Buyer Beware and don't fall in love with any stock.

Sincerely.

Q: Currently have a 17% position in financials including the above. Giving the current outlook for interest rate, would you consider this position to be favourable. Why or why not.

Q: Following Merck's COVID-19 Pill Success, Novavax is down quite a bit, do you think right now is a good entry point to initiate a position? Thank you!

Q: What will the effect of rising rates be on TSU (Trisura)? Do analyst target prices increase or decrease with speciality insurers based on rate rises? Thanks.

Q: Please comment on TPZ's announcement after market close today.Acquistion of Weyburn from WCP, BD 7.7m shs @$17.10 & 14% increase in Div.Txs for u usual great services & views

Q: Comments please on the Topaz royalty acquisition, from both Topaz and Whitecap perspective.

Q: I have a U.S. RIF account with TD Waterhouse (Webbroker). I have requested that they transfer the monthly payment from this RIF account to my US Margin account. I am concerned over currency exchange issues.

Here is what they do - in January, they use my Dec. 31st RIF balance and "convert" it to Cdn. Dollars to arrive at a Canadian Monthly Withdrawal. Then each month they convert this Cdn. amount to U.S. dollars & then transfer to my U.S. Margin account.

I have challenged them on this, but they insist these are the Gov't RIF's rules?! (I do not have a Cdn. RIF account with them.)

Would you comment on this - thanks.

Q: Hello. Comments on this new Venture traded company? Revenue, growth, insider ownership? What do you think of it’s overall business?

Q: Could you please explain the difference between Brookfield's common and preferred stocks which explains why they perform so differently? According to the Globe and Mail:

BAM.A is up 29.84% ytd, down 4% in the last month BAM.PR-R is up 39.63% ytd, 97% in a month BAM.PR-K is up 45.37% ytd, up 7% in thirty days. BAM-PR-G is up 58.55% ytd and 8.26% over the last thirty days.

Why would these preferred shares be moving so much higher than BAM.A itself? Do you expect this to continue? If so doesn't it make sense to buy the preferred shares? If so, which of the series would you buy?

Q: On Sep 23-24 huge $306m Insider selling. ATD.A Amours co-founder sold 3.412m shs @ $48(remaining shares balance 12.3m) . ATD.B Ex Chair & director 1.2m @ $48 (57m). Fortin,co-founder 1.8m @ $48 (NIL). Your view please. Txs for u usual great services & views

Q: I have read all the questions regarding LSPD. It has been a huge winner in both of our TFSA’s, and I decided to continue to hold after reading your answers.

However Cramer really bodyslammed the company today as you probably know.

He cited the company’s response to the short report as “inadequate” …. And made more of a big deal about the company not agreeing to give Mad Money an interview since he had had the CEO on his show fairly recently.

Would any of that change your perspective on LSPD?

Thanks for your help with this important decision.

Q: Cramer did a number on LSPD on his show Mad Money last night and was criticizing management for not coming on the show to defend their position.

I see you've said to do nothing but that is trickier when trying to protect a profit. In that case would you be a seller?

For new money, would you be buyers right now?

Q: Hoping you can take a look under the hood of SSC Security. This is a huge transition from what was INP.V Input Capital. Yesterday's Shareholders update states they are well capitalized, profitable, dividend paying, 625 employees, strong management team with track record who own 33% of the company. They plan to grow quickly in a fragmented industry. Would really like to hear the positives / negatives from your read on this.
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ssc-security-services-corp-launches-212000159.html

Q: What do you see as the macro picture for utilities over the next couple of years? If inflation increases, does it affect the renewable power producers such as BEP and AQN 's input costs? Or is this more the case for coal/natgas power providers? Plus if interest rates rise to offset the inflation that is another headwind for utilities? Thoughts?

Q: Apologies in advance for yet another question on Lightspeed, and not sure if you caught Jim Cramer's show this evening, but he slammed Lightspeed - seemingly went out of his way, for a prolonged period of time - to embrace the short report as gospel, and to sell, sell, sell.

Obviously there will likely be an enormous hit in the morning. But in your estimation, is this game-over for this high-flier? The company turned down an invitation to defend themselves on-air, likely a wise choice given Cramer's current sentiment towards the firm, but given his wide appeal (and I'm assuming influence) is it possible to overcome this negativity? Or just wait, and the numbers will - or not - speak for themselves. I think I know you'll say that I answered my own question, but given this mess, I wanted your sound judgment.

Thank you as always...

Q: Your August 27 response to a question on GDNP was "you wouldn't add at this level"; does it look any better to you at this price?