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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: 1)QST.Please comment announcement after close that it reduced staff to only essential ones & expect to cut fixed costs by 20% year over year 2)SYZ. Nice to hear of the $3.5m cash acquisition. CIBC has a tech.target price of $10.90-11.40.Please comment. 3)STC.After close,stated a newest cloud services:video meeting. Please comment on its impact
Read Answer Asked by Peter on April 23, 2020
Q: Hi guys, I am looking for small and mid-cap companies with a great balance sheet and high likelihood of sustaining their dividends. Would Evertz and Corby fit the bill? Also, any others that you like for that criteria? Thanks Rob
Read Answer Asked by Robert on March 24, 2020
Q: Thank you to all at 5i for all your efforts and guidance.
I am contemplating some tax loss selling and would like your input regarding the following,
sell ENB, PPL, SYZ and replacing in order with TRP, KEY and ABT. After 30 days I will consider (and probably) revert back to ENB and PPL. Not sure if I will do the same with ABT back to SYZ.
Comments, suggestions input please (suitability of replacements, plan to revert back, etc.) that will help me move forward. I like to buy, hold and rebalance as necessary but I can use the tax losses to good advantage. Retired income investor with 3 to 4 years already covered as this plays out.
Thank you so much for your help!
Read Answer Asked by Brian on March 23, 2020
Q: I feel that management deceived their shareholders. "The Company has agreed to the buy-out of the contractual bonus compensation arrangements with the CEO". He took a huge payment. "These executives will remain in their respective positions, with current base salaries and benefits continuing, along with a new bonus plan." That is an outright lie. No sooner did he get his huge payment then the CEO announces his retirement. Really deceitful. Time to hang up on this company?
Read Answer Asked by Joel on March 16, 2020
Q: Hi 5I,

I need some clarification on your view of Syz. On Jan 29 a question from Rod on Syz top up yielded a "hold" response, and same type of question asked by Pierre on Jan 28 yielded a cryptic "fine" response. I too am looking at adding to my position (within target %) and came across an article in today's Globe stating CEO bought over $300k of shares in January. It would be great if your answer could delve into the potential of adding too/holding this company for 5+ years.

Thanks,
Chris M.
Read Answer Asked by Christopher on February 04, 2020
Q: My husband has some old capital losses that I think we should start to be using now in the event of any possible future rule changes. He has a 10 position unregistered account in which there are 3 equities with substantial gains from 125% to 1350%, i.e.: WSP, ENGH and CJT.
There are 2 equities with 50% and 70% gain, i.e. SYZ and WPM and 1 equity with 35% gain, i.e. KXS. The remaining 4 have small profit or loss, i.e. CAE, MCR, CCL.B, PBH.
Looking at selling WSP, ENGH, CJT, SYZ ,WPM and perhaps KXS to apply some of the old losses. What would you recommend to buy for replacement (a 1st and 2nd choice if you could) and would you move back into the original equity after 30 days or would you just stick with the replacement ? A dividend would be nice but not mandatory. Also, any thoughts on timing considerations or other issues ? We have diversified RIFs and TFSAs in addition to the above.
Many thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Alexandra on February 04, 2020
Q: I hold the following in my balanced equity type portfolio and they all represent less than a half position, either because they have dropped or because they have not kept up with the rest of the portfolio. I have enough new money to top up 4 or 5 of them to their original weightings. Which would you top up at this point and which would you simply let go?
Read Answer Asked by Rod on January 29, 2020
Q: Hello,
Would you add to these positions ? 5 year + hold.
Any favorites ? Your general comments are always appreciated !
Thank you

Read Answer Asked by Pierre on January 28, 2020
Q: Hi guys I know you are probably a bit sick of answering questions about Sylogist but just trying to get my head around how they operate. During the last year the company stated "the Company repurchased a total of 191,900 common shares at an average price of $12.81 for a total cost of $2.5 million." So with no debt and 53 million of cash on hand why wouldn't Mgmt. buy the bulk of the shares that are now being offered up at below $9 a share. IN other words if the shares had value at $12.81 wouldn't the shares be even a more prudent purchase now? Also I show a Return on Equity of above 30% yet the shares are trading for what they were 5 years ago. How does one square that? Has the P/E multiple come down that much, and if so why?

One strange idea that runs through my head is this company does so little to support the share price (e.g. also no press releases) maybe this is intentional so that Mgmt. is buying up shares at these much lower values?

Much thanks to any insights you may to give.
Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on January 22, 2020
Q: It would appear that although this is a solid company it is down about 5% at the moment. One analyst did downgrade it to hold. The criticisms of the company seem to be the pay structure (transparency) and minimal growth due to an M&A slowdown. Both of these concerns speak to management. Are you able to provide any information on the management team? Are they strong, experienced with a stake in the company? At this time I am thinking it is a good buying opportunity despite its lack of momemtum.

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 20, 2020