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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 been and continue to be a believer in BRK and have no concern about succession plans there. Although BRK’s performance has been dull in the past ten years, I am aware that a value style has done very poorly compared to a growth orientation. My holdings in BRKb represent an appropriate allocation and I will not make changes there. I reviewed Markel after I saw it included in “RBC Top Global Ideas for 3Q-2020” .
I reviewed both BRK and MKL and found:

Over 10 years MKL has beaten both BRK and S&P (BRK did not beat S&P in the past 10 years.
Over 5 years BRK beat MKL but not S&P
Over 3 years S&P beat both companies
Over 1 year S&P beat both companies

I have reviewed a past question and am looking for an update. Would your deep look at MKL prompt you to rate this a buy? Some regard it as a “mini Berkshire” . Based on the holdings would you agree? Would you give it a higher grade than BRKb in terms of price appreciation over the next 3 years?

I tend to buy on noticeable dips. IF you would rate MKL a buy, what would you consider a reasonable entry price?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on August 20, 2020
Q: Any suggestion for US income stocks that still represent good value ? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Robert on August 20, 2020
Q: I have been "trolling" for financially stable dividend payers in the insurance business to find quite a disparity in the perception of value for various firms. While Sun life seems to be the pre-emptive "favourite", can you recommend other insurers of similar quality whether from this list or elsewhere? Stable income is the main attraction but some inflation resistant growth would be a valuable plus.
Read Answer Asked by David on August 20, 2020
Q: Morning 5iTeam,
GT stock had dropped by about 1/3 year to day while its competitor CTB's stock is up10% ytd and that was before Trump's call to Americans to stop buying GT products. Your thoughts please on reasons for GT's pullback and your comments going forward for this stock. Would GT would be a buy, hold or sell.
Again thanks for your great work.
Cheers,
Read Answer Asked by Harry on August 20, 2020
Q: Hello 5I Team
Newmont Corporation is a US domiciled company and trades primarily on the US market (NEM:US) and it also trades on the Canadian Market (NGT:CA).
I am assuming the Canadian listing is a result of the Goldcorp acquisition in 2019.
1 - Which is the better market (Canada or US) to purchase Newmont on?
2 - Assuming the dividends from Newmont are not eligible for the dividend tax credit, would it be better to buy the Canadian domiciled companies (ABX, AEM, FNV, KL etc.) and receive eligible dividends? The yield on all the major gold miners is approximately 1 %, so I understand yield is not the primary reason for holding gold stocks.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Stephen on August 20, 2020
Q: I have noticed more of ROP’s applications in use by in the medical world. It continues to remains on RBC’s top global ideas for 2020. Is it over-valued right now? Does it have the balance sheet and cash flow from existing operations to continue its acquisition strategy?

The share price worries me. Should it? Or does ROP deserve its rich price due to its growth potential? If you would buy, what would be reasonable entry price (or would you be patient and wait for the next market dip?)
Read Answer Asked by Adam on August 20, 2020
Q: Hi team,
I was looking at adding to my position in Veev. However, to do that I would be looking at trimming either twlo or Now. Would this be advisable? How would you compare Veev to the other 2 as far as long term growth prospects? Note my positions in both twlo and now are approx 50% larger than my position in Veev . Thank You
Read Answer Asked by Shane on August 20, 2020
Q: Safehold realty (SAFE) was a top pick of real estate expert Michelle Wearing recently. Can I get your opinion on this relatively new stock and your opinion on their business model. She likened it to a hundred year bond, yet if they can achieve their goal of increasing the distribution at twice the rate of inflation that is obviously better than a bond, safety comparisons aside.

As a US REIT the majority of the distribution is return of capital. Am I correct that this would be the same tax treatment as a Canadian Reit, lowering my adjusted cost base. And how would the remainder of the distribution be taxed?
Finally what do you think of their major shareholder getting management fees, while many don’t like those sort of arrangements I have owned some similar companies where it has worked out well for me..
Geoff
Read Answer Asked by Geoff on August 19, 2020
Q: News from the US today on UNC going to strictly online learning has to be the first of many such stories. I know CHEGG is a prominent US name that could benefit from schools scrambling to move online but I would like to ask if you can provide some names of companies that will benefit if either elementary, secondary or post secondary schools are hastily shut down? I listed a few that might do well on the headlines and would like your thoughts on each but also would like to know who will be fuelling the transition if it happens (cloud, security etc). To put it another way, who else stands to benefit if "back to school" is quickly reversed. Deduct as you see to be fair please.
Read Answer Asked by Tim on August 19, 2020