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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: Greeting, Peter & Co.
I fund and administer RDSPs for three young girls on the autism spectrum. Although I still have a 10 year time horizon I fortunately have no energy exposure in these portfolios. I am considering a small position in High Arctic Energy (HWO) as well as a position in a, yet to be determined, large cap energy company. My rationale is:
HWO has operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) (74%) and Alberta (26%). Although HWO is not a typical Canadian energy services company its 6 month share price decline is identical to that of Calfrac and slightly less than some of the other Canadian companies in this sector. The PNG operations include services and equipment rentals to natural gas companies that provide natural gas to a new LNG plant that has very long-term supply contracts. The Alberta operations, in my opinion, containing more risk than PNG, are similar to those of other Canadian energy service companies.
HWO had a good Q3 and the balance sheet is solid. There is enough cash on hand to cover the CAPEX for the additional rigs that will be delivered in 2015. The dividend was recently increased by 10% to 5.3% at the current share price of $3.73 leaving a very low payout ratio.
Please advise me of any errors in my numbers or logic and your assessment of HWO.
With great appreciation for your most valuable service.
Ed
Read Answer Asked by Ed on November 28, 2014
Q: Considering the Canadian $ vs US $ does it still makes sense to use CDN $ to buy US Equities. Looks to me like you would lose 15% right of the top.

Thank you as always for a great service.
Read Answer Asked by Craig on November 28, 2014
Q: Are you familiar with PKG.US? What would be your opinion, and would you prefer GPK.US?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on November 28, 2014
Q: I hold ALA, IPL, TRP, ENB, KEY, EMA & FTS. They are done with oil. I am thinking of selling some or all (in light of oil) and purchasing Blue Chip US Equities. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you as always.
Read Answer Asked by Craig on November 28, 2014
Q: Looking at the OPEC correction is there an underlying reason why PD took such a severe pounding knowing that their business model is sustainable. I bought in to-day and am quite comfortable with it. I feel sometimes that these big days are more panic driven or is it the shorts trying to kill the small guys.I guess I'm looking for logic in a big marketplace. Thanks Doug
Read Answer Asked by Doug on November 28, 2014
Q: I am not overly exposed in this area. Given todays drop can you recommend one or two stocks that have been oversold?
Read Answer Asked by Danny-boy on November 28, 2014
Q: As a holder of a full position in BTE I have no intentions of jumping of the cliff.
There are two things I would like to see BTE do
1 Declare their dividends by quarter.
2 If they feel the dividend is not sustainable cut it now and get it over with.
I feel BTE is a good company with a top management team and a above average asset base EG cost at Auroa are under $50 and their hedging is as good as any .
Could I have your comments on my assessment.
Stan

Read Answer Asked by Stan on November 28, 2014
Q: I am in a profitable position on the following, each of which is less than 3% of my portfolio:- CANADIAN EQUITIES-ARE;AV.UN;BAM.A;BLX;BYD.UN;CHE.UN;CWT.UN;CPG;ENF;EMP.A;IPL;HLF;IIP.UN;KEY;MG;PLC;PKI;RPI.UN;HCG;OCX;VRX;TRI;STB;UNC.
US EQUITIES - AIG;AAPL;CCF;BBH;MSFT;TWX. IN YOUR VIEW, SHOULD ANY OF THESE BE SOLD AT THIS TIME? - I AM PATIENT AND DO NOT NEED THE CASH. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ADVICE.
Read Answer Asked by Harold on November 28, 2014
Q: Could you tell me what percent of WSP's work is usually oilfield related? And more specifically, is there a chance that some of the projects they have planned for may be cancelled due to low oil prices?
Read Answer Asked by Duayne on November 28, 2014
Q: I hold Baytex, Crescent Point and Surge. I went to each website for information. Baytex is hedged 24% in 2015 and has a Debt/FFO of 1.9 although their significant debt is not due until 2021. CPG = 37% hedged and 1.1 debt. Surge = 24% hedged and 1.4 debt.

I am a retired dividend investor. Regarding dividend protection, I suspect BTE is the most at risk. Do you agree?

What about shuffling the deck...sell BTE and allocate some of the proceeds to CPG and SGY?

To diversify within the oil & gas sector, which dividend paying natural gas stock would you recommend?

Thanks,
Steve
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on November 28, 2014
Q: Hello Peter & Co,
Judy asked on Nov 27 about withdrawals from a RRIF. I am 71 and I understand that in a RRIF any withdrawal from any type of security is considered as retirement income; it is treated as cash and therefore taxed as such. In a tax sheltered account, there is no such thing as capital gains or dividend tax credits; when an income is withdrawn the whole amount is taxed as cash income. The reason is that all contributions one has made to an RRSP (within the prescribed limits) were tax deductible. The taxes one has not paid then will have to be paid later but, in counterpart, all the gains made were free of taxes thus boosting the compounding effect.
Regards,
Tony
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on November 28, 2014
Q: Hi,

I was listening to an expert on BNN say that our railroads growth are " in their final innings"? Do you believe that and why?

Also, are their any us railways you recommend or an ETF?
Read Answer Asked by Graeme on November 28, 2014
Q: Hi : your analysis of the latest results - growth looks good but payout of 104% seems high. Is debt of 56% not pretty conservative for a REIT? 96% occupancy seems very impressive.
Read Answer Asked by Scott on November 28, 2014
Q: I would like your opinion on Bonavista.
tks
bob
Read Answer Asked by cecile on November 28, 2014
Q: Both these companies came down sharply in today's market, apparently due to the drop in oil prices. This surprised me as I thought the companies relatively immune to the price of oil. Could you explain the relationship here and how you see the share prices reacting if oil stays at the current level or continues to drop lower? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by John on November 28, 2014
Q: Can you please list 5 oil stocks that have no debt and that are worth buying during this selloff? Someone on BNN mentioned that RMP has no debt, is this true? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Roy on November 28, 2014
Q: The energy sector got "kill"today without the US market,which will open tomorrow.Is this good time to enter a new position in SU & VET.Really appreciate your usual great advices & services
Read Answer Asked by Peter on November 28, 2014
Q: Hi Peter. LAB has made a conservable acquisition. Do you see this as another Amaya success story?
Thanks.
Cam
Read Answer Asked by Cam on November 28, 2014