Investment Q&A

Q: Recently, there has been much in the news about improved Canada-China relations, and the Liberal government pursuing a free trade deal with China. As it appears that more business opportunities are on the horizon (e.g., SNC-Lavelin, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board), what Canadian ETFs or specific stocks I should be considering?

Q: Hello.
Thanks for the ongoing investing commentary.
Given the results I have experienced with a few individual investments over the past 8 months, it is clear I either do not have time to keep up with small cap growth stocks' activity, do not know how to make buy sell decisions, do not have the stomach for the ride or just completely outside my sphere of investor ability. In reviewing my experience with buy sell of Phm, I was up 8000 and ended up selling at loss of 6000. Ad recently up 7000 and end d up selling for 3000 loss. Painfully sitting on a 35,000 loss in Cxr.....largest loss ever in 16 years of direct investing. Can not make money this way. Clearly I should be handing over small company decision making to someone else.

The question.......what Canadian and USA mutual fund or strategy would you have me consider to help capture some of the growth available through small company / special opportunities investing ........ Without being directly involved with the buy sell decision?

I am okay with long term but long term with current results will land me in the poor house.

Appreciate your thoughts on this topic.
Dave

I already own Mawer global small and global mutual funds but they are not invested like 5i portfolio

Q: Hi, I know you've already answered a few questions on the exchange offered by PG but I'm still too obtuse to understand the ramifications.

Very simply, if I own 50 shares of PG and I tender them as part of the exchange, will I still own 50 shares of PG afterwards, plus the shares of the new spin-off, or will I only only shares in the new spin-off?

I have to provide instructions by September 28.

Thank you,

Q: Please provide your insight on to the lawsuit/dispute over title issues wrt the Liberdale copper project and the probabilities and time frame of a favorable outcome? Why would anyone explore without clear title?

Thanks.

Q: Good Day Team; I've had a small position in CGI for a few years now, and am considering a switch to DH. Would you say that the forward growth (3-5 years) of these two companies would be comparable, and if that is true, would the additional DH dividend make a switch more attractive.

thanks,

Q: WEF has not done anything for quite some time. Should I continue to hold? Could you provide update on softwood lumber agreement.

Thanks

Q: You said:
5i Research Answer:
We are recommending tendering under the exchange, and taking the EXCHANGEABLE share option.

My question is what are the pros and cons of going for each option?
If the value is higher on the London exchange do we expect the TSE price to be the same adjusted for currency differences?

Q: Now with 11 sectors in the TSX, what would be a good sector to sector % breakdown to have a balance portfolio?

Q: The last question on MDT was asked in Jan, 2016, and you were favourable at that point. Do you still think it is a good prospect? What about Vodaphone? Both were top pics on BNN today.

Q: According to the RBC Direct Investing data base MRU has a lower p/e, higher roe, lower debt to capital, higher net profit ratio, larger sales growth and a better 3 year stock performance { 50% vs 100% }. Why do you favor L so much? Thank you.

Q: Hello Peter and team:

You may want to perhaps address this question through your Blog or answer it here. Whatever you think is appropriate is fine with me.

What do think of the article in the Globe, Report on Business section, Saturday September 24 2016 edition by David Milstead on Big companies using non GAAP methods to report their earnings, profit, write downs and such. Except Imperial Oil, all the companies fail GAAP standards his article claims.
Many of the companies that you recommend don't fare well in the analysis by Veritas. For example Agnico, Manu Life, Magna, Interpipline etc., In fact 4 out of 5 companies negatively highlighted by the Globe are your favourites! Interestingly all the banks fare reasonably well which surprised me! The same bankers who "forced" the Govt to enact "opt in" measure come out as "reasonable"?
I went through the table provided by Veritas very carefully. I find that the following companies seem to have the least variance between GAAP and non GAAP measures: AGU ATD, BCE, BMO, BNS, CM, CNR,CTC, DOL, EMA, GIL, IMO, MRU, NA, POT,POW, PPL,RCI, RY, SAP,SJR,SNC,T, TD, WN.
Am I right in interpreting that these companies are "reasonably" clean in their corporate governance? Does this list by Veritas correlate with other lists by other companies that measure or evaluate ethics of a company by entirely another set of variables?

Do you folks consider this accounting issues when you choose a stock?
Thank you for your patience in advance. My apologies for this rather verbose question.

Q: Would MRE be a good investment or would one of the larger parts companies be a better bet? How is its debt.It has 3 new plants in Mexico etc. & I'm wondering how they'll impact the company.It seems cheap but is it a value trap or too speculative? Will the market for car parts hold for a few more years or have we reached a tipping point.It appears that people are still driving older cars even though sales of new ones has gone up dramatically.Thanks as always for your valued advice.

Q: CGX dropped since its last Q results,but lately is turning around with announcement of acquistion of Tricorp on 9/21 & recommendation by Motley Fool that it should be part of any portfolio on 9/23.On Sep 24,TD increased its target price to $59 with a buy rating.May we have 5I's concise views.Thanks for your normal great services & views.Looking forward to seeiny Ryan on BNN on 9/30

Q: I have held the Vertex Hedge Fund for about 15 years. In the early years the returns were acceptable. In the past 5 years the returns have been a disappointment. What do you think of that fund and its management? Should I continue to hold or sell and move on?

Q: Hi , are you able to add any clarity on why DHX seems to be drifting lower
Would earnings be that far off for Weds reporting?

Q: Looking into adding ITP for a 5 year hold, your thaughts on this company.
Thanks

Q:
Hi team :
below is info. or BK. I HAVE DONE WELL FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.I have no other bank stocks.I mostly live on DIV.
what would you advice:
1. wait and get paid out 2018 ( I HAVE 5K BK and no BK.PR.A )
2. SELL 0.5 OF THE POSITION
3. BUY BK. PR. A TO BE SAFER { My expectation that bank stocks will be flatish)
4. HANG IN FOR A POSSIBLE BEYOND 2018
5. OTHER SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS
THANKS AS ALL WAYS
YOSSI

Q: Hi Peter and Team - Could you provide me with an update on D-Box Technologies including the following: level of debt, cash on hand(is it still $13 million), quality of product, opinion of management, insider ownership. TD Waterhouse shows the number of shares at 175 million. Is this a reasonable number or do you think it is somewhat diluted and what is their history of issuing shares. Also could you comment on any major shareholders holding more than 10% - I think there are at least two. DBO appears to have good potential for growth but what would be the major downside possibility(s). Thanks as always for your excellent service.
Rob

Q: A point of information.
RUF holds only US properties which, like MST, differentiates it from other Canadian REITS.

Q: /A potential class action litigation resulted in a positive reaction on 9/23 with a close of $4.79 after a high of $4.86.Please explain the class action & if the positive effect will continue.Still holding my shares & trying to sell @ possible best price.Always appreciate your normal great services & opinions.