Investment Q&A

Q: I have been reading the recent news on Patriot One Technologies. Their technology identifies concealed weapons without the person's knowledge. If their technology is as good as it would appear to be, than PAT's revenue will explode in the coming years.

The current market valuation is more or less ¬$50,000,000, my best guess is PAT's income for the next twelve months will be in the $12,000,000 to $15,000,000. I am unable to predict how profitable the company will be, but their product sells for $10,000 plus PAT will receive some recurring revenues. I am guessing that most of the development and research costs are behind them, and that the cost of manufacturing their product will be less than $10,000. My question is, is there a method one can use in order to figure out if the current valuation is reasonable or not ?

Q: Hi there,

I am in a losing position with Cardinal on what is a small level of energy exposure in my portfolio. Do you think the dividend is safe or ripe for a cut? Also, the name has fallen considerably more than RRX, WCP etc. I understand that they have more heavy oil production which may weigh on the stock. If I wished to maintain energy exposure would you suggest switching to a different producer? If so, who? I also own Spartan.

Q: Hi 5i,

I currently have 14% of my portfolio in materials, which include MX (3.2%), CCL (4.25%), ZCL (3.47%) and AEM (2.84%).

I also have 12% of my portfolio in consumer non-disc, which include PBH (4.85%), DOL (3.47%) and ZZZ (3.2%).

For a growth oriented investor with 30 years until retirement what do you recommend as an appropriate allocation to materials and consumer non-disc? I will need to trim my holdings in each of these sectors to re-balance as I feel I am overweight so any suggestions on what should go?

Thank you as always,

Jon

Q: good day...these five stks are 5% of my portfolio of which I hold all of the balanced portfolio and six income portfolio stks...I am down on these five stks 24% cumulatively...what should I do in these circumstances as I tend to be a long term investor and am retired but do not require income from this portfolio for about two years from now...thank you for the best investing education that I have had...gene

Q: Which is the best way to calculate the annual EPS Growth Rate for a stock that has had a miss(s) over 5 years? I want to compare all stocks as per their annual EPS growth rates (actual and estimates) to find the great companies to invest in.

Here is an example of TCN's annual growth rate (no misses) over 5yrs from TD:

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 GR (%)
0.23 0.55 0.56 0.56 0.63 0.81 28.63

Here is an example of PKI's annual growth rate (with misses) over 5yrs from TD:

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 GR (%)
1.32 0.66 0.46 0.49 0.72 1.17 -2.38

Here again is PKI's annual growth rate over 3 yrs from TD, restarting the rising growth rate trend at 2015?

2015 2016 2017 2018 GR (%)
0.46 0.49 0.72 1.17 36.50

Obviously, if I use PKI's 5 yr EPS GR it would rank well down my list. However if I compare all stocks using the 5 yr EPS GR it won't penalize a company that has been intelligently growing earnings consistently? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Q: This is in response to johns question today about the downward trend of savaria and photon. I would also lump GUD in with these. It has seemed like a 5i favourite for a while but is basically at the same leve it was last November.
You told John that 3-4 months isn't long enough for these names, how long would you recommend as a minimum (I am ok with years of needed)?

Is there anything in their news to make you very confident that the momentum will change directions?

And, do you feel comfortable adding to these 3 at tofays levels (or is it likely just holding on for a few % over the next year and they've already used up their momentum?) (I know this is kind of asking you to crystal ball, but I'm hoping for educated insight).
Thanks!

Q: My primary investment objective is to find companies with growth potential with a secondary goal for some dividend income. I bought Innergex renewable (INE) a year ago at 14.80. This year it has been flat around 14.50. I am considering selling it and reinvesting the proceeds into Gilead (GILD). With GILD there is also the potential of some currency appreciation. Please let me have your thoughts. Is there another Company you would prefer to Gilead??

Q: At one point you were considering starting one or more ETFs based on your portfolios. Anything happening with that? Thank you.

Q: I need to add to the financial sector of my portfolio. I own 3 stocks in this sector, a full position in BNS and would like to add to SLF or ECN. I was going to add to ECN but began to wonder if ECN would be negatively impacted by rising interest rates especially with their debt being over 2x or would they simply pass on their increased expenses to their customer? Not sure how much competition they have in that space. Thank you in advance for your expertise.

