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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: In finance or investing media there is often reference to portfolio insurance. I did not know such a thing even existed. The discussion often makes a passing reference to “... buy the VIX.... “ If this is correct, how would one do that? If insurance--- I assume that means mitigating risk--- is unrelated to VIX , is portfolio insurance even buy-able (OTHER than by use of options)? If options are the only way to mitigate risk, do you know some reliable sources one can go to? If I am going to pull my hair out worrying about “toppy markets” (a favorite phrase of some market commentators) I would like to be able honestly to claim I did make best efforts before the said hair-pulling.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on January 29, 2020
Q: I was left with a small position in MS due to a partial fill on a sell order. Recently however MS has stirred back to life, and I now wonder: rather than sell the remaining MS, perhaps add and bring it back to a full position.
1. I understand MS has a very good and growing wealth management business. Is this true?
2. Is MS a good buy based on:
ROE
ROCI
PEG
Price to FCF and Price to EDITDA
Dividend growth

3. I assume one cannot compare MS to a retail-oriented bank like BAC or any of the regionals. Is this correct? If yes, is MS less vulnerable to ultra low interest rates which squeeze net interest margin than , say, Goldman Sachs?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on January 29, 2020
Q: Hi guys
From what i have been reading (Tony Siba) next year is the tipping point for purely economic reasons, it won't make any sense economically to buy a gasoline powered vehicle. From his point of view Batteries are going to be a huge disruptive technology in the future in both, transportation and energy (natural gas) as they become cheaper, and much more powerful.
Have you guys been looking for any investment opportunities in this sector.?
Thanks Gord
Read Answer Asked by Gordon on January 29, 2020
Q: I have some consumer disc and staples stocks, but I am looking for a few USD with some momentum. Could you suggest a five or more, best to last that I can explore? Many thanks for all you do.
Read Answer Asked by Elaine or Gerry on January 27, 2020
Q: regarding cyberark software - CYBR-US - do you think there is more upside in this stock? What do you think of this company for a long term investor - any other stocks in this sector you like - any stocks you like in the e-gaming space? - Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Karen on January 27, 2020
Q: Hello, ABB has developed a flash charging option for buses which has been tested in Geneva and now being rolled out to bus manufacturers in China and India. What are your thoughts on investing in Abb as a company, its finances, prospects and management etc. Thanks.

Shyam
Read Answer Asked by Shyam on January 27, 2020
Q: Are there any stocks that will benefit from the coronavirus scare?
Read Answer Asked by dan on January 27, 2020
Q: I seek your comments (substance only please) on VIAC and CMCSA. If I am incorrect on the following conclusions I made on VIAC, please yell at me:
- Debt is high and is not well covered
- YET the dividend looks supportable given cash flow
- Shares trade well below fundamental value (traditional definitions of value) by some 30% to 40%
- Business model is not the strongest but company has plans to replace cord-cutters with streaming services
- Future growth seems limited.... only 6% growth is expected by analysts (but earnings grew by 101% this past years)

Is VIAC a value trap? All I wanted for Christmas was a Bloomberg terminal. I didn’t get one. Still , when researching a stock I give much weight to BUSINESS model and risks thereto, AND to metrics like PEG, FCF , ROCI (not to book value which is meaningless except in certain sectors).

If not VIAC , based on the metrics I pay more attention to (above) , do you believe CMCSA is a better buy? I bought a half position in CMCSA after I read through the earnings release . CMCSA reported January 23 and fell sharply after the earnings release. CMCSA fell even more (more than S&P) the day after Friday January 24. I see that CMCSA is one of the top 30 holdings of hedge funds ---for what that is worth. Notwithstanding the negative momentum , is CMCSA a company one would be reasonably fine to add to instead of buying VIAC?
Read Answer Asked by Adam on January 27, 2020