Investment Q&A

Q: In financials I own about 2.5% of my overall portfolio in both TD and RY with about 1% in ECN (total of 6%). What would be your recommendation if adding more to the financial sector. Stay with Canadian banks (add to TD or RY or possibly BNS) or add something like SLF OR MFC? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Brian

Q: Hi Peter,

SIS has grown to about 9% of my portfolio from an initial 6% and wondering if you think there's any more upside? My full positions are 5-7% so wondering if I should continue to hold or trim my position?

On the other hand GUD is down 20% and wondering if I should add more here or start a new position in CLS (I'm low on tech) if I do trim SIS. All of these are/will be in my TFSA.

Also, wondering about ECN, what will it take for it to break out above $4? It seems to be stuck below $4 for a long time now. I hold this in my RRSP.

Thanks for your advice as always.

Q: Do you think the preferred share for ECn( ECN.PR.A) would be a good investment if the company does well. This will be held in an RESP.
Thank you for your answer.

Q: Good Evening,

I am currently light on financials. I have a 2.8% position in SLF, 3.4% position in BNS and a 2.6% position in GSY. Would you recommend adding to these, or starting a position in ECN or something else. I am a long term investor who doesn't mind some risk.

Thanks,
Janet

Q: Good morning,
I am looking at buying a position in ECN Capital. Would you be comfortable at current levels? Any comments on their offer to buy service financial holdings?
Thanks in advance
Phil

Q: Can you explain in simple terms how ECN functions at a high level?

For example, in their rail vertical, are they leasing their own rail cars or connecting buyers to sellers while providing loans, or something entirely else? What makes them attractive for buyers versus going to a big bank? I'm trying to see wherein lies their competitive advantage.

Thanks.

Q: There has been a lot of insider buying lately in ECN. Is this normal after loss tax selling. Is the company buying back shares. ( PGF )is the investor Schuller still involved in company I believed he had purchased 90 million or so shares and please provide update on PGF.Are they starting to recover. Does PGF have light oil assets?

Q: Hi 5i team,

I’m thinking of adding ECN to my portfolio. However, I already owned GSY and FSZ. Do you see any overlapping? Which two out of these three names will likely have the best growth in the next few years? Which two out of these three have the better balance sheets? Thanks and all the best for the new year.

Q: What would be your top candidates to be taken out for a significant premium in 2018??

Q: Noted Peter's two top picks earlier this week , ECN and SHOP.
The stories may sound good but could you comment on the fundamentals on both of these companies.
ECN, reduced revenue in 2/3 last quarters and EPS down in past two quarters, increase in diluted shares in past year. Balance sheet looks iffy with increasing debt.
SHOP, net income down, eps down, negative free cash flow, negative ROE, negative ROIC., but nice balance sheet with lots of cash.
If these are top picks , why are neither owned by guest, households, investment banker clients or guest firm or affiliates as indicated on disclosure at end of top picks?
Thanks
Jeff

Q: Suggestions for value stocks, any industry, and under 2 billion market cap? Thanks.

Q: I bought some of this preferred at 25.20. With interest rates holding steady or maybe a bias towards rising interest in Can and US is now a good time to add to my position in this preferred? I invest mainly for income.

Q: I am starting a Growth Portfolio with $100,000 to be phased in over three years. I purchased DOL and SHOP with each 5% weighting, or $5000 each. What weightings should I consider for each of ECN, GSY, OTEX, PHO? (These positions will be in my TFSA and held for the long-term, more than 5 years.) Are there any other positions that I should consider at this time and if so, what weighting?
.PS...I currently hold KXS and GUD in my balanced portfolio.

Q: Humble comments as I see them.CEO Steve Hudson is described by a respected guest on BNN as"a wonderful guy in promoting things",who was supported by the investment community.However his light has dimmed somewhat since the very big acquisition of the GE leasing assets(now spinned out to EFN) as he overpromised & underdelivered/performance below expectations.Hudson is more suited to ECN than ENF as shown by appreciation in ECN & depreciation in ENF since split.Reportedly Hudson& his management team draw very big salaries(maybe too high compared to performance) but they always buy back shares for many years.While he did not acquire co after promotion,he indicated that he will buy in 2018.Stay tuned.

Q: ECN Capital was among the top pick's on BNN by Peter Hodson on Dec 15/17. I couldn't find a report on the company in the "Reports" section. Did I miss it or is there a report coming out in the near future?

Q: Not sure why so many subscribers seem concerned over ECN at $3.80, I am looking for $3.60 so I can load up but even at today's level it's a no brainer buy.

Q: Wanted to get your views on GPS recent earnings? In addition ECN held a corporate update meeting and wondering if you have any comments after the meeting?

Q: Very frustrated that management talked up this big deal that was to go through in December only to have them tell everyone they were pulling out. What kind of top-notch management team would talk up a pending deal for months to then tell everyone they are not going through with it. To me this is a sign of a very amateurish management team and that is worrying. They should have waited to have the deal finalized then announce it as opposed to talking it up for months then deliver nothing. It gave everyone false expectations so of course price now is tanking based on their inability to bring a deal forward that they promised would happen.

Will there be anything now to get price up? It seems that NAV of 4.40 is of no interest to the market so I am worried that this company has very little going for it now but I could be wrong so would like your take on things.
Thank you.

Q: what are your thoughts on todays analyst conf call by ECN updating them on what's going on.

thanks Tom

Q: hello 5i:
I'm unable to view the presentation by the company this morning, but note the stock price drop. Can you comment on the company's view and if the price drop is correlated to the presentation or a general market reaction?
thanks
Paul L