Investment Q&A

Q: Hi team,
I saw an interesting question last week on the metrics for evaluating stocks in different sectors. You did not mention the tech sector. I am curious on those metrics where there are many companies, trends, growth prospects, competitors, among others. Many companies show no earnings at all as they are investing for earnings down the road. So how do you compare these companies?

With the market unrest the past couple of months, I have looked more closely at your Companies section where there is a wealth of information. Take 3 cloud stocks that regularly show up on your favourites list: BOX, RPD and TEAM. None have earnings today. There are non-earnings metrics shown, such as price to sales and price to cash flow. On a price to sales basis, BOX is 4.5, RPD is 6.3 and TEAM is 22.3. Box is the winner with RPD a reasonably close 2nd. On a price to cash flow basis, BOX is 32, RPD is 620 and TEAM is 60. BOX again is the winner but RPD is a poor 3rd. I know numbers don’t tell the whole story, but I am not sure how to make any reasonable evaluations based on the metrics.

Thanks for the insight.
Dave

Q: Hi 5i,

I read on Bloomberg that the 3 and 5 year bond yields have inverted in the states. I know generally it's a good indicator of a recession. How worrying is this sign to you? Would it lead you to making any investment changes?

Thanks!
Dave

Q: I’m confused why short seller analysts are allowed to manipulate stock prices for their own benefit. What’s the difference between an influential short seller shorting a stock and than manipulating the price with a bad report and a ceo buying or selling stock before an earnings report?

Q: Hi 5i!
This more of a financial planning question than an investing question.
I recently read the book "Retirement Income For Life". It talks about delaying taking CPP until 70 to maximize the amount received. This is achieved by drawing down RSPs from retirement to 70 and taking 1/3 of your retirement funds and buying an annuity. The annuity pays income for life and the larger CPP payment will last for life also. The goal is to not outlive your money in retirement. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this strategy.
Thank you for your insight!
Dave

Q: Clayton was asking about unwinding the Fed balance sheet you replied that they need to sell assets and referenced bonds. What are the assets. How and why does selling them effect the stock market.
Thank you for the excellent service you provide.
Peter

Q: ANYWHERE IN YOUR WEB PAGE ONE CAN FIND WHERE THE STOCKS BELONG TO THE CATEGORY ,e.g. BRK.B,,BAM,A,GOOS ,,PBH,SIS and UTX
Thank you

Q: Hi, I am looking to buy some beaten down tax loss selling candidates. Which weeks would you consider to have the greatest tax loss selling and when is the last date in 2018 to sell for tax loss purposes? Thanks.

Q: Hi Peter/Ryan, if you have a lot of shares and gains in a stock and if you are expecting the stock to split. Is it better to sell before the split or after or does it make a difference. Whats the best way to handle this scenario. Thanks, Nick

Q: The US Fed has a very big balance sheet problem that needs to unwind - someday. I do not understand what that means to the stock market.
Please help me.
Clayton

Q: TD online broker does not allow me to buy some securities electronically. I can place the order over the phone and get the online price. I can however sell my existing positions electronically. Example of securities concerned are Versa Bank, GMP Capital, and about a dozen others. I called broker and was told this restriction was placed on the shares by the company. Never heard of such a thing, have you? I can trade these securities through my other on line broker ie. RBC
Any idea what is going on?

Q: This ETF has shown on May 31,2018 95 million Outstdg shares. On Nov 1 they had 99 million shares. which in my opinion diluted the value of my shares.??
I called them and they said, that they had to issue new shares as Institutional clients asked for it.I said why they did not come on the open market and bid up the price. He said it doesn't work that way. I said isn't it like a Central Bank who just prints more money.Can you clarify who is right? Am confused.Art

Q: I have been looking at Enbridge, and am confused about the increase in outstanding common shares. It seems that they more than doubled in the past 2-3 years. Is this from acquisition or from the company issuing more shares? Is there a way to tell for other companies (online), so I don't have to ask you for each one I find similar results?

Thanks!

Q: I wonder if you could help me understand INK graphs? I would like to buy more ALGN, but I was surprised and concerned when I saw what I assumed to be a lot of insider selling. Am I misunderstanding the graph? Thank you for all your help.

Q: Hi 5i,
My current strategy is to have a hybrid approach so that I have some of the income portfolio holdings, some growth and some from balanced. In addition I have taken the same approach with US holdings and UK/Australian (to a lesser extent) so my version is diversified (both by sector and geographically, well hopefully) and I think of it like a balance equity portfolio.
Generally how does this (balanced) approach compare to the income or growth portfolio which seems more targeted in its purpose. Are there persuasive arguments to follow one style over another?
Thanks
Mike

Q: Hi 5i: Are there any general observations to make about how markets and different sectors usually react once a yield curve inversion occurs? I understand that subsequent recessions may not typically begin until 9-18 months after a yield curve inversion but I’m wondering if bear markets in equities most often tend to lead recessions and by how much. Along similar lines, at what point during the sequence of events would you expect to hear a lot of talk about 'engineering a soft landing’ and expect to see ‘easing’ steps such as interest rate decreases? I’m happy to do a little further reading on this myself if there is a good info source you’d like to point me toward. Thanks!

Q: Apart from P/E ratios, is there a key valuation metric for a sector that would help one to select one stock over another in that sector?
There are many valuation metrics - P/BV, FCF, FFO, EV/EBITA, for example. Some are more suited to one sector versus another. Could you advise which valuation metric(s) you rely upon for each sector.
Thx

Sam

Q: Using numbers from TD Waterhouse as an example:
GS EPS (TTM) is 1.27 and 2018 EPS expectation consensus (Mean) is 1.09.
SLF EPS (TTM) is 3.52 and 2018 EPS expectation consensus (Mean) is 4.84.
What is the explanation if the TTM is above or below 2018 EPS expectations towards end of reporting year? Will the TTM revert towards the mean consensus? Can I interpret anything from the positive or negative variances?

Q: Hi 5i
I always thought tax loss selling was mainly a thing in the Nov/Dec timeframe. With the increased volatility in Oct / Nov is it possible to judge whether the volatility could be attributed to earlier tax loss selling or just general fear & profit taking? I'm not qualified to make a judgement like this and my question is more a request of what you'd expect for the remainder of the year and whether January would bring some relief.
I know you can't know with certainty but at a gut feel / guess what do you think the remainder of the year has in store?

Gullible :)
Mike

Q: Dear 5i
I'm very much interested in the conservative portfolio for when i retire with in the next 6 months . I especially like bank , utilities and reit ETF`s as the yields seem reasonable and the fact that the ETF`s pay the dividends monthly which provides consistent income during retirement .
My dilemma is that i think i prefer to hand pick similar stocks myself within each of those categories most of which have been recommended by 5i .This way would all likely offer a higher average yield as there is no MER to consider . The problem is that most of the stocks in those 3 areas (utilities , banks and rents ) only pay the dividends quarterly so as a retired person there is not the consistency on monthly income as there would be with buying the corresponding ETF`s . Is this generally a personal preference thing or is there one way you would advise for a soon to be retired person .
Thanks
Bill C.

Q: In most of your reports on the listed stock say the stability is low. If low why the high rating and how is the stability factor determined.