Investment Q&A

Q: There have been questions asked about what Buffet would probably buy in Canada and 5i said that it would probably be in the energy sector. I wonder whether you would have an idea whether it might be in the oil side or the natural gas side? What do you think would be a likely target for him?
with appreciation

Q: After holding for a few years, I am up on both these positions. P/E ratios for both still look very reasonable - I'm trying to decide if I should realize some of the gains, or let these winners ride. What are your views on these stocks?

Q: SUncor has suggested that once they reach 12B in debt that they will return 75% of free cash flow to shareholders. As a shareholder I like that. My question is why wouldnt paying down debt be a better marker for shareholders? While I recognize that the Company can write off interest expense against their income, it seems incongruous.

Q: hello 5i:
From both a valuation pov, and knowing these are some of your favourites, and factoring in that TOU is already owned: if looking for an "oilier" name, it appears SU has the best valuation. Not confining your reply to the listed names, would you agree with this assessment?
thanks
Paul L

Q: What are your best 3 choices for Canadian oil and gas companies today for overall return using a one year timeline? Thanks!

Q: With oil and gas being so cyclical, how would one decide when to sell? Any specific indicators associated traditionally with the up or down in that sector?
I have SU and TOU right now. How do you think they will do in the next 6 and 12 months and 3 years, and why?

Q: If you could only buy either SU or TOU which one would you buy?

Thanks

Q: Thinking about selling some suncor and replacing with brookfield infrastructure while it is out of favor, your thoughts please.

Q: Hi gang,
Looking into buying energy stocks. Can you please recommend 3 oil stocks, 3 gas stocks and 3 mix oil and gas 50/50.
Thanks. Alnoor

Q: Need to sell from RESP , Please rank in terms of selling .

Many Thanks

Greg

Q: Hello
Suncor last split in June 2008 and now at its all time high since.
Hold or Sell position and allocate to TOU ?

Q: HELLO PETER AND COLLEAGUES,

Five years ago I was willed a (small) number of shares in Suncor, which seems to have gone through some ups and downs the last few years (more downs than ups when it comes to CEO's replacements and other issues...) but seems to have stabilized somehow lately. Notwithstanding, do you consider CNQ a better run corp with a better chance of success, and should I, for the intermediate time when owning shares in an old fashion energy business still makes some sense, switch my SU position to an equivalent CNQ one? Thank you.

Q: I am currently overweight energy and under in real estate. Which of the above three should I trim or sell completely? It seems ENB is as much utility as Energy and it's rather flat, for me. Love all the Energy dividends. The sole Realty I have is DIR.UN which I'm happy with. Which Canadian REIT's would you suggest and would I be better with a US or European REIT? If so, with one(s)? Many thanks

Q: I’m trying to form a kind of hybrid of the Hodson and the Buffet approach to investing. Hodson: balanced portfolio. Buffet: a few excellent companies. So I would form a fairly balanced portfolio but be overweight considerably in a few.

Buffet says you are buying a piece of a business; you are not buying a stock. He and Munger don’t care about the stock market. They both say you don’t need very many stocks, no more than 5 or 6. They also say their approach is not for the average person, who usually doesn’t know how to value a business and should just stick to EFFs. Their approach is for someone who knows how to analyze and value a business. Peter Hodson and 5i do know how to analyze and value a business. (And in answers to questions 5i has also said several times that the way to build wealth is to own a small concentrated portfolio.)

On the other hand, 5i is all about building and rebalancing a diversified portfolio, covering all, or almost all, sectors. This approach is more concentrated than an ETF, but not as concentrated as a Buffet/Munger small set of quality companies. I don’t know anything about Sees Candy, Geiko, or Coke. But they certainly do.

If Buffet/Munger were looking only at Canadian companies, which few would they want to own? Any size, any sector. Just outstanding businesses.

Q: Can you please provide your thoughts on the stocks listed for a RESP that will start to draw down in 4 years? In addition to these positions the portfolio has a good core position in CDN, US and INTL large cap ETFs. Any that you would get rid of now? If so, please provide alternatives (both Cdn and US).

Q: Dear Peter et al:

Can you give me the names of 3 companies each that fulfill these criteria. I tried to "curate" the list by myself by going through 6 months worth of questions on Energy sector but really couldn't compile a decent selection as the questions exhibited significant variance.

Question # 1.

Mid cap oils (not gas)

Good to great free cash flow

FCF well directed to share buy backs, debt reduction and dividend enhancement.

Solid management
(I know this is subjective but I know that you know the players well!)

Showing good momentum and growth prospects.
You can include a small cap if you think it i soon going to be a mid cap.

Question # 2.

Same criteria but in Large cap oils.

Many thanks.

Q: Is it worth selling a half position in suncor and buying canadian natural resources ? There will be no tax consequences just trading costs.

Q: Considering taking a position (up to 2%) in a dividend paying oil/gas company, and looking at FRU or WCP. Could I get your comments on the royalty structure vs a producer, as well as a comparison of the metrics such as payout percentage, debt, guidance, etc. Do you have a preference, and would you even consider adding an oil producer at this time. I have some ETFs with small positions in some oil companies, but no direct holdings of my own.
Thank-you

Q: I have a RESP for 3 grandchildren under the age of 11.
Would you please suggest 3 or 4 stocks to add or swap with any in the above group. Would prefer a bit more growth. Thank you

Q: With the prices of some oil stocks down significantly in the past 6 months, do you think that some of the larger companies (SU, CNQ, etc) would want to take over some of the smaller players at a nice discount? A bit speculative, but can you identify some of the smaller takeover candidates?