Investment Q&A

Q: Hi, With recent recovery in the Tech sector, many stocks have seen nice bounce in their depressed share prices. Tech Companies with solid fundamentals, strong cashflow and low/no debt have been favoured by investors. CSU has also seen good strength lately, which is really encouraging. Topicus share price also has seen a mild recovery from its recent lows, but still continues to languish around $74- 75 level. Could you assign the possible causes of lack of investor interest in TOI, which was a darling, not so long ago and follows the same business model as its parent Constellation Software ? Do you foresee some catalysts to break this trend which could help the stock to recover sooner to let's say $90-$100, and if so a possible/reasonable time frame. Thank you

Q: What does the market expect from these 2 next week?

Thx

Q: This company has been doing rather well in a difficult market. Would you consider it a buy at today’s
price?
Thank you for your valued opinion.
Ernie

Q: I have recently started committing cash to the tech sector and own LSPD and SHOP. I was wondering if you could provide 3-5 CDN listed names other than these that represent the best growth opportunities.
Thanks

Q: Hi, ServiceNow stock, a large US Enterprise Digital Solutions provider company, dropped 12%, Today, after CEO's comments, last evening on Mad Money, warning about the macro headwinds faced by a continuously extra strong US Dollar, by Technology companies, particularly those with large enterprise customers, around the world. Some of the comments are as below:

" You’re at 41-year high inflation. The dollar right now is the highest it’s been in over two decades. We have interest rates rising. People worried about security. You’ve got a war in Europe. So, the mood is not great,” McDermott said in an interview that aired on “Mad Money” after the closing bell on Monday.

“You’re going to see the headwind of the dollar right now against well-known technology brands,” the CEO added. “No one’s going to outrun the currency right now.”

Shares of ServiceNow, which helps companies and organizations digitize their workflows, fell 13% on Tuesday after McDermott’s comments, which were meant as an overall industry observation, not ServiceNow-specific news due to the company being in a quiet period ahead of reporting its latest quarterly earnings on July 27. "

“When you think about energy, and the dislocation caused by the war in Europe, and this reprioritization I’m talking about, you’re going to see longer cycles [to close deals] in Europe. We saw that,” McDermott said. “But this doesn’t fundamentally change the narrative that tech is the only way to cut through the crosswinds.”

The reprioritization he’s referring to is the increase in demand for a fast return-on-investment — another symptom of cautiousness in the current environment.

“There’s a new level or prioritization in the enterprise. And I have seen this, actually since we last met, Jim, hitting a new gear. Where companies are first saying ‘which platforms do we want to bet on,’” and then try to sort their priorities, McDermott said.

“There’s one filter on all of this now. And that is fast return on investment. And if you can’t put an architecture in there that gives the customer a fast ROI, chances are, you’re going to get postponed,” he added.

Stifel said in a note on Tuesday that it believes the company is “likely” to lower their expectations when it reports earnings, citing McDermott’s comments on reprioritization. The investment bank also expects other companies across the industry to follow suit in the coming weeks.

There was chatter that Today's 4.10% decline in MSFT and 4.61% in Sales Force, which was ugly, was not company specific but in reaction to this macro warning,

Most large Technology will start reporting in a few weeks time.

Some strategists were seen on CNBC talking about the" Generals" being the last to drop and MSFT's sharp drop today was noticed by many.

Do you agree with above comments/sentiments ?

We are trying to assess, if these companies, in your view, are likely to be faced with similar headwinds - CSU ( worldwide revenues), TOI ( Europe) and SYZ ( >55% US rev ), for all those reasons. And if you think, they are not immune to this, is there any caution warranted, or is it prudent to reduce our exposure to a more reasonable level, at this time.

Thank You

Q: CSU and BEP.UN are graded A and are your only A grade companies in Canada. What might be an A grade company from the U.S. if you were to grade?

Thx

Q: Currently there is a lot of turbulence in markets for many reasons, could you provide a list of 3-5 balanced companies that you would find attractive both at current prices and economic situation.

Q: I bought NVIDIA years ago and have been considering trimming as I’m overweight, and now want to take advantage of stocks that have recently dropped. I am a long term investor focused on growth with medium-high risk, what 3-4 stocks Canadian and U.S. do you recommend to help compliment my holdings? My US holdings are GOOG, COST, ISRG, V and my CAD tech holdings are CSU, TOI, KXS, and STC.

Q: Earlier today you replied to a question with: "We are not big fans of averaging down, but if we were to do it BAM.A would likely be near the top of the list. When 'the market' brings down all stocks we are more comfortable buying more as opposed to when a company in isolation declines. We are not worrried about BAM getting through this market and/or upcoming recession. "

Please list 5 cad and 5 usd stocks that would be in your top list that would meet the above criteria.

Thx.

Q: How is CSU looking versus its historical valuation? Is it getting interesting to add here, or above its average longer-term valuation?

Thank you

Q: Hi,

As a follow up to your answer to Curtis's question. What are some of the better companies in the data analytics space?
Thank-you.

Q: Good morning. What would you recommend for an investment Canadian and US data analytics company or space? Thanks again.

Q: Is there a reason for the big price surge 6.6 % in TOI while CSU drop slightly 1.3 % ? Thanks.

Q: What 3 Canadian and U.S.A. large cap companies are great buys at their current level ?
Buying for core and long term holdings.

Q: hello
If you were to build a mini pension with 5 or 6 uncorrelated Canadian stocks/REITS, what would they be? Are they all "buys" today or would you put some (which ones) on your "watch list"?
Thank you.

Q: Both companies project good earnings. CSU or DSG or both today and your reasons?
Thanks

Q: What are your 3 "table pounding" buys (3 US & 3 CDN) across any sector that you would be adding to your hypothetical portfolio today in this much lower market? I understand the markets could fall much more but if you were deploying today what your top picks be? Thx

Q: Hello 5I,
What are your top 5 buys right now on both the US and Canada looking.
Thanks

Q: I'm more a scavenger than a predator, as much interested in dividends as capital gains. Right now, however, I see opportunity in the growth sector as it collapses after years of ridiculous rises. My intention is to sell off bond funds to pick off the debris of this collapse.

First question: Now or wait?

Second question: What are your choices given this scenario, US or Canadian? Bear in mind, I'm not interested in the 5 or 10 yr wait. I'm looking at a bounce back after half the herd has jumped. I want reasonable growth prospects, a price to earnings ratio that isn't stupid and a margin that also isn't stupid. Say, for example, Apple.

You get it. I also don't expect perfection from you. No one ever got it from me.

Q: Regarding the list above, could you rank them from best to worst, in terms of fundamentals and the ability to survive economic downturns.
Deduct as many credits as you wish. Many thanks for you assistance.
John