Investment Q&A

Q: Hi guys
In regard to Northwest Company I have held it for quite sometime as a steady eady income stock. My feeling were it was fairly safe because of NWC stores remote geography. This provided a fairly large moat around it. I am hearing that people in the north are now also ordering through Amazon and I guess because, like everywhere, this is cheaper. Do you have any thoughts or have come across information/questions during earning conference calls in regard to this manner from NWC? Will Amazon sales eat into NWC profits over time?

Thanks

Stuart

Q: Retired, conservative dividend investor. I consider a "full" position to be around 5%, which is reserved for the likes of "true blue chips" (BCE, BNS, RY, FTS, TRP, etc.) and lower weights for non-blue chip. I hold the following securities, with the following weights:
CGX = 4.4%
NWC = 2.7%
PBH = 4.8%
TCL = 3.3%

Q#1 = Regarding topping up, I am virtually at a full weighting with CGX and PBH. Based on today's Qtr results for CGX, would you top it up?
Q#2 = Given my blue chip comments, would you add more to NWC? I was thinking of moving is to 4%.
Q#3 = Regarding TCL, I am down (surprise!). At $15, it is looking very interesting. Depending on the width of your pencil, it looks like a decent level of support right where it is now...versus catching the proverbial falling knife. Current strategy = wait for Qtr numbers June 6...agree or add a bit?
Three questions...please deduct 3 credits.
Thanks...Steve

Q: I want to do a home renovation project and need some cash. Could you rank these stocks in order of the ones you would sell first to last in my position. Cineplex, Couche Tard, North West, MTY, Power Financial, Enghouse and Calian. I probably only need three names to raise what I need.

Q: What's happening with NWC? Bought this stock in Jan. to add a bit of stability (lower beta) to my portfolio but the stock is down 10%. Any ideas why? Thx Ron

Q: Hello, I currently hold NWC in my TFSA, it has a good dividend but the stock has been weak lately. What is your view on this stock? Would that make sense to replace it with PBH which is in the same sector? I know that you have these two companies in your model portfolios, but you certainly have a preference for one of them in terms of growth potential. Thanks, Gervais

Q: Hi Peter, how safe is this company and it’s div. Would you buy today? Mid-term 3-5 years. Thanks. Alnoor

Q: Hi Ryan i note that you hold nwc in your income portfolio as do I .
My research is starting to indicate a value trap.
Then amount of volume of business that amazon is doing in the high North is increasing ten fold year over year to the point that post office are looking more like grocery warehouse.
Nwc return and sales are dropping faster than once thought.
I have reduced my position my half and am currently considering exiting in full.
It is further exasperated further when grocers in the south start getting government handouts .The competitiveness edge of the high north is disappearing
Kind regards
Stan

Q: 7:42 AM 3/25/2019
I am looking to invest in 10 or 12 of these companies for a very long time: RY, CM, BNS, CNR, SU, CNQ, NTR, ET, NWC, FTS, EMA, NPI, AQN, BIP.UN, BEP.U, ENB, TRP, PPL.

I am concerned to select companies with the highest probability of surviving a severe recession intact while continuing to sustain or increase dividends over the next 10+ years.

I fear some may have too much debt or other "hidden" problems to survive a major downturn so could you please comment on debt levels and vulnerability.

Could you please arrange them in order of "security of income", safest first, and maybe single out any weak ones. I am not overly concerned about future price fluctuations as long as dividends can be sustained.

I quite realize these are not the same as government bonds and do not have the same levels of safety. I intend to hold them purely for rising income with no intention of selling.
Thank you............. Paul K

Q: I would like to replace pbh with something else and am wondering if qsr or nwc would be good choices or if you prefer something else.

Q: what would be you top five CAD equities that you would purchase that have a significant dividend and some growth that do not include the financial or energy sectors

Q: Regarding the recent earnings report for this company you had mentioned competition as being part of the reason the stock price responded so negatively. My impression was that NWC had a competitive advantage, and was a somewhat "moat-like" stock. Would this be a false assumption? Are there any concerns here that would suggest a dividend growth investor should sell and look elsewhere?

Q: My portfolio is light in consumer non-cyclicals. Last week I was considering the purchase of NWC for dividend in my non registered account. With the recent earnings release and drop in price is this a good entry point or should I move on?

Would PBH be a better choice? Or is there a better non-financial dividend payer to add to my portfolio?

Thank you

Stephen

Q: Given the 5% drop in share price after a less than stellar quarter, would you view this as a buy or top up opportunity for a 5 year hold?

Q: Hi can I have your comments on the year end results,q.Quite a haircut
Kind regards Stan

Q: Do you think NWC is less at risk from the Amazon effect than the other larger retailers?

Q: In an earlier answer you quoted the NWC release that stated Q3 EPS at 78 cents and well above consensus of 53 cents. I use Thompson Reuters data and they adjust occasionally for unusual items. In this case the adjusted EPS for NWC is 49 cents. I presume this is due to the insurance claim revenue being removed from the earnings. Do you always take the reported EPS or do you adjust for extraordinary items such as this at times and if so when? Could you comment further on this to clarify as without using consistent data we are not much further ahead than using no data. Thanks.

Q: God Morning
I would appreciate your thoughts on the 3rd qtr results of NWC. They look exceptionally good at first glance but income includes a $17million insurance settlement partly for business interruption. When that is reversed out and the comparative periods adjusted, how does the quarter look to you and what do you think of the company going forward?
Many thanks for your insight.
Ian

Q: Your comments on Q3 results would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Q: I currently have half positions in the above stocks. I would like to bring some or all up to a full position. I am income focused with some growth. Can you advise me on which to add to and time frame please?
Thank you

Q: Hi Ryan
Nwc is taking a3+% hit to day is this storm related or something else.i lithe this stock however has not done much
Kind regards
Stan