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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: Good morning.

I'm not a fan of short sellers but, with EIF, they may have a point on the cash flow. Looking back at the last 5 years (Morningstar.ca), it does seem that they are consistently showing negative free cash flow and this seems to be primarily due to investing in PP&E rather than acquisitions. If it was for acquisitions, I would view it more positively but for PP&E, every year, not so much. What is your opinion?
Read Answer Asked by Peter on July 24, 2017
Q: More of a comment than a question.
I sold half of my EIF holdings several years ago when there was a similar short attack which proved to be unfounded and also demonstrated that EIF management is actually very capable. The stock more than doubled after that, but is tumbling again not because it is a badly-run company but because it is small enough to be vulnerable to a short. I've come to the conclusion that these short attacks set up an irresistable negative psychology and a well-funded and clever shorter is probably unstoppable at least in the near to medium term. As a general rule it seems to me better to sell very early in this situation. Appreciate your thoughts
Read Answer Asked by richard on July 24, 2017
Q: Hi 5I,
General question on how successful short sellers operate. Do they short the stocks daily, weekly or how do they keep the price down? If they continually short the stock, do they not end up owning a considerable % of the companies stocks in order to keep the price down? Is there a website that gives the % of the stock that is shorted? It appears that you need to be careful in the Canadian market that you are not on the opposite end of the short attacks. Are there any other Canadian stocks that are heavily shorted?
Thanks Keep up the good work.
Bob
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 21, 2017
Q: PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN CALL ON WHETHER YOU LIKE TO ANSWER MY QUESTION PRIVATLEY OR PUBLICLY.

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I'm very frustrated with my investment in EIF. I took a loss early after the shorts took the chance to destroy the EIF share price on its Q1 results. I re-acquire EIF later due to the positive signs from management on its Q2 results. Well, the market manipulators (Prescience Point and Cohones and others) once again gang up to give EIF another dunking today.

Why investors would take the words of market leeches (who spread lies for a living) over those of management is beyond comprehension. This is how the market works, unfortunately.

You know you can actually ruin any business by spreading rumours! Take for example, we all know that even the best run banks cannot withstand a run, and collapsing a bank is very easy (see HCG). That is how quick and easy it is to make money in shorting, sadly the law is totally blind on this.

HCG was an earlier victim and thanks Mr. Buffet I hope the shorts took a bloodbath on that one.

My questions are a). can EIF find the Buffet type of back stoppers to rid itself of the shorts? b). if not, can us small retails continue to hang in there and perhaps face the DH type of volatility until management gives up and sell the company, or c). I should just take my second loss on EIF and learn from hereon just stay away from short infested stocks?

Your insight is much appreciated. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Victor on July 21, 2017
Q: I have several questions re:EIF. What is the latest available short position on EIF? What percentage of the public float does short position represent? Have you been following the latest short report and the updates to it by a well known short seller? What sort of investors is he trying to enlighten as to the perils of investing in EIF? With over seven million shares traded in the last twenty days, has this stock now become one to trade if one is a trader?
Regards AEO.
Read Answer Asked by Alan on July 14, 2017
Q: Would appreciate your comments regarding Globe and Mail article on EIF which raises the criticism that when you take the company's cash flow and capital expenses, as calculated and reported according to International Financial Reporting Standards, the company has never consistently made enough money to pay its dividend. EIF response was that the company's capital expenditures represent "investing in growth.
Read Answer Asked by richard on July 07, 2017
Q: It's frustrating to own a stock like EIS that is infested by the short sellers who have no scruples about the interests of other investors in order to get their loots.

Have there been prior class action suits of the shareholders taken the short sellers to court for compensation if their basis of shorting the company happens to be false or pure fabrications? Are there lawyers who specializes in these type of suits?

Just curious. After all the door should be able to swing both ways.
Read Answer Asked by Victor on July 06, 2017
Q: Not too long ago I had about a 3% position in EIF, with similar amounts in 2 accounts (cash and RRSP) and nice profits. Today, not so pretty. Do you have any explanation for the almost daily drop in price, or today when it fell off a cliff? After today I have small gains in the cash account and a loss in the RSP. A few weeks ago I sold about a third from each account (at around $36). Would you recommend selling everything, holding, or adding back the one-third sold? Has there been any insider activity or guidance and do you know what their payout percentage is?
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by grant on June 19, 2017
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