Investment Q&A

Q: the comment below is from one of our analysts. Can you comment?
" Admitting you have a problem and cutting the dividend is a good first step. However, as we said in our email, the new payout ratio is still relatively high at about 70% and that doesn’t include any growth capex that they will spend. The big problem we see is that its debt to EBITDA ratio is up around 8 times. This is way too high and we wonder where the cash is going to come from to make debt repayments. Our guess is that they grind it out for a while, but it is ugly and it is going to take time to fix their balance sheet unless earnings get a lot better (not the company’s forecast)."

Q: I read with interest your recent report on EQI and was reminded of FN which i hold and wondered if you could comment on the relative merits of these two mortgage-related stocks. I have noticed that FN seems to be a bit volatile and I wonder if you had a comment on that. Thanks, Bob.

Q: CPX announced a new rate-reset preferred today. My question is, for the fixed income side of a portfolio, do you a) consider prefs an equal alternative to bonds and b) in this case in particular, would you be better off going for the common that has a 5.8% yield today rather than rate re-set that currently has a 4.5% yield? Utilities are likely in the 7th inning right now- is either a solid long-term investment in a non-registered account? Thanks in advance.

Q: Have you ever looked at Olympia Financial (OLY)? I've held it for a couple of years and collect a nice 7% yield. Growth seems slack and the stock sits around $40. Any growth prospects here? And is the dividend sustainable? Thanks.

Q: Hello 5i Team, Re: ENF.T,
I am a income investor looking at purchasing ENF for a long hold, realizing that growth expectations may not be much ,
...but hoping it would stay in the black for the long run.
Peter your Previous reply (Jan 22/13) you made reference about ENF having unfavourable reports towards it, 2 buys and 10 holds.
I’m a member of 5i for many reasons, one being that I have little faith in analysts predicting targets and even less faith in financial advisors.
Could you please elaborate as to why they gave the poor reports ? We all know the damning influence they do have with negative reports?
Also, please confirm any new outlook for ENF ? Your input is greatly appreciated and your service is cherished.

Q: Peter,

You sided with VIT a few months ago. Do you think it is a good play in micro cap gold. They have a lot of cash on the balance sheet which makes them safer. Thanks

Q: WJX
Wajax reported today. Not a pretty result. Is the slide overdone and is Wajax a long-term buy. Thank you.

Q: CSS Contrans just came out with their financials. YOY look very good. More to come?

Q: Hi Peter,
Any thoughts on the recent news that Rio Tinto is shopping around their 57% ownership in IOC? I'm wondering what the probability of Tata walking away from New Millennium ( NML) in favour of current production and known reserves with IOC? Thanks.

Q: Are your comments still positive on MSI.It seems qiute stable to me as a company but it has run $5-6 in the last couple of years.Thanks for all your help

Q: Hi Peter,

In your Sprott days you were a supporter of Sensio Technologies. They have recently signed many contracts with large companies such Disney(yesterday), Starz, and National Geographic to provide streaming 3D content on their new 3DGO service. These events in addition to their patents regarding Auto detect and 2D-3D switches and signing agreements with WiLan to litigate these patents seem to be great. They also have signed with the biggest two TV manufacting companies in China (HiSense and TLC)and Vizio in the States, plus have many agreement with the chip manufacturing companies installing Sensio chips. All of this is extremely positive. However, there seems to be no traction at all with all of the progress that they have made. It actually has been in continuous downward spiral! Is there something fundamentally wrong with their products/services? Who is their closest competitor? Is this just a matter of time?

Regards,

Arturo

Q: Hi,

When are the quarterly results coming out for kbl and css

Thanks
Paul

Q: Hi Peter,

Do you know anything about Imvescor Restaurant Group (IRG)? There appears to be no analyst coverage on this stock so it's difficult to get much information. The 10 year chart has the look of a company that might be starting to turn things around. Any comments? Thanks.

Q: Is Cineplex too expensive at $34 or would you recommend waiting? Thank you.

Q: Uns(Uniselect) seems to be suffering .Is there any hope here for a recovery.

Q: Mr.Hodson, just read your response today with respect to shorting. Is the borrowing of shares done only in the margin accounts ? I remember reading something 2 or 3 years ago from some author complaining that shorting should not be permitted and that the borrowing of shares could be excluded, through some specific request from the client to not do so. Is that correct information ? A basic article on shorting would be nice, either in the CanadianMoney Saver or a blog on this website. Is there any real value in shorting ? It seems to create all sorts of distortions in the normal stock market.

Q: What is your view on brd.to at this price? How does it compare to sgn.v or tmv.v if applicable? Thanks for your advice!

Q: What is your outlook for the rest of this year for Newalta (NAL). It seems to be a nonperformer of late.
Thanks
Elliott

Q: Re: CLQ
This stock has been dropping rapidly (from around .90 to .70) over the last couple of weeks. Today they announced a $20M bought deal financing at .74. It would seem reasonable to assume word of the financing got out to some before the announcement. Anyway, I wonder if I could get your views on these kinds of financings and the short term effect they tend to have on a stock price. I would assume the stock price is now basically "capped" at the financing price and will be essentially dead money until the financing works its way through. Is that usually what happens? Also, the investment bankers who financed the deal will at some point want to sell into the market for their profit. Is there any rough guidline as to how much financiers are generally looking to make on these kind of deals (ie. if they are usually happy with, say, 5%, there may not be much point staying in the stock and waiting as they may be flooding the market with their new shares at something less than .80 again putting a cap on the upside at that time. Thanks, as always for your opinion.

Q: Hi 5i team: What is your outlook on Ithaca energy( IAE )? This company has entered into an agreement to purchase Valiant Energy, which would increase it's production and cash flow substantially. Seems like this would be a good entry point at this level.
Thank you