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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: Hi guys
I see High Liner had a new CEO appointed: " High Liner Foods Incorporated (HLF.TO) on Wednesday named Rod Hepponstall as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2018. Hepponstall will assume this role from Henry Demone, Chairman and CEO, who will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Hepponstall will also serve on the board.

According to a statement, Hepponstall has 25 years of experience working in the food industry in the United States and Canada, in both retail and foodservice. It said he has held positions of increasing responsibility at several publically traded food companies, including Lamb-Weston, Inc., ConAgra Foods, Inc. and Maple Leaf Foods. He most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, General Manager Retail & Foodservice Business Units at Lamb-Weston Inc.."

I would have thought given the complexity of the fish wholesale market that they would have chosen a fish veteran rather than a person with more general food service direction or am I missing something. The market did not seem to like the choice as the stock was down 5%. Any thoughts of what this choice in CEO may bring to the direction of High liner.

Much thanks
Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on April 05, 2018
Q: Hello,
At some point 5i seems to have changed direction with Amazon. Earlier on you thought the p/e ratio was just too high. For instance, this was your objection to buying Amazon in July 2014:
5I RESEARCH ANSWER:
We think Amazon is a great, well-managed company, with excellent potential and a solid niche that it continues to develop. Clearly the leader in the space, it further consolidates its position nearly every day. It has $5 billion net cash. We like the 'company' for sure. However, the stock trades at 279 X forward earnings estimates, and we simply cannot get our heads around its valuation. It is a high beta stock, but this year the market is up and it is down 12%. We think there are better growth companies to own.
According to Yahoo Finance the P/E ratio is higher now than it was then. I am interested in buying Amazon amidst its current troubles but the cost really makes me question that decision. I am curious as to what exactly were the elements that brought 5i to become much more favourable towards buying Amazon?
thanks
Read Answer Asked by joseph on April 05, 2018
Q: Hi Gang,

I have been holding the above for a while and I'm now underwater and I would like to buy the opposite side (bear) to turn it into a neutral market trade until things calm down a bit, I looked at HIU which is also non leveraged 1/1 but does not seem to match VSP, please advice as to what I can do to neutralize the trade, again thank you for your advice. Anthony
Read Answer Asked by Anthony on April 04, 2018
Q: Good Morning, Are there any Canadian companies that may benefit from the tariffs China has placed on the US. i.e. Could tariffs make Corby's more competitive in China vs. US distillers? Could CAE and BBD benefit from tariffs on Boeing?
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Robert on April 04, 2018
Q: If I sell at a loss in a TFSA do I need to wait 30 days to repurchase even though I cannot claim a tax loss?
Read Answer Asked by Marco on April 04, 2018
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan,and Team,

The Motley Fool had an article called "3 Canadian Dividend Aristocrats With Dangerously High Payout Ratios".

They cite current and 2018 payout ratios for these three stocks:
CGX: 150% and 144%
ECI: 182% and 124%
PKI: 340% and 329%. (yikes!)

They end the article with this statement:
"It’s important for investors to understand the sustainability of a company’s dividend. These aristocrats all have a history of raising dividends, but their high payout ratios are reason for concern. This does not necessarily mean they are bad investments, but investors looking for sustainable dividends may be better off looking elsewhere."

Should this article be taken with a 'grain of salt'? Are their payout ratio numbers valid? What about the Motley Fool in general? Is it worth reading their articles?

Thanks as always for your level-headed and pertinent advice.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on April 04, 2018
Q: Please provide me with a list of solid Canadian stocks (such as the Brookfield group) in which I may receive dividends/distribution in US dollars.
Is the income converted to CDN for income tax purposes (by me, the co. or RevCan) ?
I assume there will not be any withholding tax as they would be CDN companies?
Would I be charged a commission by anyone, i.e. the company or Scotia iTrade?
Anything else I need to know?
Thanks
Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on April 04, 2018
Q: 11:56 AM 4/3/2018
I own RY, CM, BNS, and some TD, and they comprise nearly 20% of my income-oriented portfolio. It is often suggested that I should own shares in one or more insurance companies, but I think the big banks are already in the insurance business so I believe I am already am invested in the insurance sector.
Would you think I need to buy some SLF?
Could you please give me an estimate of what proportion is in insurance business in each of the big banks.
Thank you............. Paul K
Read Answer Asked by Paul on April 04, 2018
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