Investment Q&A

Q: Hello team,

First thing on Monday 26 Oct, I am moving to buy 500 shares of VRX. This will account for roughly 10% of my portfolio. I am even tempted to buy 1000 shares depending on your honest answer to the following question:

Is this a one time opportunity to invest in a good company suffering from unfair publicity or is this a moment of greed which has blinded many to see a broken story?

I have seen the interview with Jason on BNN and I am sorry for not buying VRX when it reached 116$....if Jason is right this company is worth north of $400/share. If Jason is honest and I know you respect him a lot, then why should I (or everybody else) hesitate and lose this golden opportunity? Or is he telling us all of this because he is massively invested in VRX and he is looking out for himself first.

I know you don't like target prices but is it even a possibility for this stock to see the light of $250/share ever again.

I know you will refuse my weighting in the company but I am more interested in your genuine and personal trust in the company's management and what the company is doing (borrowing to grow ROE at all costs) as well as your desire to invest in this company after all is said and done...., Today?

Love to hear back from you. I know your long-term investment logic and wisdom are the only thing that could stop me from making a deadly mistake. So thank you in advance.

Q: Dennis Mitchell gave a more grounded interview on BNN regarding the Valeant - Citron debacle, in my view. In short (oops!) he suggests it's the investor's responsibility to fully understand the business they have bought into regardless of what any research piece, pro or con, says. Further, Buffett would suggest a 'margin of safety' shield any purchase you are contemplating and that volatility can be your friend if you understand the underlying business. Read lots (not just 5i) and take the time to ponder before your purchase but in the end you are responsible for your investments, not the media, not the research firm, not any politicians.
Post at your discretion.
Tim

Q: I thought your readers may be interested to see Jason Donville's response to the short sellers of Valeant:

http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=733570

Some harsh words against the unregulated short market.

Q: The Valeant short-seller (Andrew Left) was on BNN today:

http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=732841

I have to say (in my opinion) that the above video does not paint him in a good light. It seems this whole story is more about sensational headlines than material evidence.

Q: Hello Peter & 5i team,
I'm quite frustrated at the way the market reacts to a Citron report whose motivation is quite questionable; is it not possible that their report is so designed as to support their objective of shorting the stock?
Supposing their report is misleading, how is it possible that they can get away with it with impunity?
Now that the QSC starts investigating Valeant, who is investigating Citron?
Regards,
Antoine

Q: I am not a holder of Valeant Pharma, but I do have a small position in Concordia. While one could argue that Valeant had appreciated quite spectacularly after its failed bid for Allergan and was perhaps due for a pullback that recent market behavior seems irrational! It seems that retail investors don't really have a chance in today's markets with HFT and powerful short sellers. Many retail investors will get scared out of these stocks and others when huge declines occur even if they bounce back in 3 weeks or 3 months as evidenced by what happened on that Monday in August. Is there something the market watchers can do to restore some semblance of fair play in the stocks markets?

Q: I see a trade halt for VRX and CXR. Any idea what's going on?

Q: Hi Peter & Team,

What do you think of VRX's Q3 results?

Thanks

Q: Hi, Valeant's share price took huge hit over past two weeks, after Hilary Clinton comments and Democrats' request for a subpoena for drug pricing. There are two drugs in question, where price increases were 225% and 550% appx. As per analysts covering the stock, even if price of these two drugs is reversed, it should impact the share price by about $8-$9. Except one major brokerage, no one has changed rating of the stock (Most have Buys). Although a few have adjusted price targets between $10-$15 but average is still about CAD$325. Last week stock traded as low as $204.50 and has now stabilized in $230-$240 range. Only a few weeks ago it traded as high as $347. Despite the near term headline risk (although it is not known if house committee will even accept the democrats request for a subpoena and US history of very limited success with drugs price control), is it reasonable to accumulate shares at these levels, in your view? Valeant still appears to be the only choice in large cap pharma sector in Canada (of course Concordia being the other)and I am wondering if there is an opportunity here. Thanks, as always for your valued comments.

Q: Hi- just thought my fellow subscribers who own Valeant might be interested in this article, which, in brief, states that Valeant is one of the greatest increasers of drug prices and may be affected by the Hilary Clinton furor.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-10-04/more-pain-biotechs-ahead-valeants-astronomical-price-increases-take-center-stage-pfi

Q: Two fund managers on BNN have referred to VRX as "broken".
Is this another way of saying "sell", no hope?

CV

Q: Hello Peter & 5i team,
What do you think of VRX's (shall we say, controversial)acquisition? Do we assume that Pearson knows what he is doing?
Thanks,
Antoine

Q: I currently hold relatively small positions in CXI, GUD, PHM and PLI. I am thinking of adding VRX. Do you consider it reasonably priced? It does not seem to me to be too late to get onto that band-wagon. In some respects it reminds me of Constellation Software. Thank you, Peter

Q: With memories of Northern Telecom being such a significant portion of TSX just before the start of its demise, I get nervous when I see Valeant becoming so large.
I remind myself that it is also traded in US, and that there are many larger cap drug companies.
I would value your comments.

Q: Goodmorning Peter &all;
I sold 2 covered(Oct.)call with a strike price of 300$.Collected 3200$ of premium.I also sold 2(OCT)PUT,strike price of 280$.Collected 4,000$ of prem.
I would appreciate your comments.Thanks.

Q: Hi,

Thanks for suggestion that VRX would be a good candidate for a covered call. I bought 100 shares around $270 in early May and wrote a July $300 call for about $1,500. (Un)fortunately, the stock rose quite a lot so now option is in money. Any suggestions what to do? (i.e., do you like VRX enough to suggest I should buy option at a loss so my position isn't exercised?). Thanks for great service!

Q: Hi Team,
I currently own some PHM and would like to add another stock in the Health Care space. I have a reasonable appetite for risk and look for growth over income. Could you please help me decide between CRH and VRX for, say, a two year hold?

Thank you,
John

Q: VRX may be buying an Egyptian Co. Seems they were not expected
to go shopping - maybe because of their debt level.

Your opinion please, as I have a 4% position.
Thank you.

Q: Hello Peter m& Co.
I thought the Salix acquisition was a done cash deal; should I crystallize my gains with VRX?
Thanks,
Antoine

Q: Now that VRX has had such a great run in the last 4 months,i am thinking of selling it and investing the money equally on CCT and CXR. Will this trade make me more money. I know CCT and CXR are also up nicely .
thanks LC.