Investment Q&A

Q: thoughts on this company,seems to be getting hit pretty hard lately do you think this could possibly be a good entry point and does this have any shance to be taken over in this category .....Thanks

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

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?

Q: Hi 5i team,

Between BNS and ECN, which one would you prefer to own for better chance of share price appreciation for the next 3 years? I already have TD, SLF and GSY. Thanks.

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.

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?

Q: Hi Guys
Could you enlighten me on the sell off of SLQT, I couldn't find any news. They are suppose to see good earnings growth next year from what i have read.
Thanks !

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.

Q: Hello Team,
Visa has come down a bit in last few weeks. Could you tell us why? and Do you think this is a good time to add?
Thanks!

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.

Q: I like the recent q report. The stock still seems underpriced compared to similar US companies which may be a good comparable as almost all of its growth is coming from the US business. It looks like the street is taking more interest. Your thoughts please.

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?

Q: thoughts on the quarter please? Thx

Q: Hi 5i team,
Re ECN, which is in the ‘growth portfolio’, is the special dividend of $7.50 per share only payable to shareholders which are on the book as of Aug 10, 2021? Shares purchased after Aug 10 would not be entitled to this special dividend? Thanks.

Q: What is the reasonable counter-argument to using my 10% cash holding to buy ECN for the special dividend? It's a good company so I'm fine holding after to ride out any market volatility, and it doesn't seem to have any especially severe company risk compared to peers...

Q: Your comments on the latest earning report of Lifeworks would be appreciated.Is it a sell on news situation since it's down more than $2.00.
Thanks
Dave

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

Q: Your thoughts on these e-commerce companies. Could these be another meme stocks or there is real value? Thank you!

Q: Hi 5i,

I own the Preferred shares of ECN. They have just sold a major part of the business and are going to pay a special $7.50 dividend to the common shareholders. The way I see it, are they not taking away a lot of the security of the preferred shareholders by paying such a large common share dividend? Do the preferred shareholders have a voice in this matter? Can the company just dividend out everything leaving the preferred shareholders holding a worthless piece of paper?

Your thoughts on this are appreciated.

Q: A follow up question to your earlier response. If the company is paying such a high special dividend does that mean that Mr Hudson and the board did see better uses for the proceeds? After the sale the company will be much smaller, slower growing (from what I can tell but I may be wrong) and without the cash available to grow meaningfully by acquisition. Do you think this is the start of the end game for ECN where the rest of the company eventually gets sold?