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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: I am considering selling my Stantec (STN) stock and replacing with WSP Global (WSP), and indeed wish I had done so earlier. I have reviewed your recent answers on this question (and variations). If I were making an initial investment, it seems clear that I would perhaps lean toward WSP, but given that I currently own STN, should I hold or sell it and buy WSP? This is for a long-term investment seeking growth. (Stantec is currently my only industrial stock and about 8% of my portfolio.) Thanks, and great job.
Read Answer Asked by Christopher on July 07, 2017
Q: Good day Peter and Team, I too am impressed with your ability to limit the number of stocks in your portfolios. As I'm overweight in the financial sector and in the Canadian banking sector we hold BNS, TD, and BMO. I'm thinking of selling BMO at a slight gain, to deploy some extra funds for the Industrial sector where we're underweight. Aside from TNC, would you recommend adding to any of these Industrial stocks: EIF, KBL, SIS, or STN? I'd rather not buy a new Industrial stock unless there are compelling reasons to do so. As always, your advice and recommendations are of great value.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on July 07, 2017
Q: I am putting together a portfolio for my daughter who is somewhat risk averse. The portfolio will include a TFSA, RRSP and open account. A recurring question I know but does the drop in STN make it a more compelling long-term buy now than WSP or does WSP's momentum win out? Since the stock could go in any of the accounts, I am wondering if WSP's dividend in the open account is just enough to win the day? Income is not the prime pre-requisite here but it wouldn't hurt either.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on June 14, 2017
Q: Good morning 5I.

My question concerns when to sell a stock that is at a loss and move the money to a better holding.

I have ridden some stocks right into the ground. Guestlodgix (GXI) for example 100% loss. On the other hand I have sold losing stocks only to see them have a miraculous recovery. Lumenpulse Inc. (LMP) for example which may have been an exceptional case was bought out right after I sold out.

Fortunately I have very few stocks in a loss position, due to your great service, but wonder should I cut my losses and move on or should I hold on for an eventual recovery? Specifically:

Aritzia (ATZ) down 12% (which in fairness you to told me not to rush into)

Currency Exchange International (CXI) down 20%

Highliner (HLF) down 18%

Stantec (STN) down 5%.

What do you think? Stand pat or fold?
Read Answer Asked by David on May 15, 2017
Q: Good day,
I have some cash to deploy.
I am considering to buy SNC Lavalin (SNC) but I also like Stantec (STN)in the engineering field, which company would you recommand in this field?.

I am also considering taking a half position in ACQ. It seems less risky (although it is far from a blue chip..) following the recent drop, what do you think of the long term prospect of this company?

Finally, I have no gold stocks in my portfolio and feel I should add some, which names would you recommend at this point?

Thanks for the good work!
Read Answer Asked by Michel on May 15, 2017
Q: Can you rank the stocks best to worst in your opinion. These are the stock s that are in my INDUSTRIAL SECTOR. Would you add, swap or remove any of them? Thank you and great job.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on May 12, 2017
Q: I am a 30yr old mostly growth investor. I realize after Stantec's latest earnings you are basically endorsing a hold, but i am curious as i hold WSP(5%)and STN(4%) with a 16% Industrial weighting, would you let the name go. I am fine holding but i'm just not sure i am adding anything by keeping it at this point. Second, if you let it go which option would you choose: Add to PUR making it a full position, add to BAD making it a full position, or add to ZZZ making it a full position. Portfolio is mostly diversified across all sectors.
Read Answer Asked by justin on May 12, 2017
Q: You seem lukewarm on STN lately. Synergies from the large MWH acquisition seem to take time to flow to the bottom line...

However, it seems to be that are extracting a lot of value out of the MWH acquisition. STN is not a SW company, so it makes sense that they would divest "Innovyze" as non-core asset. However, I am surprized that they got USD-$270M for it - given the relative sale price versus the entire MWH acquisition price of ~$1B (i.e. 27%).

In their press release, they make no mention of expected revenue from this Innovyze business. I would have thought that if they would be losing ~25% of the revenue gained from the MWH acquisition, they would have had to mention this as 'material change'...

Would $270M US, they can repay the debt quickly and focus on core markets. Do you see the same value in this non-core sale and are you surprized at sales price obtained?
Read Answer Asked by Jennifer on May 09, 2017
Q: I am starting to lose patience with STN. I have owned it for 2 1/2 years and am up a grand total of 2% (plus dividend). It seems to have been in a trading range since Nov 2013. Is it time to move onto something else? They report on May 11th: should I wait for the earnings report and if not satisfied then sell (or just sell now since my patience is wearing out)?

p.s. I own WSP and have done very well with it.

Paul J
Read Answer Asked by Paul on May 05, 2017
Q: I consider WSP and STN my core holdings but now due to excellent appreciation they represent 7% and 3% of my portfolio. ARE has been a laggard and represents 1%. With ARE should I go back to SNC which I owned in the past (upside due to the recent acquisition?) or just keep WSP and STN as the only stocks in this area?
Read Answer Asked by JR on April 09, 2017
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