Investment Q&A

Q: With input from Newalta's year end report (March), would you recommend holding NAL for the chance of a turn-around when oil prices recover or sell NAL and move on? As you've said the risk of a profile has changed. My NAL position is now 0.1% of the portfolio and down 86%.

Thanks for your excellent insights.

Q: Could you please comment on Descarte's earnings release? Thank you, Peter

Q: Peter, true to my past form, after CXI finally seemed to begin a turnaround in its stock price after months of declines, I bought, only to see it fall about 15% within the past few days. How do you see things for CXI going forward? Any explanation for the recent rise and fall? I'm prepared to hold this for the longer term if it's still promising, or do you think it might be better to cut and run on this one?

Q: Hi Folks
I have owned TCN for some time and the share price is still above my purchase price but the value keeps steadily eroding. RBC reports on it regularly including the Case-Schiller price index in each of the areas where it holds rental homes. These show appreciation of 13.4%, 4.3% and 5.7% in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Most recent results show a small decrease of -0.1%, month-over-month. They also hold homes in areas that are not covered by Case-Schiller including Houston which is affected by the decline in oil prices. About 12% of the rental homes are in Houston according to RBC I remember some reference to this on BNN but I haven't been able to find it. Do you think this may be behind the decline in the stock price and do you have any thoughts on the significance of this factor? Thanks.

Ross

Q: I believe you mentioned before that you think the market has punished Enghouse too much.

Question: what valuation would you think appropriate for Enghouse considering its net cash position of $3.67 per share (if my shares outstanding total are correct), growing earnings per share profile and growing divided?

I understand the company has a lot of positives going for it, but I have a hard time getting around ESL's valuation. 31x 2016 earnings, even when you deduct the cash from the share price, seems like a lot to me.

I'm really interested in hearing why you think the market bringing down ESL to 31x 2016 earnings is punishing it too much.

Thanks again for your great insights and fantastic service.

John

Q: Parkland Fuel reported tonight. Could you give us your opinion of the results including the adjusted dividend.

Q: Dear 5i
I`m considering buying DH . It seemed to have a very good last quarter/year but i can't find any earnings growth estimates for the next 1-2 years . I don`t have any banking exposure and was thinking this one might be a good choice especially considering its recent momentum.
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: What is the consensus for Q4 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and eps ?

thanks

Q: So the market seemed to like CCL's purchase. What is your take? And after such a huge rise is it buy/sell/hold? I own a half position and am wondering whether to increase it.

Q: In response to the previous question, K-Bro was downgraded by Scotia, referencing a few new contracts they lost out on to competitors. Scotia also mentioned an M&A transaction that K-Bro lost out on and was interested in.

Q: Hello,
Whats happening with K-Bro today? I don't see any news.
Thanks
Luke

Q: In Amaya’s press release this morning they stated that they will not be providing 2016 guidance “in view of the potential offer that may be forthcoming from Mr. Baazov”. I cannot make sense of this or understand why this would be a reason to withhold future guidance. Surely the due diligence that any potential acquirer would undertake will far outweigh any “guidance” provided to shareholders. It sounds to me like an excuse to not disclose what would otherwise be underwhelming future guidance. Could this be why it is trading significantly lower this morning? How would common shareholders like me even begin to evaluate the merits of any bid to take the company private if they won’t even provide guidance? Do you see anything “fishy” with this move?

Q: Hello,

Another weekly market report letter I received says "do not let little losses turn into big losses" (cut your losses after 10%). DIRT and ENTERTAIN I've had for quite some time and are down 35%-40%. Since you know these stocks well, if it took them 8 or 9 months to fall that far, will they recover in 8 or 9 months? One month ago, I took a position in TNC, and it is down over 10%. Should I hit the sell button? You know that stock better than I do. In your email, you recommended some plays in AYA, CUS, and I believe SPB. I am thinking of trying to recover some of my money with one of these email recommendations. Out of the three, which one do you think going long on will be the least risky?

Thanks,
Dennis

Q: Hi,

I am not sure whether you want to use one or two question credits, or none, as there companies are in the portfolios.

AW.Un has a B+ rating and was one of Mr. Hodson's top picks. I read the report on AW.UN. Can you please clarify on the 5 year EPS growth, which
is strongly negative. What is behind it? Does that not detract from your assessment of AW.UN? Do you think that AW.UN has a strong possibility for share price appreciation in the next few years?

Also, a few weeks ago you identified CXR as one of the companies with the largest potential for share price appreciation in the next few
years. Is that still the case?


Thanks,
IF

Q: I am not in any rush and have a five year plus horizon but am concerned with the considerable losses with this holding. I still maintain a full position.
Buy. sell or hold?
Thanks for the great service and love the blogs!

Q: I am interested in the explanation of Royalties. What is the model for companies and brands like A&W and others. What are the structures for payments to shareholders? Are they a percentage of sales or what are the Royalties payments based on.

Q: Hi - Does CSU have to keep acquiring more companies to be sucesful or can they grow and prosper with their current lineup of businesses? Thanks

Q: Dear 5i
I read that PBH is one of your favourite companies . I`m seeing however that their ROE and ROA are quite low and the total debt relative to net income is quite high. The high debt to me would add a lot of risk unless the expected growth rate is quite high . Is this the case ?
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: Dear 5i,
I continue to watch ACQ and debate on initiating a position. Do you think this stock has found a floor and most of the risk is already priced in? I find it odd that approx 50% of it's dealerships are outside of Alberta and the stock has not participated in the recent rally and continues to decline. In previous answers you have said to give it 3 years. Excuse my lack of understanding. In three years do you expect ACQ to have recovered to it's previous prices/growth valuation or that the Alberta will have simply recovered and the stock price will start to move up in 3 years? Is it a buy at this time?
Thank you,
Kerri

Q: Wondering what you think of the latest report. They beat rev and eps but net income was down due to the US plant and USD debt. Their 2016 projections are consistent or above estimates for the year when you convert them back to CAD, since they are going to report in USD from now on apparently. Anyways, what do you guys think? Could it actually go up for once?