Investment Q&A

Q: Hi Peter and team,

Any comments on the performance of NSTG (Nanostring). Smallish biotech company. Downturn in the sector has hurt the stock. I see you are recommending ISIS, is it reasonable to expect an increase in NSTG's stock price this year or would you expect the biotech sector (and NSTG) to see a recovery in early 2015?

Q: Hi - what is your view of Seadrill and it's dividend?

Q: I've held for a few yrs now: been going up like crazy: high debt., high PE, but high ROE of 108% (have they been buying back a lot of stock?). I've held as conservative play in my USD portfolio. Has it been going up because of dividend and considered safe play? I am thinking of selling at this price and holding the cash for an opportunity in the midst of this market correction?

Q: LTS.us appears to be defying the mkt, and is steadily moving up. What is your assessment? And should I wait to buy? As a financial service company, though small in size, it may have found a niche that will propel it forward.

Q: This is a follow up question on Blackstone. Is it true that some private equity clients are trying to do deals themselves, reducing the need for services provided by companies like BX. Thank you.

Q: it seems to be gaining a little strength, am kind of around my projection, is there a reason to anticipate this stock you further achieve after what has all gone on
thanks

Q: Can I please have your opinion on Black Stone BX on NYSE. Is it a buy, hold or sell. Thank you.

Q: Och Ziff (OZM.us) has been plunging in recent weeks, and got beaten up a lot more this week. Markets appear to have been priced in the litigation risks OZM faces: class action suits; corruption charges; and misdemeanors in southern Africa). I have checked some financial sites, including key news sources in London and Frankfurt.

I have some OZM in an RSP . It was selected as a 2014 pick in January by Sabrient. Sabrient and its affiliate Gradient Analytics are generally good, notwithstanding they got this one wrong.

With the price drop in OZM , its dividend yield now screens sky high. Industry wags (T-Reuters, Research Team, Value Engine and 2 analyst houses I looked) still rate OZM as a buy.

OZM price and now looks too good to be true. One gets an uneasy feeling about it, but I don’t see any new info that wasn’t already in the public domain a month ago.

If you are able to comment on OZM, I would appreciate it very much.

Dr Adam Okhai
New York

Q: I know you are not really into u.s. Stocks but if you had to recommend 2 or 3 mainly for growth what would they be. I own gilead and bank of america and just on cdn. Dollar weakness i am doing fine, i expect the cdn. Dollar to continue lower, so why not a few more u.s. Stocks .dave

Q: Could you please give me an updated opinion on ESRX? Could you also recommend 2-3 large cap US stocks for long term holding, likely to provide some growth and some dividend payment (my US holdings are ESRX, MMM, HCLP, JNJ, NVS and IWO)? Thank you for your excellent advice and congratulation on your charitable work.

Q: GE seems to be divesting its low margin businesses and becoming more of an industrial company again. I would expect a smaller and more profitable GE going forward. It's PE is below the general market and pays a good dividend. Is this a pound the table buy considering its fundatmentals and growth profile?

Q: Hi Peter, I have some US funds I would like to use in the healthcare sector (no exposure at this time). Could you give me your take on Walgreens WAG, IBB and IYH. Which one would give me the best long term hold?
Thanks
Gary

Q: This fund pays out a dividend of 9.3 cents per month - 9.47% at today's share price. It has what seems to be a low beta of 0.22. ( Is that relevant for this tuype of stock?)
How would you rate this stock as a reliable component of the fixed income portion of my US dollar portfolio?

Thank you.

Q: What are your thoughts on RCKY : NASDAQ

Q: Can you please provide an update on FNMA.US and FMCC.US Thanx

Q: What are your thoughts on SPTN : NASDAQ

Q: My US exposure is underweight. I am looking at Barclays (BCS), Lloyds (LYB), National Bank of Greece (NBG) as 3-5 year holds with the wishful thinking that they may return to their previous and glorious highs of 2007. Am I dreaming?
Alternatively, can you suggest any US regional banks for a similar timeframe and which large cap US bank, if any, is your favourite?
Thanks.
Steven

Q: Hello 5i,
My strategy is to buy and hold dividend paying companies for the long term and I’m currently looking to pick up another financial company for my portfolio. I already own 12 companies in this sector, which of the companies listed below would you chose.
Mercury General Corp (MCY), Oritani Financial Corp (ORIT), HSBC Holdings (HSBC), Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (BLX).
Thanks,

Q: Hi Peter & Team,
Re: Drone Manufacturers / UAV-UAS

I have found these big manufacturers of UAV-UAS:
1) AeroVironment, USA (“AVAV”- Nasdaq)
2) Aeron Labs, Waterloo, On.
3) Prioria Robotics, Florida
4) Aerosight, Oregon
5) Textron (NYSE - “TXT”)

Questions:
1) Do you see future growth in using drones (not just military use)?
2) Is it too early to get into this area?
3) Which company would you recommend? (I guess my list is partial)

Q: Hey Team

Your comments moving forward please.

Thanks for all you do

Gord