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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: A friend recently sent me an article on Enbridge written by David Milstead and published in the Globe And Mail Dec. 3 2017. The article refers to the cracks in the Enbridge dividend story. I think the following quotes from the article summarizes the author's contention that Enbridge does not have the cash flow profile to be an income investment.
THE MISSING BILLIONS
ENBRIDGE EMPHASIZES 'AVAILABLE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS' TO INVESTORS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS DIVIDEND. IN CALCULATING THIS MEASURE, IT IGNORES MOST OF ITS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, DEDUCTING ONLY 'MAINTENANCE' CAPEX TO ARRIVE AT THE NUMBER. THAT HAS LEFT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPEX OUT OF THE MEASURE OVER TIME. WHEN ALL OF THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE DEDUCTED FROM OPERATING CASH FLOW, ENBRIDGE POSTS NEGATIVE FREE CASH FLOW IN NEARLY EVERY YEAR. STILL, THE COMPANY PAYS DIVIDENDS — AND ISSUES DEBT, AS WELL.
Can you please comment on this based on your analysis of the company, your assessment of its cash flow profile and its ability to maintain and grow its dividends.
Thanks
John

Read Answer Asked by John on April 23, 2018
Q: Hi 5i team,
From your 3 portfolios, which are the stocks that interlisted on US exchanges, and which stock pay their dividends in US$? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Willie on April 20, 2018
Q: Pricing in SJ's railway tie category is under pressure, negatively impacting operating margins (granted, margins are forecast to improve in H2 2018). My understanding is that alternatives, like concrete ties, are much more expensive. Given SJ produces an essential product for the railway sector, why does the company not have more pricing power? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Edward on April 20, 2018
Q: Hi 5i
Sorry if you receive an unfinished question from me as my computer is doing some strange things. I have been looking at MX graph for last year and comparing to share buy backs. The latest increase in share price is coincident with March buybacks as occurred in September as well. Then the price seems to drop off in a bit of a decline. I see that institution selling seems to be in line with this as well. So I guess my question is, should I wait to buy until the share buyback declines.
Regards
Kathy
Read Answer Asked by Kathy on April 20, 2018
Q: Would you consider buying one or both of the above for capital gains over the next 6 mths. Any other suggestions for same objective. This would be in a TFSA.
Read Answer Asked by Roy on April 19, 2018
Q: Spin Master looks like a dog, acts like a dog, and will soon be barking like a dog. Insiders, over the past year have been sellers of the company with no insider buying that I could see. Is this puppy healthy or is it rabid and needs to mercifully be put down?
About a month ago you said that you would issue a detailed report on the company in a timely manner. Given how the stock has been acting over the past month would this be a good time to issue a more detailed analysis,
Read Answer Asked by John on April 19, 2018
Q: Because of the lack of liquidity on BCI I placed a limit order at $32 for the quantity I am looking for. I realize that once I'm in it will not be easy to exit.

Your last comment on BCI was a month ago and wondering how you felt about the stock at $32 for the next 2 or 3 years.

Asking this mostly because of the illiquidity and thought $32 might make it a good buy.

Please advise.


Sheldon
Read Answer Asked by Sheldon on April 19, 2018
Q: I hate it when companies do “bought deals” at prices lower that market price. I understand why they do it but it feels like a blindside. Companies do not care for the shareholders.

The little guy always feels the pain and then the stock is dead money for several months until the deal is closed or longer.

5I is just guessing they will buy another company, no one knows for sure.

My questions are:

1. Why would SIS-t have to “clean up the balance sheet” prior to buying another company? It’s such a small deal. Is there something wrong with the balance sheet?
They did not do this for previous purchases. (H.E.S. Elevator or was it Visilift) or did they, I may have missed it? Is there another reason for this deal? Isn’t the issue for more funds normally done at the same time or after a purchase instead of before?

2. SIS-t will be “dead money now”. Do you not believe that when a stock becomes “dead money” it would it not be better to place capital elsewhere until the stock moves up?

3. For bought deals, the little guy can’t participate in these types of issues if managing a self-directed account. How unfair is this?

4. I don’t usually look at financial reports for companies but this looks suspect.

The Annual Balance Sheet for Dec 31, 2017 shows:
“ Intangibles” = $100.49C$Mil. versus less than 12.05 mil in previous years

Why is it much higher than the preceding 3 years? Can you explain what this is? And should we be worried?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on April 18, 2018
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