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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: Any concerns with BCE’s payout ratio being over 100%? TD’s analyst downgraded the stock last week as he noted that the Street has overlooked BCE’s cash costs related to the payment and servicing of capital losses. As a result, they lowered the FCF estimate by $550M which dramatically increases the payout ratio for 2023E to 148%, versus 119% previously. They note they see no near- to medium-term prospect for the payout ratio to get below 100% if BCE keeps raising the dividend 5% per year.
Read Answer Asked by Zach on September 05, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
In response to a question of mine and questions from others over the past few months you have pretty uniformly rated GXE a hold - partially I think on the premise that the damage has been done. I am holding and I'm content to continue for a while.
I wonder though - given its small size and present earnings of - $52M - is there enough money there to justify it continuing as a public company, especially one that is shoveling money out the door every month in the form of dividend payments?
In the past year (and possibly for longer)Twin Peaks Capital LLC has been buying up GXE shares pretty regularly, and today it owns 2.51% of the company (6.5 million shares worth $5.7 million at todays prices). Insiders have also been buying.
Why would a business like Twin Peaks Capital LLC buy so heavily into a little public company like GXE - how does it expect to get a return on its investment? Capital appreciation seems unlikely. Is it just cashing dividends, or might it be getting ready to take it over itself or, alternatively, might it be trying to ensure it has a large and therefore profitable position when someone else takes out GXE?
Thanks 5i - I look forward to a better understanding of what might be going on.
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on September 05, 2023
Q: Are you aware of any reason for Parkland to drop over 5% on over 5 times the normal volume yesterday? I couldn't find anything. The stock is held in my husband's TFSA with a good gain over several years. It is a small portion of our total portfolio. I had been thinking of adding on its recent positive momentum. Or selling to add to a partial new position in NWC. Thank you for taking the time to do a little checking. Have a great long weekend.
Read Answer Asked by JANE on September 01, 2023
Q: Hi 5i,
What companies are on your lost of long-term hold dividend positions? I’m building a dividend portfolio and sincerely appreciate your always valuable perspective.

Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by Greg on September 01, 2023
Q: 1:17 PM 8/30/2023
Hello Peter

I am trying to decide if it is worth investing in either Keyera or Gibson Energy as both seem to be attractive stable little companies that just go about their businesses.

I would appreciate your comparative analysis of Keyera and Gibson Energy for a very long term hold. Can you comment on debt levels, quality of management, possibility of a takeover, liklihood looking forward of regular dividend increases, and the potential of each company for future growth.

Both companies have nice dividend yields now. but no meaningful increases in share prices so the only reason to own either one is for the annual dividends, but Keyera's share price has fallen from about $50 in 2014 to about $34 at present so the dividends barely make up for the capital loss. Similarly Gibson's share price now [about $20] is the same as it was in 2011 so no growth there either but at least you did get to collect some dividends along the way.

Gibson's dividend was up each year since 2012 but was flat from 2017 to 2019, and Keyera's dividend was raised annually from 2004 till 2020 with twice with no raises, and no raises from 2020 to the present so one wonders if the cash flows are a bit weak some years.

It seems to me that of the two Gibson, although a much smaller company than Keyera, may the better bet.

So in your opinion is there any economic justification in investing in either of these two little companies?

On the other hand maybe this is a wild goose chase looking at Keyera and Gibson and maybe it is better to just stick to PPL, ENB, and TRP.

Thank you.......... Paul W. K.

Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 01, 2023
Q: I believe you have recently switched from Telus to BCE as favourite telco, however does the asset investment in TV concern you? With the numbers of people fleeing cablevision in favour of streaming will BCE be caught in a double whammy, losing on owning TV stations and on cablevision subscribers? Will this not impact revenue streams and potentially the dividend?
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 31, 2023
Q: Lately,I note that U prefer BCE over T(was a previous favourite in theTel comm sector).Tixt is a current drag on T. So is BCE is the number one in the sector. In light of the high interest rate,is it timely to buy Bce? Txs for U usual great services & views
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 31, 2023
Q: Hi,

What are your top 3 to 5 picks in Canadian heavy oil?
Eric Nuttall picked CVE/ATH/CPG. in his recent appearance on BNN. He predicts it is bit too early for the Gas plays.

You can add separately the companies in the States as well. Eric's focus is only in Canada. I guess that is his mandate.

Thank you.
Mano.

You may want to add the stock symbols as the stem in this this question depending on your answer!
Read Answer Asked by Savalai on August 30, 2023
Q: Hi Folks,
I currently hold AQN in my RRSP account at a loss of 30%. I am looking at NEP in the US as a possible replacement. May I have your analysis and opinion of such a move or would you recommend holding onto AQN for now and wait to see if anything comes of the "activist investors".
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by JOHN on August 30, 2023
Q: hi,
I am contemplating selling AQN. do you have any guess as to what sort of upside potential ( in percentage ) in the short term there may be for any actions (asset sales? restructuring? etc etc )spurred on by the "activist investor". so far, there has been nothing of significance in this regard, and the stock price reflects this, I think? if selling, I was thinking of adding to my BEPC to make close to a full position. do you still think BEPC has decent growth potential, and will weather any further rate hikes? is the balance sheet fine still?
cheers, Chris
Read Answer Asked by chris on August 29, 2023