Investment Q&A

Q: Good morning, if one was to look for international oil and gas exposure, other than through a Canadian listed company like VET, would you prefer a service company like SLB, or a large integrated like XOM, CVX, BP, or RDS. Although you don't follow these, is there anything that you particularly like? Thanks!

Q: To cut down on the length, let me get directly to the questions. Is your tax lost list periodically updated to add potential new candidates?

In the daily 52 week lows, a number of energy names reappear. Looking at them as part of an out of favour sector rather than a January bump play, what should I focus on? Clearly location is gaining importance but which financial measures would you focus on to start? The industry experts talk of their benchmarks such as excessive debt or value, often based on cash flow. Depletion rates and reserve life , the type and quality of the wells other considerations. Would they cover the basics and above/below what ratios would make you interested to look closer at any company? If not, what would you focus on?
Keeping with the spirit of the season, If one were seeking a last minute shopping list, would you kindly provide your top 1 or 2 best investment ideas in the oil, gas and service sectors? A basic reason why would be helpful and most appreciated.

Thank you for the education, as well as, the very good guidance you provide in making more informed investment decisions.

Season's greeting,
Mike

Q: Please explain the difference between ENB and ENF.
Thanks for your ongoing excellent service.
Frank

Q: Good Morning: I have been selling down my shares in Crescent Point (finally throwing in the towel) but want to keep some exposure to oil/gas in case of a turn. I grant that it's hard to be optimistic about the sector at the moment, but would you please share your 3 or 4 "best bets" for the space. I would prefer to stay in the Canadian sector and I generally prefer, but am not insistent upon, dividend paying names. Thanks.

Q: Hi there,

Spartan is sitting about $1.80 above it's 52 week low. WCP is just $.20 or so above its 52 week low and pays a 3%+ dividend. Can you offer an opinion on why Spartan has had a greater bounce (WCP didn't decline as much?). Also, if someone wants to own one of the two which would you pick today and why?

Thanks!

Q: I need to take a loss what would you swap to to stay in the oil sector.

Q: I appreciate that to date, you haven't been overly enthusiastic about TWM, however, given that its recent results seemed to be good, the POR on its 2.5% dividend is only 34%, it just graduated to the TSX and finally, two days ago it entered into an agreement with TransAlta to build an inter-Alberta pipeline, might it perhaps be worth closer scrutiny?

Management certainly seem to have their eye on the ball.

Regards. Karl

Q: Six questions regarding pipelines:
(1) I understand that Enbridge finances most capital expenditures by way of debt or new equity, not retained earnings. I am thinking that this would be OK if its GAAP earnings per share are keeping pace with dividend increases and its debt service coverage is stable. Do you agree with these comments?
(2) I assume that the prospects for ENF are tied to ENB. Do you agree?
(3) Do PPL and IPL have the same policy as ENB regarding the financing of capital expenditures?
(4) Do you have preferences among ENB, IPL and PPL and, if so, why?
(5) If I am correct, ENB is mostly pipelines, PPL is mostly other midstream and IPL is somewhere in between. I have this idea that pipelines are more stable than other midstream activities. Is this simply wrong or an over-simplication?
(6) ENF, IPL and PPL represent 10% of my portfolio. Would you suggest lightening up? (I am retired and my portfolio is geared to income.)

Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
Please give your current assessment of BXE. It has crashed since the 5 for 1 consolidation and also hit with tax loss selling. Would you rate this a hold because it may be over sold or just sell and take the loss even though it does not qualify as a tax loss. On the other hand would it be a reasonable contrarian play going into 2018 with more optimism concerning global growth?
Dr.Ernest Rivait

Q: In their Second Quarter Report 2017 at page 9 and Note 3 CQE took a $96,200,000 "Impairment Loss". Presumably no company wants to conduct impairment tests and publish the results, so I assume IFRS or TSE or CPPIB (lender) is the driver. The future price deck shown in Note 3 seems to me to be quite optimistic and minimize the amount of impairment, and they do state that a 10% decrease across the deck would produce further impairment of $107,000,000! A partial reversal therefor seems unlikely. So the questions - 1) Is CQE really the only O&G so challenged that it has to do impairment tests - I haven't seen any others? 2) in your view is bankruptcy more likely than a takeout?

Q: Dear sirs,
Is AAV worth holding/buying at these levels? Cost base is $9.
With thanks,
Brad

Q: Oil prices are up around 10% ytd; RRX is down around 30%. I bought RRX with the premise that the oil market at some point would start to rebalance. The oil piece seems to be working itself out; can you explain the huge divergence with RRX.

Also, I could use the capital loss on RRX this year. Can you provide a good company to swap into. Thanks.

Q: hi folks:

looking for direction on oil services/drilling co's

balance sheet-wise what are your 2 -3 choices for long term stability in the energy services area?

(not concerned if it is a frack co; daylighters, upstream downstream etc etc etc)

and, since I have you........

what are your current 2-3 choices for pipelines; oil co's; gas co's

as with service co's i am primarily concerned with future viability (ie staying in business) vs biggest potential recovery

been sitting on my hands and actually making money...........by not buying as yet

thank you

Q: Hi folks,can you explain the difference between WCS (West Canada Select) pricing versus WTI. TD shows Wcs at $40sh while Wti is $57sh;that is a huge differential spread. Does this affect companies I own; Rrx/t & Pey/t?? or mostly involves companies in The "Oil Sands" like Cpg & Cve. I understand no new pipelines hurt but is the Wcs price, what is holding Canadian oil companies from participating in the recent Wti runnup. Thanks as always and just renewed 2 more years into 2020 haha, jb Piedmont QC

Q: Hi,
Peyto seems very attractive from Dividend perspective. would you consider dividend safe? what is the free cash flow and payout ratio?
other than whole sector being down, any reason for recent decline in share price.
Thanks

Q: This is a follow up to David’s question(05.12.17). If one sells PEY for a tax loss would you replace with another oil or gas company? If no, why? If yes, which companies (say 2 or 3)?
Thanks, Bryn

Q: Your opinion please on this company.
Ken

Q: Hello Peter,
I have a 2.5% portfolio weight in energy stocks, constituting of HWO (down -33%) PONY (-76%) RRX (-31%) TOU (-53%) and WCP (-41%).
Should I sell all and crystallize the loss for tax purposes or are there any that you would suggest holding on? What percentage of the portfolio would you allocate to energy at this time and perhaps suggest 3-5 names in order of preference that I could invest either now or 30 days later when I can buy my tax loss divestment.
As always your opinion is greatly appreciated.
Regards

Q: I wish to reposition some of my energy producers in my portfolio. With strengthening commodity prices can you you please identify,in order,5 Canadian producers you would hold for future appreciation. My preference is that they pay a dividend but if you think price appreciation would exceed current dividend yield, then please include.
If not considering dividends, what are your top 5.

Q: Please advise that last quarter results against what was expected? If you owned, would you sell for a tax loss or keep?