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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: Good Afternoon:
Further to Allen's question on the company's valuation post $7.50 dividend, does the market's then valuation of $2.60 per share accurately or fairly value the remaining divisions of the company considering their recent performance and that some debt may be repaid?
In that context, what factors in your mind exist or what positioning or news releases can the company make to mitigate the share price dropping by the amount of the dividend.
Lastly, aside from the direction of the general market in the last week or so, do you see the recent drop in share price as over reaction?
Thank you!
Ian
Read Answer Asked by Ian on August 20, 2021
Q: Is buying ECN shares considered “dividend shopping” in light of the $7.50 special dividend announced recently.If I remember from the answers to the questions on ECN, 5i mentioned that the stock may drop by $7.50 ex-dividend. If that is the case, although not guaranteed, why would anymore consider buying ECN shares other than for the special dividend and unloading the shares a few days after unless 5i believes that the stock has some growth potential groins forward. Thank you for shedding light on this matter.
Read Answer Asked by Gilles on August 18, 2021
Q: I would like to add a few (2-4) financial companies to my non-registered investment portfolio. Would appreciate 5i's help in ranking the above names based on total return potential for a 3-5 year hold. Please add any names you feel belong to the lineup, ranked appropriately, Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Pradeep on August 18, 2021
Q: Hello 5i,
I came across this equity when you recommended it earlier. I am assuming that given you listed it first, it would be the highest-ranked choice out of the options you provided. My parameters are very similar to those of the member who asked the initial question; we are retired, conservative, dividend-oriented investors with a more or less well-balanced portfolio as per P.A. We are very slightly under in Financial Services and underweight the U.S. by about 4.0%.
So, (finally) to my question: what kind of weighting might you recommend for MAIN:US? My thought was something in the 2.0 - 2.5 % range bearing in mind that if I make up the difference in the U.S. with another holding, I need to have a minimum of 1.0 - 1.25% available for that as well.
Many thanks!!!
Best to all at 5i!
Cheers,
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Mike on August 17, 2021
Q: I have a hypothetical question regarding the $7,50 distribution that will take place later this year. Assume that I bought the shares at $10 and that the distribution was a return of capital. The ROC would reduce my cost base by $7,50 to $2.50. So if the market price of the shares dropped by $7.50 to $2.50 and I sold the shares at that price I would not have any gain or loss on the sale. Apparently, if my logic is correct, I would be pocketing the $7.50 with no tax consequences. Am I missing something? Or is this the logic that would preclude this distribution from being considered a return of capital?
Read Answer Asked by John on August 17, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,
Regarding the preferred shares of ECN and the proposed sale and $7.50 dividend. This might be to simplistic, but here goes. ECN is selling the First Service division for $2B US. Paying out approximately $1.5B with the $7.50 dividend. Leaves $500M US. The preferred shares outstanding are approximately 7.6 million units of A and C issues. Total redemption value at $25 would be $190M Cdn. Their 5 year anniversaries are coming up on December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. With coupon rates of 6.50% and 6.25% on the prefs, I would think there would be redemptions coming using the proceeds of the sale and do any refinancing with cheaper debt.
What are your thoughts on the above scenario?
Thanks for all your professional insight and advice.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on August 13, 2021
Q: Hi there, I’ve held ECN ever since it was spun off from EFN and added to it along the way. I’ve read your comments that the stock could fall by 7.50 when the special dividend goes ex-div. So if it’s trading at 10.50 approx now and assuming it’s around same level at ex-div it’d fall to 3.00 which is close to my cost. How should proceed ie should I sell it now or buy more? Thanks
I just asked a question on ECN and whether I should buy more or sell due to probability stock may drop at the 7.50 ex-div date. So if I don’t sell and receive the 7.50/share and since I am DRIP’ing would I receive the DRIP shares based on 2.50 per share?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on August 13, 2021
Q: I hold ECN and ECN.PR.A in a registered account. After reading recent comments I am considering selling the preferred shares to buy more of the common. Would you endorse this move? I also have a small preferred position in a taxable account with a 55% gain. I expect you would advise holding in this case. Is that correct? Thanks as always for your exceptional service.
Read Answer Asked by Frank on August 13, 2021
Q: In your answer to Colin's questions about ECN on Aug 12th, your answer included this statement - "The sold division was the fastest growing, by far".

I had a look at the quarterly financials just released on Sedar, and in the notes to the financials there is the segmented information, and in there it shows the current Q2 and last year's Q2. The revenue for the sold division was up by 42.9% year over year, and for the 2 remaining divisions, Triad had revenue growth of 72.5% and KG had 30.6% growth. It looks to me like there is excellent growth in the 2 remaining divisions. Am I missing something?

It seems to me there is a very substantial, rapidly growing business remaining after the sale of the Home Improvement Loans division, and in the BNN interview with Steve Hudson he was very optimistic about the future growth of the 2 remaining divisions.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on August 13, 2021
Q: I wanted to ask about one more point on the ECN division sale. Assuming the deal close they are getting 2B US$. Only 1.5B of that is being used to pay out 7.50 CAD per share. This means there is 500M US (about $2.50 CAD per share) being added to the company. So at current price of 10.65 the other half of the company is being valued at 65 cents. Is this correct?
Read Answer Asked by Mike on August 12, 2021
Q: i do not ask many questions, i am a seasoned investor but ecn has me stumped.
hudson did an amazing deal-will close within 4.5 months from now and payout 7.50 a share to shareholders-the stock should be at 15-16, i saw the interview with hudson on bnn -he is a shrewd as they come-he said they will only do tuck in acquisitions for now because prices are to high.the market is valuing ecn like after deal closes the stock is worth 2.50 -is this the greatest opportunity to buy this stock or am i just wrong. dave
Read Answer Asked by david on August 12, 2021
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