Investment Q&A

Q: I'm up about 45% on NYX and thinking of selling now rather than waiting for the deal to close for the sake of an additional 2% or so. I previously owned GUD but sold at a modest profit near $10 (I was one of those bored investors). Thinking of re-buying GUD for a long term hold and would be interested in your view or other best options to deploy the NYX proceeds. My fallback would be simply to top up a few core holdings: TD, T, FTS, SLF.

Q: I am a bit confused by your latest move of dropping ENGH from the portfolio. It is your second highest rated tech stock with only CSU ahead of it at A ( vs ENGH A-). Most other tech stocks that you cover are rated B or B+. If I am using your rating system to help me pick stocks why would you not ditch the lowest rated in a particular sector first? I am sure there are some good reasons for it but they are not clearly outlined in your announcement of the change. If you feel that the ENGH run is over would a drop in the company rating ahead of dropping it from the portfolio be warranted.

Q: CLS's ceo on BNN today @9.45et resulting in a drop of price.What is u take on the interview.Thanks for u usual great services & views

Q: Following your balanced portfolio. Do not have above stocks. Can purchase 1 or 2 after selling engh. Which should I buy?
T Steve

Q: HI Peter/Team if you have to choose the best 5 stocks from the balance portfolio and 5 from the income portfolio which would they be ( I am 60 years old). THANKS JIM.

Q: Hello Peter and Team,

With ToysRUs, it is a good reminder what debt can do to a company. Would there be any companies in your model balanced portfolio where rising debt is starting to raise flags?

Thank you for all you do.

Wes

Q: Please comment on PHO? The price moved up one day and down the next day. at current price is a buy? Thank you

Q: Hi team, looking for some advice for a small LIRA account 40k, that won't be touched for the next 15 years. I would like to grow this as much as possible at a medium risk level with maybe a small position in higher risk, thinking maybe Square? Canadian or US companies, doesn't matter. Current holdings are FID 669 which is going no where but down and EFA. I'm thinking to keep the EFA and sell FID to reinvest in growth.
Thanks for your advice

Q: Peter and Associates,

I read your responses to members daily and find them most interesting and highly useful. My question this morning has to do with Spin Master(TOY). You regularly get questions on it and from what I read you think rather highly of the company as an investment.

With technological advances, we are seeing a lot of changes in the retail landscape due to impacts in buying habits and preferences at all age levels. Reading your comments on Corus is a good example of change and the consequences suppliers must adapt or at least deal with. Toys are Us just announced it went into bankruptcy protection. No doubt more than one factor explains why.

As grandparents, what entertains today’s children is rather different to their parents! Might TOY become a victim of this change and could Toys are Us prove to be a form of leading indicator? Or, might more typical business explanations or Amazon explain the problems at Toys are Us?

Beyond the obvious potential impact from the loss or cutback of a major distribution channel at the retail level, is/are there reason(s) for concern that suppliers to the toy market will be facing serious headwinds? Or is this simply a front line retailer facing viability problems in a changing landscape?

Thank you

Mike

Q: Hi,

What are your thoughts about Open Text's growth prospects in the next year or two?

If the growth is anticipated to be low and the return is going to be just the dividend, maybe I should look elsewhere.

Are there better growth/income options in the tech sector?

Thanks,

Gord

Q: 5i Team,

Thanks for your service.

My portfolio is made up of your balanced equity portfolio + several growth portfolio companies, some large cap US companies & some equity portfolio companies. Very balanced with a hedge towards growth.

I have big winners all over the place, thank you!!!!

I am however down big (approx. 50% each) on 3 small cap names: AT, CRH & ITC.

They are now about 0.5% weightings.. fairly insignificant to my portfolio and I am wrestling with whether I top them up... leave them alone as is... sell and consolidate it into other names in my portfolio (ie. CLS, PKI & CAE comes to mind right now)... etc.

I have no tax benefit to sell as they are all in registered / TFSA accounts.

My question is how confident are you in these names? For a riskier investor, would you be ok with top ups to 1% weightings today? Should I just let them sit and maybe top up during tax loss season in a month or two? Or just sell?

Thank you for your guidance.

Q: Hi,
I have owned OTEX in the past. I recently bought it again around $44 after last earnings report which was good. Since then the stock has been sliding for no apparent reason. Momentum is negative. It recently bought Guidance Software. I thought it may recover but still hovering in low $39s range. I do not like to average down, but if I was looking at it as a fresh investment, it would give me pause to consider. Your thoughts please.

Q: Hi Peter and Team,
Please give your advice on XTC going forward. Would you think this is a good entry point here for this stock?
Thanks

Q: I do not currently hold a position in CSU. Do you fee there is sufficient upside potential to justify buying shares at the current price?

Q: What is the likely impact of Toysrus closure on TOY. If the stores close there would be less shelf space for TOY products. What do you think.

Q: Do you think that a company like premium brands would split their shares now that they have reached the $100 level? I know it makes no difference but retail investors tend to buy when the price is lower so that they can buy more shares.

Q: Hi, There are a number of stocks in the 5i balanced portfolio that I don't have yet. If I were to buy only three from the following list, which three would you pick for its growth and its value? My portfolio is well diversified so the sector allocation isn't a big concern:

GC, AIF, BYD.UN, CAE, CLS, PKI, SYZ, or GSY, PHO, ECN,

thanks

Q: Could you elaborate on your answer today to Alan regarding CSU debentures. I am not familiar with debentures...Am I correct in understanding they are like bonds but have no rights to any of the Company's assets if things go wrong ? Other downsides?
Would you recommend the CSU debenture as part of one's fixed income ? You mention liquidity, but not sure how poor that is ? How would I find out more information about the CSU debenture - length of term, etc. I use a discount broker - is it possible to buy through them ?
Any other information that you think would be pertinent would be most appreciated. Many thanks as always.

Q: NFI has been dropping for the last month. Is there any particular reason?

Thanks for your valuable info and advice.

Q: Appreciate your views on CSU debentures. They seem to guarantee 6.5% plus the inflation rate, so have been yielding 7.5-8%. Seems like a good vehicle for income. Thx