Investment Q&A

Q: hi,
BNS is now trading below November 2013 ( as far as I can see, correct me if I'm wrong ). could you do a quick comparison of the company at each time, illustrating valuation metrics/growth prospects etc.? BNS is now down more than 30% from the recent top-are forward earnings expectations now down 30% from the top, or more/less than 30%? Lastly, do you have any educated guess as to where the bottom is for this stock?
cheers, chris

Q: Good afternoon,

I'm planning to sell BNS for tax loss selling and will buy BAM.A with the funds. I'm also planning to sell a put (about 3-6 months out) on BNS for the purpose of collecting the premium. From what I can tell, this would not be an issue on the tax loss side given that I don't necessarily get to buy the shares, correct? I'd also be ok with having to rebuy if called.

Please let me know if there's anything else I should consider wrt this idea.

Thank you for this service, as usual,
Lisa

Q: Can you provide a 'buy' list for a person wanting to deploy $200,000 (inside RRSP) with the goal of creating 5% or more sustained cash flow - as well as growing the original capital to keep up with inflatiion? We do not have company pensions - this would serve to supplement our government pensions.
Thinking, 20 stocks across all sectors @ $10,000 each (or 5%)
Also could you include 10 growth stocks (inside TFSA) for a total of $250,000 - gotta have some fun ;)
Many Thanks
Jan

Q: In a dividend portfolio would you prefer Scotia bank with its higher yield despite recent concerns in respect of the new CEO or National Bank. We also have TD and Royal in our portfolio. Similarly would you prefer Manulife over Intact Financial for now given the higher dividend for the current time.

Q: Of the holdings in the Income Portfolio, can you suggest a few names that have the best prospects for growing their dividend over the next decade, through all market conditions?

Thanks.

Q: Hello,

With the articles in the press now revealing the lack of leadership, poor succession planning, disgruntled employees, spotty review of the new CEO, why are you sticking with BNS when there are other banks that IMHO offer far better potential for the reasons I mentioned above.

I was under the impression that these factors play a major role in selecting companies that appear in 5i portfolios.

For full disclosure, I do not own BNS

Sheldon

Q: With brisk FED tightening creating havoc in global currency and bond markets, do you see a slowdown in QT and/or rate increases? While delivering a muted effect on inflation itself, FED actions seem poised to tip off other crises in the world's financial system....is BNS at particular risk because of their emerging market exposure?

Q: Good Morning,

As the market gets beaten down yields on some very good companies are becoming difficult to ignore.

With a recession in sight yields could possibly get even better.

I am retired and an income investor sitting on substantial cash.

What would be your preferred course of action at this time?

What companies would be most attractive to you?

Thanks

Q: I am in my 80's and am changing my investment philosophy.
Can you suggest 6-8 stocks US or Can that would be in a solid l-o-n-g term growth and income portfolio. I would particularly like stocks that have recently been a little soft.
Thanks
PB

Q: Understanding that we are currently seeing significant negative sentiment and volatility, can you please rank your current top Cdn and U.S. quality-name buying opportunity candidates that will reward patient investors with 3-5 year time horizons?

Q: I've been curious about the Buffett Indicator (the ratio of total stock market valuation to GDP) for Canada. Am I correct in saying that it is about 1.7X or so, whereas it should be closer to 1:1 ? If so, what TSX stocks / sectors are pushing it up so high? I grabbed three large caps from different sectors to have a look at their present valuations...

You mentioned that BNS is historically cheap with a P/B of 1.2, so I'm guessing this one is fine.

If one looks at BCE's present P/E ratio it would be approximately brought back to 2012 levels if today's BCE stock valuation was reduced by "today's Buffet indicator overshoot".

TRP's present P/Cash Flow appears to be fairly high compared to some metrics in the past decade. Again, if the stock price was reduced by that 1.7 factor, maybe the valuation becomes more realistic.

I am only able to compare to metrics going back the past 10 years, so this may be part of the problem. Or perhaps I'm analyzing things wrong here and you have a different way at looking at this (?)

Q: Thoughts on BNS news today with new CEO?

Thx

Q: Based on your response to Douglas today, I am concluding that BNS would be the Canadian bank to buy today. With a yield of 5.78%, P/B at 1.2, an RSI at 31, and trading at a one year low it appears to be a buy candidate. I would appreciate your comments.

Q: BNS has significantly underperformed the other Canadian banks over the last 5 years. From what I understand BNS is out of favour and being discounted due to its Latin American business. In the past BNS streamlined the business by pulling out of smaller countries and concentrating on just a few of the larger growing economy countries. Do you ever see them pulling out of Latin America all together and perhaps pursuing a growth strategy in the United States like the other Canadian banks have done? Or perhaps Asia? How much longer will investors, particularly large institutional investors, wait for this International strategy to work out before they demand a change of direction? Many thanks for the incredible service that you provide.

Q: Based on the answer to Douglas about CDN banks (Sept. 21) would BNS now be considered cheap with the metrics you provided?

Thx

Q: i would like to buy an etf (vanguard) with safety or stock with a high yield during these unsettled times
What would you advise ?.Can you please give me a few choices
GHB

Q: Hi Team,
I am looking for your opinion. I am thinking of adding 5k to my kids RESP after todays ugly selloff. I am banking with the ATB and most of the resp is currently in the atb compass growth fund. My question is...do you feel that I am best off adding to this fund, or buying an idividual stock? As far as stock I was thinking stable growth with a dividend. I had either BNS or SLF in mind. What are your thoughts? Or any other better suggestions as opposed to the ones mentioned? I don't plan on using any funds for at least 2 years. Thanks

Shane.

Q: I currently own the following banks (weightings): TD (5%), BNS (5%), BMO (2%). I'm assuming that swapping BMO (and its 2% weighting) for GSY would be better diversification, correct ?

Would this move create a big exchange of risk ?

Could GSY survive a prolonged economic downturn - eg. is the housing bubble a risk ?

Is today's valuation already pricing in a potential "tough lending environment" ?

In that scenario, would they have an adequate balance sheet survive ?

Q: With all the risks out there in the investing world these days it's hard for me to decide on an investing strategy that I can trust enough that I will hold equities even as they react and go down when each new risk becomes noteworthy. I've decided that the best strategy for me is to develop a list of:
1. high quality
2. inexpensive stocks
3. that pay dividends that are sustainable through difficult times.
Based on this strategy what Canadian companies would you invest in now that fit the criteria? I would appreciate 8 of your top picks.

Q: When looking at historical Canadian bank returns, BNS has lagged significantly. I didn't isolate too many periods, but the longer term you go, the more consistent the underperforming becomes. I understand the past isn't an indication of the future, but perhaps their approach to international exposure just isn't the way to go? There appears to be a lot of conviction for BNS relative to others, does it's poor stock growth relatively not concern 5i? What keeps you the most confident on BNS? If you jumped ship on BNS, which would be the next on that would be in your model portfolios?