Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

Are all the A-ranked companies in the September Rating Summary still a buy at their current prices?

Q: Everyone, I own the above stocks and I have had them for many years. Under what conditions would you sell them individually or collectively. My investing philosophy is to own the best of the best and hold them forever. Clayton

Q: What would be the 5 Canadian & 5 US stocks that have the biggest moats at this time? Thanks

Q: I am trying to construct a barbell style Canadian portfolio.Can you name 5-6 growth names you favour and 5-6 defensive names that I might be able to build this with ?

Q: Are there any us stocks at present that would grade as well as CSU?

Thx

Q: What is your top 6 picks regardless if Cad / US based / sectors. Also supply entry price and brief explanation on why you like your picks...Thanks for your help with this.

Q: I recently noticed that I had been given Rights by Constellation software which ended on Sept 28. I have done nothing about these Rights, so will there be any consequences, tax or otherwise that I did not exercise them. I am confused what these Rights meant and I had not looked at my account for a while, so I must have missed the information. Can you explain what I should have done and if there are any tax consequences of having done nothing. Thank you

Q: Hi team,

Which Canadian and U.S. stocks do you see as presently having positive momentum leading to strong growth in a near future ?

Have a good day,

Jacques IDS

Q: Thank you for your answer on stocks and ETF'S for my son's FHSA account that is starting. The answer included mostly US domiciled names/ETF's and we are looking at Canadian names. Could you recommend a combination of Canadian blue chips and ETF's for a 7 year time frame to monthly contribute and compound before needing funds for a home buyer withdrawal
Thank you

Q: Hi group please indicate in what order and at what entry price would you add to the above stocks. Only comment on the top 10 out of above list (i have a 100k to spend would you go all in now or wait until markets settle Thanks for your help with this decision

Q: Gentlemen;

What 5 core stocks, Canadian or US, would you want to add to today?

Q: Your latest market update talks about fundamentally sound companies with good long term histories. What companies from your portfolio most look like this?

Thx

Q: Hi With respect to Steve's question, about Series 1 debentures trading at $136-$138 currently and applying for new debentures through Rights for a price of $133, is it not true that Debentures currently trading also have an embedded additional value of $3.25, quarterly interest ( $3.25x4=$13.30 annual), payable on October 1st. Whereas, the debentures acquired through rights will be issued only on October 6 and are not eligible for that interest for quarter Jul-Sep and hence the price differential ?

Thank You

Q: Hi, We are applying to buy some Constellation Series 1 Debentures through rights, with a payment of $133.217, for family members. Where would it make most sense to hold these debentures - RRSP/RRIF, TFSA or a Non Regd Taxable account. ( Most of us being in higher Tax bracket of 40-54% Marginal tax rate ). considering the following:

1. These debentures will likely yield anywhere between 5-10% ( on a cost base of $133 ), by way of Interest income, for 17 years ( assuming we will be able to swap with warrants, if called before redemption)

2. We will incur a Capital Loss of $33 as at March 31, 2040. ( $100 Principal to be received at maturity)

3. If held in Tax sheltered accounts, would it make sense to move them to a Non-Regd Taxable account, let's say 5 years before maturity date, when the M/V of these debentures will likely start declining. So, we could use the Capital Loss in Taxable accounts.

Thank You

Q: Hello, what are the reasons that constellation made 2 spinoff (topicus and lumine) in the past years ? Why did they not keep everything under one roof and continue to grow constellation instead and follow the same path like Berkshire Hathaway that never did a spinoff.

Q: Briefly can you compare the pros and cons of the Brookfield and Constellation groups.
Thank You
Peter

Q: Sorry for another questions about the CSU rights, warrants and debentures. I was thinking of taking a small position in the debentures and have the rights to do that. However, I believe that I would be getting the Series 1 debentures which likely means that I will someday have to buy warrants to remove the redemption feature. The cost is now starting to increase because I am not sure there will be enough warrants to cover the Series 1 debentures so the warrants could be expensive. It seems to me that if CSU wanted to remove the redemption feature they could just do it without the warrants. Will there be enough warrants to go around? And if the warrants sell for $1 that is another 1% lost. Any further comments?

Q: What are your top 5 Canadian growth picks for the next year? Please rank and explain why each is a strong choice? Also, what are US choices?

Q: I received a copy of the debenture prospectus in the mail today and have been reading it with some interest. I think they are going to need an army of accountants to figure out how they should account for it. Although it would make an excellent CPA or CFA exam question, the arrangement seems unnecessarily (ridiculously?) complicated.

The nominal interest rate of CPI plus 6.8% until 2040 looked very interesting at first. However, the amortization of the $33 premium to the year 5 company par value redemption option would appear to almost fully negate the 6.8% (unless a warrant is held and exercised). If the warrant is exercised, effectively allowing the debenture plus its replacement debenture to go to term, the initial $33 premium amortized over 17 years still knocks off 2 to 3% per year. Nonetheless, unless I am missing something, CPI plus (say) 4% until 2040 still looks pretty good.

Having come to the CSU party late I only own 16 shares. That means I can buy $500 of debentures and so exercising or even disposing the rights seems hardly worth the effort. However, I was thinking that as the debentures will trade on the TSX, I could buy more rights or debentures but the amount I would be willing to pay would depend whether I could also acquire more warrants and at what price. It appears that the warrants will not trade on the TSX except when the company issues a redemption notice. That makes buying the debentures look more than a bit risky.

Does my analysis look right to you?

Does the 3.03 ratio of rights to $100 principal value of the debentures also apply to the warrants or is it 1 warrant for each $100 debenture? The prospectus says that CSU will try to ensure that warrants are available to all debenture holders. Do you have any idea how they will do that and will it that mean the warrants value will be suppressed somehow?

Finally, is it likely that the trading price of the debentures will assume the company will never redeem the debentures given the warrants effectively eliminate any incentive it may have to redeem the series 1 debentures early?

Thanks as always

Q: Hi
I am sorry to have to ask another question about the recent WTS issue of CSU.
I currently own 7 * $100 Unsecured SUB FLTG RT SI with a date of Mar 31 2040 and with a cost of $765 and a MV $955. I also CSU.RT of 40 with MV @ .75 and recently received notification of WTS of 40 at no value. My question is what must I do by Sept 29 if hang onto my current debentures will they lose value ? do I have to do something with the 40 CSU.RT that I have or the 40 WTS just issued. Should I just sell the current debentures on the open market. Totally confused by this despite reading all the recent questions and answers on your website.
Thanks
Kathy