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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: IAG reported a 7.8% increase in their dividend, EPS up by 14% … overall, results seem quite respectable yet share price is down over 3%. The executive commented ….

"Overall, business growth was very good in the fourth quarter. Sales were especially robust for segregated funds and in Group Savings and Retirement," Mr. Ricard continued. "Individual Insurance sales also finished strong with 8% year‑over‑year growth, and mutual fund sales improved. Solid profits and sales in both of our U.S. divisions in 2019 reinforce our desire to continue growing our U.S. presence in 2020, in particular with the acquisition of IAS announced in December 2019."

"Profitability remained strong in the fourth quarter," added Jacques Potvin, Executive Vice‑President, CFO and Chief Actuary. "Market growth and new business strain are among the items that had a positive impact on profitability during the quarter. Our year-end assumption review also had a slightly positive impact on our results. The review factored in investments in technology to improve client and distributor experience."

"Our guidance for 2020 puts core EPS between $6.30 and $6.90. That makes the midpoint 11% higher than last year," continued Mr. Potvin. "After exceeding guidance in 2019, we're also raising our target range for ROE to between 11.5% and 13%. Organic growth and various profit improvement initiatives will help us reach these targets. On another note, we achieved our goal of organically generating over $250 million in capital in 2019. Renewing that goal in 2020 will allow us to maintain our strong capital position."

Can you comment? Thank you
Read Answer Asked by Martin on February 13, 2020
Q: Hello
I have observed that insurance rates are growing up by a step above general inflation. Which public companies in Canada are the most involved with property, and casualty insurance, and where this is their main business. I think there are a couple years of healthy returns where all premiums go up in unison. What is your best picksÉ
Thank you
Read Answer Asked by francois on February 11, 2020
Q: What's with the "second wind" of TRI?

Last year I bought TRI around $88 and sold it in 11/2019 for a loss after it seemed to have lost its momentum. It's now up 20% since (up $18). What's with this "second wind"?. TRI was a sleepy blue chip for years and woke up in 2019 for its "first wind". Is this stock still worth chasing for momentum investors like myself?

Love to have your take.
Read Answer Asked by Victor on February 04, 2020
Q: Hello,

I picked up some Go Easy this morning as the shares were down over 6% on what I believe may be a non-existent "risk" to Go Easy, of a virus outbreak in central China. Are you able to please let me know what the Median (or Average) Price / Earnings multiple has been for Go Easy over the last 5 - 10 years? If you might be able to provide me with the current PEG ratio, that would be great as well.

Finally, if P/E isn't the "best" ratio to value a company such as Go Easy on, then would you please let me and others know what ratio I should be concerned with and what its current and historic values are for this firm?

Thank you very much!
Read Answer Asked by Richard on January 28, 2020