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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: I am new to this forum but have been 'investing' faithfully for over 30 years (what that really means is that I have been funding both mutual funds and the investment advisor buying them - last year that was $9,000 for the investor for me and my husband combined for the mutual funds to earn net 4.4% (the SandP/TSX was at 17.51). I'm tired of the high anxiety fear factor he generates for 4.4%. For the fee, he can earn us between 2 and 4% in coming years and insists this is a good thing.
Why wouldn't I buy Berkshire Hathaway A with the money currently invested in mutual funds and the advisor and invest on my own using a couple of your portfolio models with the money I have stashed? At this stage I am 56 years old so not a big risk taker and want to preserve what I/we have. With thanks, Wendy
Read Answer Asked by Wendy on October 06, 2017
Q: Hi 5i team,

I trimmed a couple of stocks recently from gains (thank you for that) and was wondering if you could give me a couple stocks to buy now for a 5-10+ year hold with medium to high risk? Thanks!!

My portfolio is as follows with pretty balanced positions:
ATB, BNS, KXS, CSU, BYD, SIS, PHO, TOY, DOO, SHOP, NFI, CSH.UN, GUD, SLF, PBH, GSY, SJ, RRX, and CRH.
Read Answer Asked by Andrew on October 06, 2017
Q: Hello 5i team,
Since I think the probability of a competing bid is close to zero, and the closing ability of the buyer is good, I want to understand the price at which PJC.A shares trade.
The facts: each shareholder can choose between (1) cash = 24,50$ or 0,61006 MRU (currently 26,09$); the aggregate consideration will be 75% in cash + 25% in MRU shares. Currently, MRU = 42,78 and PJC = 24,83 =>75%+25% = 24,90$.
Can I expect PJC shares to trade directly on this 75% & 25% prorata? Will the Coutu family exclusively get shares (they will get 2 seats on the board)? If yes, than there won't be that many shares of MRU available for the rest of PJC shareholders. Today, no PJC shareholders would choose to be paid 24,50$ cash, all would choose 100% MRU shares (price 42,78 x 0,61006= 26,10$). If I have no particular desire to own MRU share, and if I want to maximize my wealth, what should I do, if I cannot forecast MRU share price? The difference between the current price of PJC.A shares 24,83$ and the 75%+25% sum 24,90$ is very small for a transaction that will close between March and June 2018
Thank you, Eric
Read Answer Asked by Eric on October 05, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and team,

Reading some of your past comments on Cascades Inc your main concern is with their large level of debt. Looking at MSN.com, they show that the company has a debt/equity ratio of 1.2. When comparing this to another company that you really like (GSY), MSN.com shows that it has a debt/equity ratio of 1.5 - much higher than Cascades, but you don't ever mention the higher debt/equity ratio of GSY.

Could you please tell me why Cascades debt level is a much greater concern for you than GSY's debt level, even though GSY has a much higher debt/equity ratio?

I'm considering purchasing one or both of these stocks and just trying to understand why your much more negative on Cascades than GSY (and I know they're in different sectors and tough to compare the two).

Cascades trading much lower than price to book and looking pretty attractive at these levels.

Thanks in advance
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 04, 2017
Q: My son is returning to studies and investing what he earned as buy and hold for 4-5 years. He put two-thirds in balanced mutual funds with Canada, US and International exposure and now wants to invest the remaining one-third in individual Canadian stocks. He has enough for 4-5 names and already invested in Enbridge. What would you suggest as solid names for the remaining four given his time frame? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Christian on October 04, 2017
Q: Team,
I hold both of these ( retired income investor) and wondered if you could add any comments with respect to each as a longer term hold for growth and dividend safety and are there any ther companies in this space that like better or just as well?
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on October 03, 2017
Q: Hello Team,
Would you consider this for your list of forever companies and with it's size and diversity, what would you consider maximum allocationin one' portfolio.
Thank You,
Barry
Read Answer Asked by Barry on October 02, 2017
Q: It has had an 8% drop at the end of the week. When I checked with Globe Investor there was an indication beside it - upgrades and downgrades. Do you know anymore than I do? DOO - (BRP) I notice that people have written in about the decline in the stock and you had mentioned about a secondary finance. What does that mean? Does that mean they issued shares, they borrowed money? Could they be falling in sympathy of Bombardier's court loss to Boeng? Thanks Dennis
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on October 02, 2017