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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: Morning,

The stocks mentioned are examples of Canadian stories that remarkable runs in recent years. PHO had an amazing 2017 and obviously CXR made those who sold high a ton of money. Same with CRH. Question is, for 2018, can you name 3 Canadian stocks that may be under the radar but could emerge as darlings once better known? Specific interest would be in stocks with proven assets or concepts more so than those waiting for a stroke of luck like a drug approval or patent.

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Tim on January 19, 2018
Q: Hi there,

I haven't seen any coverage of this until something on a popular investment site the other day. LAS.A has gone from $80 to $256 in 5 years but seems to be completely unknown. It was just touted as a great growth stock for the next year. Does it offer value at $250/share? Any catalysts for growth to continue? Finally, Buy, sell or hold and why?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Tim on January 19, 2018
Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend income investor with a company pension, CPP and 30% fixed income (annuities, Fisgard Capital) and equities comprised of 15% MFs, 15% ETFs (ZLB, ZWC, ZWE, XIT) and 40% mostly blue chip stocks (BCE, BNS, RY, TRP, ECI, FTS, ALA, CGX, AQN, AD, NFI, CSH, PBH, ABT, etc).

I have owned PBH since $17 (now $103) and have trimmed it 14 times! It is still a full position. When I compare it to NWC, NWC's metrics indicate much better value (P/E, P/BV, P/CF, P/S, Beta), not to mention a 4.4% dividend vs PBH's at 1.6%. However, PBH has demonstrated incredible growth so far. So, I thought about swapping out of PBH and into NWC...simple, right? To get the same annual dividend, I'd only need to deploy 1/3 of the capital. Nope...massive capital gain!

I know there is no escaping the tax man. Any suggestions...aside from being more aggressive in reducing my PBH position over the next few years, while building a NWC position? Thanks...Steve

Read Answer Asked by Stephen on January 19, 2018
Q: Can I get your assessment of this company in light of cannacord's recent endorsement as a promising stock for this year (being mindful that it's price jump today has breached the analysts' target price for the year) . Financial Post also noted that iAnthus' inclusion on the upcoming mjna growers index etf may impact its performance to the upside. Your valued thoughts pls
Read Answer Asked by Vicki L on January 19, 2018
Q: I believe badger daylighting's success is built around the quality of the teams they have operating their equipment. I took a good look at @glassdoor.com and the employee experience on BAD in the US is very mixed with lots of very negative commentary. I have researched employee thoughts for other companies, and there are obviously always some complainers, but BAD's employee commentary seemed worse than normal. Should I read anything into this or am I getting too much into the nitty gritty of the company?
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 18, 2018
Q: Looking for suggestions for 2018 TFSA contribution for 20 year old for long-term hold, slowly building out a more diversified portfolio. Current holdings/weightings are TOY (23%), PHO (20%), SIS (18%), KXS (20%) and PBH (18%). Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Bruce on January 18, 2018
Q: Hello
Stock analysts are predicting a dividend cut. Here are the comments of one analyst: " It was always viewed as a steady dividend payer but it is over 100% payout ratio now. They have a slowing growth business and will have to cut the dividend. If you saw a dividend cut that would probably be the day to buy it."

What are your views? Is there a dividend cut coming?
Would you recommend holding or selling?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Terry on January 18, 2018
Q: Hello 5i Research team,
I am always suspicious when a company does not provide or comment its quarterly results in its press release. As I do not think there is some seasonality, I am comparing q4-17 vs q3-17 : quarterly revenue growth dropping from 58% to 27%; gross margin dropping from 54% to 36%; sales and marketing as a % of revenue increase from 14% to 22%; administration as a % of revenue increase from 19% to 30%; operating cash flow before changes in working capital was negative 0,2 M$ vs positive 1,5 M$ for the first 9-months.
Echelon forecasted 2,8 M$ in revenue, 0,6 M$ in EBITDA (very large miss). Could you comment on my analysis? Could you comment on management and board members quality and credibility? Is it a classic case of a growing company having some growing (pains) expenses before some more revenue growth or is this the first signs a management team that is bad at manage expenses? With a year-end of September, the stock has been under presssure since mid-October, it looks like some knew about weaker results, and traded. Would you agree that trading looks suspicious since mid-October? Is PTE still worthy of being included in your growth portfolio or the small cap basket allocation of your clients? Immediate sell order or they invested for future growth?
Thank you for your collaboration, Eric
Read Answer Asked by Eric on January 18, 2018
Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Just read your answer to Stuart. We keep a spreadsheet on Google Sheets that automatically "captures" price data from Google Finance, and unfortunately Google Finance doesn't provide Aequitas prices. Any ETFs or stocks listed with Aequitas have to be manually entered. :( Other than that, I suppose that Aequitas is "okay".
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on January 18, 2018
Q: Good Morning 5i

Globe and Mail WEED article this evening - "Bank of Montreal became the first major Canadian bank to lead an equity financing for a public company in the medical marijuana sector, underwriting a $175-million stock sale for Canopy Growth Corp. Story (Jacqueline Nelson).Your thoughts on this development?

Your view of significance of this move of a Big 5 bank to invest in cannibis business.

Appreciate your advice as always.
Read Answer Asked by Randy on January 18, 2018
Q: Hi 5i team. My RIF account has only ETF's except for ENB which is 8.8%. I have 15%EM, 21.3%INT, 21.3%US, 31.5%CDN, and my Fixed Inc. at 4.6% in Pimco PMIF. I am thinking of selling half (or more) of ENB and increasing PMIF or should I put into Pimco IGCF (not in your database) or some other you suggest.
As usual I appreciate your views and suggestions. I am 80, healthy and fully retired. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Richard on January 18, 2018
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