Investment Q&A

Q: Hi,

I have some First Quantum (FM) in my portfolio that is down significantly. I am thinking about selling it for the tax loss and replacing with Glencore.

What are your thoughts on Glencore? What is the difference between GLNCY and GLCNF?

Thanks,
Michael.

Q: Hi gang, I have had a decent run with Disney but with the recent drop, AND the move of Dreamworks out of Disney Studios, I wonder if I should take my precious USD somewhere more lucrative? Would love your thoughts - thanks!

Q: Hi, I'm looking for some recommendations for low risk, slow, steady medium growth stocks? I'm considering CTC for a 3% position in my portfolio. What do you think of CTC now and are there other alternatives you like better?

Q: Hi, I'd like to follow up on Alex's question regarding an NDP election victory. Among their election promises is to treat all capital gains as income, and tax it 100%, not as is present, at a 50% rate. Would you expect this, if implemented, to result in a large outflow from small caps, especially high growth companies which don't give dividends, into dividend paying stocks?

Q: My question has to do with selling shares due to the "opportunity cost" of continuing to own them. As we go through tumultuous times, we are being coached by you (and many others) to stay the course, maintain a diversified portfolio and remain with companies that have not experienced fundamental changes to their businesses. Supporting this thesis is that you can't time the market and a good company is a good company - until it is not.

But then on the other side we seem to have situations where stocks go down for no apparent reason, other than investor irrationality, and they then seem like excellent buys. This is where the question of opportunity cost arises. I own BDI, SYZ, BAD, AVO to name a few stocks that are down but continue to be largely viewed as good companies (ok, maybe we should have left AVO out of this). But are we investors suppose to contemplate selling these stocks because it appears that it may take a year or two for them to come back, hence the opportunity cost, to buy things we think will rebound faster? If so, isn't that then trying to time the market? It seems to me that while I am eager to buy up some "bargains", I am fully invested and am not adding to my savings and therefore I do not have the cash, so I will just have to sit and wait for this market to rise again. Or am I being too doctrinaire and making the amateur mistake of not selling my losers?

Sign me a little confused! Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.

Q: Good afternoon:
I would appreciate your view of Romarco Minerals in light of the proposed takeover by Oceanagold. Do you consider an existing position worth holding?
Thank you.

Q: With reference to Bryron's question, I am also very concerned with deflation as opposed to inflation. There is way too much debt worldwide. As an experienced money manager and I know you don't have a crystal ball, would you lean towards deflation as opposed to inflation? I can't see how inflation can rear its head in this environment and is deflation in a short period of time a real risk to the stock market?

Q: Hi guy,s Thanks to you I bought a 1000 shares at about 7.30 per Share. Right or wrong I cashed in at 18.55 today . Where would you put $20,000 today excluding the oil patch as I am over weight in this area. Thanks for your advice. Regards Cliff

Q: Could you please give me your opinion of WSP. It looks like they acquired Halvorson and Partners in Chicago. Still a good long term hold?

Thanks

Dave.

Q: Any reason that you can see for Wednesday's greatly appreciated $28 per share spike?

Q: Note that you are adding the above 2 stocks mainly due to value resulting from recent sharp declines.Please advise what is FX as You stated that ENB only has small exposure to FX.Both are related to the very weak energy sector,so I assume that that valuation overrides the sector in this case. Also,would BAM.A a better choice than BEP.un? Thanks a lot for your usual great advices & services.

Q: I understand management rates poorly on Glassdoor. There is a question of whether AVO is experiencing more competition and margin compression. So my questions are:

How tight is the control of AVO - specifically how much does Mr. Fernandez own? If their products are superior and the share price low, what is the liklihood of a hostile takeover? Is there a big short position in the company?

Q: I have a question about the upcoming election. Most polls show the NDP leading. From your experience do you think it is reasonable to expect something of a market sell-off (perhaps leading up to the election if the polls continue to show the NDP leading or after the election itself) if this continues? Please note I am not asking anything partisan here. I am just considering whether or not there might be a good reason to wait until after the election to buy a few things. Thank-you.

Q: Do you think there is any liklihood of TOU initiating a dividend in the next year or so ?

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

Post if you want but I wanted to add some commentary for the discussion on MDA. I had the privilege of working for MDA for 10 years in the middle of my career (I am a non-engineer). A couple of observations from my direct experience:
1. Dan Friedmann was not only a talented engineer but an extremely astute business mind and has always let the results speak for themselves.
2. MDA has a history of pushing the engineering boundaries of what's possible - something that requires a certain mindset to balance the risks/costs with innovation. Not easy to do without deep technical knowledge of what you are trying to build. Just look at CanadaArm or Radarsat from their early years.
3. As a company, they were the single biggest collection of really, really smart people who knew how to get things done that I have ever worked for.
4. I never experienced the 'difficult' to work for environment. There is nothing like working in an environment of people who are extremely bright but humbled by knowing the person next to you just might be smarter and able to share their experience or knowledge in trying to solve very complex engineering challenges.

This was my experience for what its worth!

Q: Just like the last time you increased your prices, you have been very fair with current members. I know I totally appreciate that, as many others do. You are providing a very unique, yet wonderful service! Thank you!!!

It's your discretion whether to publish this, but when I read the notification, it sounded like if I renew for two years I'll pay the "old" price of $119.95 for the first year, but $119.95 less 10% for the second year. However, just re-reading now, it seems this was intentional as you consider the Two year membership as a package, not two one year memberships.

Honestly, I'd pay even more for this service as it has reaped returns far superior to what I would get on my own, or with ANY advisor.

Q: Hello Team,

Bought IT @16.75 and I am down. Following the conference call about the MIP, does it make sense to average down at this time? I have rarely averaged down on any stock but for this stock which has dropped so much so quickly while the fundamentals appear to remain in place it would appear to be an opportunity. What is your opinion. I currently own 100 shares. Thank you!

Q: With all the management changes at AVO, including the departure of the CFO last year, it looks like the CEO want to maintain a very high degree of control. It seems a bit fishy to me. Do I need to be worried that the company is cooking the books?

Q: What do you think of the current streamlined management just announced? Is this good? or is it another warning sign like when the CFO left right before Q1 earnings last year? Thanks.

Q: After backing off from it's highs this stock has commenced moving up aagain on considerable volume. Any observations, updates given the recent move?