Q: Hi 5I,
General question on how successful short sellers operate. Do they short the stocks daily, weekly or how do they keep the price down? If they continually short the stock, do they not end up owning a considerable % of the companies stocks in order to keep the price down? Is there a website that gives the % of the stock that is shorted? It appears that you need to be careful in the Canadian market that you are not on the opposite end of the short attacks. Are there any other Canadian stocks that are heavily shorted?
Thanks Keep up the good work.
Bob

Q: Good Morning;
I have sold a put at $15 on HCG maturing to-day. Do you think it is wiser to buy back the position to close the contract or to accept the assignment? The key consideration, of course, is whether the recent decline in HCG, in spite of Buffet's intervention, is likely to reverse any time soon (say in the next 6 months). I would appreciate your crystal ball reading here! Thanks for this excellent service you are providing.

Bob.

Q: Is Broadcom (AVGO) considered to be a Singaporean company or an American company? If the company domiciles in the US, it would be considered as US Situs property. As such it may have implications for Canadians on US estate taxes. If it is considered to be a Singaporean company, then there is no issue with respect to US Estate Taxes. I was unable to get an answer from the Investor Relations of Broadcom. Thanks.

Q: I am curious. As I write this TD is trading at 25.08 USD with an overbought RSI of 74.45 in NY and 65.45 with a much lower but nice RSI of 56 in the TSX. This equates to an exchange of 79.5 cents and the dirrerence in RSI is significant. I was always under the impression that these things track. I would appreciate your take on this.
Thanks
Don

Q: My current holding in one RRSP consist of the following:ABT
CSW.A
FR
GUD
IPL
ITC
PKI
PLC
RIC
SIS
T
TLT.V
BEP.UN
BPY.UN
CSH.UN
TOY

What do you think of this setup? Is there any additions that you would suggest? My time horizon is 20 to 30 years. Cheers
seamus

Q: Hello Peter and All,

I look after my daughter’s TFSA and Investment Acct. She is 7% under weight in Tech with holdings of: (OTEX 2.3%), (PUR 1.4%) plus ( QQQ and other ETFs provide 4.3% Tech ), total portfolio, 8% Tech. Money will not be required for about ten years.

To bring her up to 15 % total would you suggest buying KXS plus add to OTEX and PUR, or would you use a different combination such as CLS instead of PUR.
Many thanks.

Q: Thoughts on RPI.UN at this point, worth taking up a small position?
I have a small position in CCL.B already and nothing else in that sector.
Ted

Q: PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN CALL ON WHETHER YOU LIKE TO ANSWER MY QUESTION PRIVATLEY OR PUBLICLY.

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I'm very frustrated with my investment in EIF. I took a loss early after the shorts took the chance to destroy the EIF share price on its Q1 results. I re-acquire EIF later due to the positive signs from management on its Q2 results. Well, the market manipulators (Prescience Point and Cohones and others) once again gang up to give EIF another dunking today.

Why investors would take the words of market leeches (who spread lies for a living) over those of management is beyond comprehension. This is how the market works, unfortunately.

You know you can actually ruin any business by spreading rumours! Take for example, we all know that even the best run banks cannot withstand a run, and collapsing a bank is very easy (see HCG). That is how quick and easy it is to make money in shorting, sadly the law is totally blind on this.

HCG was an earlier victim and thanks Mr. Buffet I hope the shorts took a bloodbath on that one.

My questions are a). can EIF find the Buffet type of back stoppers to rid itself of the shorts? b). if not, can us small retails continue to hang in there and perhaps face the DH type of volatility until management gives up and sell the company, or c). I should just take my second loss on EIF and learn from hereon just stay away from short infested stocks?

Your insight is much appreciated. Thanks.

Q: Hi can you please comment on check point's quarter? They beat estimates from what I understand. The stock is tanking seemingly from lowering third quarter guidance. Down 8%, does this seem to be an overreaction to you? Would you hold? And is the long term thesis still intact? Please clarify the situation

Thank you
Karim

Q: should there be any concerns with chkp.

Q: I'm kind of interested in IBM because they are working with block chain. would you consider this as a play on fintech. I like their dividend and the fact that they generate so many patents. the stock isn't doing great though. Do you think that the stars might finally be aligning for this stock.