Investment Q&A

Q: In a recent answer to a question on syz, esl and csu you said
" SYZ and ESL have historically always had high multiples. Keep in mind also that both have large cash balances which if excluded would lower earnings valuations ".
Can you clarify how large cash balances affect earnings multiples?
How would this be calculated for example with SYZ? ie how much would their current cash balance lower their P/E?

Thanks, as always, for a great service.

Rob

Q: Would you comsider trimming PKI if today's movement causes it's weighting in the BE portfolio to increase fairly significantly?

Q: How does this recent deal in purchasing Assets affect PKIs outlook? Will it tilt the valuation metric towards a growth by acquisition model? I am thinking of the valuation as compared to ATD. The deal looks sizeable to PKI.

Q: What happening with Parkland . Big jump this morning

Q: Hi Team, I held hlf last year and every quarter my frustration increased, all of this to say that this company can't seem to report 2 good quarters in a row. Now that the hurd seems to be piling into the stock again, I am thinking of shorting the stock around $25 or slightly below. What do you think?

I am also thinking of a pair-trade long pbh if I can pick it up around 56-58.

Q: So what is the debt of this company and how large is short position and what is the main reason that it is being shorted, earnings are fine, paying down debt, not over priced, but overall these shorts have everybody convinced that this is not a stock to own, so should a person wait till the next earnings period to buy this stock. Thanks.

Q: Good day 5i. SJ @ 44.37

Considering adding SJ soon. Would like your thoughts on concrete ties potentially hurting them. I read a couple of articles including this one that indicates concrete ties last longer, may be more environmentally friendly and are much more common in Europe and Asia

http://precast.org/2010/07/railroadties-precast-concrete-or-wood/

Thanks, Greg

Q: I seem to have been afflicted with the same problem other members have experienced. This is my third question, previous two have gone unanswered. I know my question credits are sufficient and your site confirms the question has been sent. Have you identified why this is happening?

My last question related to the most recent conference call with Kinaxis management. There was frequent reference to an inflection point and I am wondering what this is and how it would relate to the company's prospects.
Mike

Q: Bought DH at $23 in July/2013. Reached $43+ in July 2015. Now $29+. I have read your recent comments on this stock & respect your assessment however, do you firmly believe that this very OLD company has the current management to compete today in a very sophisticated high-teck marketplace? Thank you.

Q: what do you think about the future growth of this company?

Q: Can you please comment on the current valuations of SYZ, ESL and CSU relative to their historical valuations and growth prospects?

Thanks.

Q: What is your current view of DH- acting very poorly. Given that US financials are improving lately- surprising. I know a US short seller has been involved...

Q: In a recent member's question regarding a conservative portfolio construction you said that there are good consumer discretionary companies that are growing income and dividends. Which ones in Canada and the US would you recommend other than the auto related ones? Many thanks for the great service.

Q: Good morning
I am down 50 p/c on this stock. Is it time to sell? Is there any likelihood of someone purchasing AVO?
Thank you

Q: The following is an excerpt from High Liner's website that probably contributed to the steep increase in share price yesterday:

"On August 16, 2016, High Liner Foods entered into a purchase and sale agreement ( the "Agreement") with Blue Harvest Fisheries, whereby Blue Harvest will acquire the assets of High Liner's scallop business, along with its facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Under the Agreement, High Liner will receive cash proceeds of $8 million for the business and facility, plus additional amounts for High Liner scallop inventories. Following completion of the transaction, High Liner will continue to offer scallops to its customers through an ongoing supply agreement with Blue Harvest. The transaction is expected to close within the next several weeks. The scallop processing facility was fully operational at the time the Agreement was entered into, but value-added fish operations had ceased at this facility in mid-July 2016, following the transfer of this production to the Company's other manufacturing facilities."

Q: Hello team, Your analysis please on HLF results.
Thank you!

Q: Regarding my question earlier about 2 REIT's to diversify existing position in AX.un, I probably should have pointed out preference for market cap and mimimum current yield. I like (and anticipated) your recommendation of Chartwell however IIP.un sacrifices too much current yield and market cap security to make up for potential growth for me. Would CAR.un fit nicely given my desire for a larger market cap? Is H&R too much like AX.un? thx!

Q: Why the big increase on High Liner Foods today Aug.16 of over .12 percent, and on Stella-Jones is the decrease done or what is a good entry point to buy, thus is HLF overdone on the up side and is SJ overdone on the down size, thank you in advance.

Q: New President and CFO formerly from Palladin who worked with Goodman and was instrumental in selling Palladin to endo has been hired at Knight. Once acquisitions are announced as she will surely make acquisitions this should kickstart the stock. Am I right in that Knight is sitting on a lot of cash?

Q: Hi, I am a value investor and note that Auto parts makers are trading at historically low multiples even though earnings growth appears intact. Can I have your favorite of MG, LNR and MRE with respect to the best 18 month to 3 year return.