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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: In early March, as the markets dramatically weakened due to looming economic damage from Covid-19, I sold four smaller, lower-quality positions within my portfolio, mainly for tax-loss reasons (the proceeds represent <2% of the portfolio value), with the intention (option) to re-buy after 30 days (as my philosophy is long-term buy-and-hold). The question now, of course, is whether to re-buy any or all of the 4 positions sold (fortunately, 3 of the 4 are trading at prices substantially lower than what I sold them for). I wonder what your advice would be as to whether to re-buy any or all of these at this time:
(a) Russel Metals;
(b) Cenovus (note—I already hold Suncor as a major position, which I could add to instead);
(c) MTY Food Group (I already hold as major positions SBUX and QSR);
(d) Premium Brand Holdings.

Read Answer Asked by Ted on April 08, 2020
Q: Of these two companies do you have a preferred pick? How does each look ion terms of debt in your opinion? Or is there another oil play you like better? Long term buy time frame min 3years please credit as many as needed for question
Read Answer Asked by Kolbi on March 18, 2020
Q: Can you please advise as to which large cap oil sands company have hedged their oil price exposure and for how long and which would u recommend among that list. Thx
Read Answer Asked by Patrick on March 13, 2020
Q: I am interested in your view on the best strategy for selling stocks to raise cash in a non-registered account. I am looking to sell 1% of my total portfolio, and my thinking is to either A) take this out of one or both of two stocks that are the largest (each about 5%) weighting in my portfolio or B) sell my least favourite, lowest weighting, stocks (energy producers) with 3 stocks comprising 3% total weighting.

With option A) I could pare one of my largest holdings back to 4% or both of them back to 4.5%. One stock is ENB, in which I have a 30% gain and the other stock is AAPL, in which I have a 350% gain. ENB pays a 6% dividend, which I am reluctant to lose, and which benefits from the dividend tax credit. AAPL pays a 1% dividend, which is fully taxable and easier to give up, but I will have to pay a sizeable capital gains tax. I have no stocks with losses that I can sell to offset the gains. You have always advocated hanging onto winners, and both of these stocks are "winners" in a way, one for income and the other for growth.

With option B) I could sell half my energy producer holdings. I bought the energy stocks as a "lottery ticket," expecting at least a double if and when energy prices rebound. I hold CVE (up 25%), ERF (breakeven) and WCP (up 32%). They are roughly equal weight, so I could achieve my goal of selling 1% of my portfolio by selling just one of these three stocks.

Which stock(s) would you recommend I sell and why?
Read Answer Asked by David on January 22, 2020
Q: In a recent answer to a question on an oil company, you mentioned that it is hard to be optimistic on a company if you don't like the management team. So my question is, which of the management teams in the oil sector would you want to align yourself with, and why? Alternatively, which of the management teams would you not align yourself with? Please deduct as many credits as necessary to fully answer my question. Thank You.
Read Answer Asked by dean on November 22, 2019
Q: I have positions in these companies way way under my cost. Looking for a strategy to capture some tax loss without giving up completely in allocation in case of oil turnaround. Consolidation in less number of stocks that represents the best potencial is an option or selling all of them and buying two or three different companies is another option. Appreciate any suggestion. Thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Saad on November 07, 2019
Q: I am considering adding a few long-term positions to my registered accounts and looking for ideas in oil & gas - income and growth. A few names are noted above, however, looking for your top 5 recommendations.
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on July 11, 2019
Q: I am trying to clean up my Energy sector. I have the following: CPG, CVE, ERF, HSE, IMO, SU, TRP, VET, MX Could you please place them in order, starting with first to sell.

Also, could you please let me know which companies I should buy with the proceeds. I have a very long timeline, and I feel that companies that are rather low right now may jump a fair bit when the price of oil rebounds.

If there are any other companies that you would suggest to buy, please include them as well.


Thank you once again,

Fed
Read Answer Asked by Federico on July 10, 2019
Q: CVE and MEG are considerably under-performing the energy sector this week, I'm guessing partially due to investors are doing some profit-taking since the TMX just got announced as the market has been hoping for. I have some decent unrealized gain in CVE and MEG, and noticed WCP was down a lot this Monday on unusual high volume, do you think it's a good idea to swap my energy holding from either MEG or CVE into WCP?
Read Answer Asked by yun on June 24, 2019
Q: After the announcement of Alberta production curbs I increased my holdings from 2.5% to 4,5% and because of its outperformance I am now over 5% and am going to reduce my holdings. I am thinking of going down to 4% as I see improving metrics with the company. It is my only oil and gas producer in a balanced portfolio which is less than 20% of total holdings but managed on a standalone basis. What are your thoughts on a 4% holding. Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Jerome on April 30, 2019
Q: Hi Peter,
How much exposure do each of these have to the lack of Alberta Pipelines issue ? What order would you initiate new postions in these ?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 07, 2019
Q: Hi, the listed shares currently make up my portfolio in relatively equal portions. I was wondering--with the $6000 TFSA amount, do any of these names stick out to top up with the full $6k or partial amounts? Alternatively I have been following Savaria SIS and considering initiating a new position? Thanks so much for your guidance.
Read Answer Asked by Simon on January 03, 2019
Q: I'm looking to reduce exposure to the energy sector and harvest some tax losses. My holdings cover a range of energy companies with different strengths and weaknesses (gassy, oily, big cap, small cap) so equivalence is difficult to calculate. From the list of CVE, HSE, PGF, SGY, TOU and WCP in what order would you reduce these holdings?

As always, thanks for the excellent service.
Read Answer Asked by Stefan on December 03, 2018