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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 Peter,

Some time back i asked a question about DND having a so called "position of power", whereby, they could raise prices as get away with it as there is not much competition. Your response was along the lines of : that they should be careful in raising prices as there are other options out there. Your words are reading like a prophecy.

The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Nov. 12, edition that Dye & Durham has told about1,000 B.C. firms that it was sharply increasing the price of the software they use to handle real estate transactions. The Globe's Sean Silcoff and Jaren Kerr write that as of this Friday, they will be charged $199 per file, up from the $30 to $75 they have been paying since the last increase in 2017. The ultimate cost will be passed on to their customers, home buyers. Dye & Durham has made a string of acquisitions in the legal software space. It now faces little competition. Outraged conveyancers, notaries and lawyers inundated Dye & Durham with calls. Moderators of two Facebook groups for B.C. real estate professionals told The Globe that 50 of their members had complained to the Competition Bureau of Canada. Bureau spokesman Amy Butcher said the bureau would start "a thorough examination of the facts to determine if an investigation is warranted." Eight B.C. real estate legal professionals who spoke to The Globe said many of their colleagues shared their negative views of Dye & Durham price hikes. One conveyancer said, "Everybody is really angry, really disappointed."

Does DND have a monopoly and what are your views?

Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by ilie on November 13, 2021
Q: In a TD report on XBC q3 the following comment is made, "Notably, our EBITDA estimate did not include the $5.3 million in severance incurred during the quarter as it was not contemplated in our forecast."

$5.3 million in severence for a company the size of XBC seems high to me. This occurred following the new COO hire.

Wondering if you could shed some light on this. Was there a cleaning of the house following the financial troubles announced earlier this year?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on November 13, 2021
Q: Good Morning,
I see this morning they had a bit of a dividend increase, is this the best use of capital for them at this point? The yield is already sitting at just under 8% ? Maybe pay down some debt or buy back some shares if they are so cheap? The higher yield is nice but doesn't really seem to attract new shareholders or move the needle for them.
thanks
Read Answer Asked by Chris on November 11, 2021
Q: Can you suggest some Canadian companies, other than in technology, utilities or finance, that you currently consider to be undervalued and worthy of consideration for a long term investor. I've done very well with your suggestions of MG, WELL, ATA, TFII, EIF, PBH, GSY. I don't mind adding to any of the latter but would like to know if you see value ( or at least promising growth from today's prices) Thanks and best wishes always - Al
Read Answer Asked by alex on November 10, 2021
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