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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 have learned a lot and benefited greatly from 5i advice, and take particular benefit from your diversified portfolio approach. Would you say it is fair to identify any market analyst, including the 5i group, as having a particular specialization being an area of strength and certain market segments being areas of weakness or minimal depth? For example, analysts who are good at identifying software companies but less aware of details required to be successful in healthcare field. If you agree, which areas would you claim are 5i's areas of strength and which are the segments of less depth of knowledge.
In view of constructing a diversified portfolio, I am looking to draw information from a variety of sources. Your comments would help guide the relative importance to assign to difference sources.
Clearly track record is a primary guide to use, but I would also take your self-assessment as very valuable. I don't mean to be hard on you or anyone for identifying strengths vs weaknesses.
Thank you kindly,
Gary

Read Answer Asked by Gary on September 21, 2016
Q: In your answer to my question previously about the two companies, you state the following: "This switch would, in our view, be effectively a trade off between income and potential economic leverage. With NFI owned already, we think it could still be helpful."

I am not sure what you mean when you say it could still be helpful. More helpful to retain TFI or more helpful to make the switch?

Thanks again for your advice.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 21, 2016
Q: Hi Gang,
I'm looking to add 2 more stocks to complement my TFSA with cash availble.Current holdings are: ALA+4%;BEP.UN+5.5%;BHX.B+2%;ET-2%;FTG+15%;HCG-28%;MTR.UN+7.55;PHM-38%;PUR=1%;TNC-15%.
Would you dump PHM &HCG and take the loss and redeploy or hold for a eventual turn around which my be years?
Read Answer Asked by Henry on September 21, 2016
Q: Hello Peter & Co.
In my TFSA, I hold a mini portfolio consisting of BAM.A (fin), DH (fin tech), DHX (cons discr), KXS (tech), MSI (ind/bus serv), NFI (indust) and PLI (health) in more or less equal weights.
I am frustrated with DH (significantly down) and wish to replace it with something else; could you make 2 or 3 suggestions? I'll select one that I do not hold in my RRIF.
Thanks,
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on September 21, 2016
Q: I have held TFI for the past 2 years or so and watched it go from above $30 to below $20 and now back to above $26. Despite its recent substantial rise, I am thinking it should be expected to level off until the economy in general improves. I am therefore considering a switch here to EIF to take advantage of the higher dividend and perhaps a better growth profile. Would you view this as a reasonable switch or would it be best to stay with TFI or is there another company in the Industrials you would consider switching to (I already own NFI).

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 21, 2016
Q: Peter, I've read a couple of recent positive recommendations on Cascades. I just sold my Teck at a tidy profit (it was hard to resist after being down over 80% earlier this year!) but this leaves me with very little in the way of materials. Do you think CAS is a decent decision for a long-term TFSA hold? Would you still prefer Boralex, despite its climb? Or would you have another 'growthy' option for this part of my portfolio. Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by James on September 20, 2016
Q: On Friday, Privet Fund Management sent a letter to the Board of Directors of Norsat saying it's interested in buying 100% of the common shares of Norsat not already owned at a price of US$8.00 per share in cash. What should shareholders do? Sell on news, wait for developments such as more bids or acceptance of offer? What do you think of the offer?
Thank You.
Read Answer Asked by Frank on September 19, 2016
Q: Hello 5I
I currently hold these three but they have been a bit of a drag for a year or so. I was thinking of redeploying the capital elsewhere but I looked at TD Waterhouse charts on them and they appear to be gaining a bit in the last month or so. There are good bullish signals on them recently. I know you guys prefer point and figure charts but TD Waterhouse do not have them and I don't understand them. In a nutshell what do point and figure charts say about these stocks?

Thanks Again
Clarence
Read Answer Asked by Clarence on September 19, 2016
Q: I am hoping you can further educate me on the workings of the market. Specifically, what exactly is a roll-up company and how does is it different from a company that regularly does acquisitions?

The term "roll-up" seems to be used nowadays by analysts and other media experts as a negative term, perhaps due to the failures of Valiant, Constellation among others. But ATD.B is lauded due to its growth via acquisition. So, is a roll-up strategy inherently negative and if so, how do you spot a roll-up vs a smart acquisitor?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on September 19, 2016
Q: Can you please explain something to me? Why, at least based on what I read in the newspaper, when the economy shows signs of deteriorating putting off risk of an interest rate rise the market goes up. When things look better for the economy and there is talk of raising rates the market goes down. Wouldn’t most legitimate business do better in a better economy? So shouldn’t it really be the other way around? Why are stocks thought to do better in low interest rate environment? And is it true that they do?
Read Answer Asked by David on September 16, 2016
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