Investment Q&A

Q: Putting the finishing touches on my porfolio review and trying to decide between Loblaws and Metro. I am a long term investor and don't need income yet but I do appreciate the value a growing dividend payor provides.

As well as MRU has done recently, I am thinking that the Shoppers addition might ultimately provide more growth and profitability for Loblaws. I am thinking of buying only one of them (5% of a balanced, 25 stock portfolio) to avoid having too much diversification but is this a case where a half holding in each is better?

Thanks for the insight.

Paul F.

Q: Which is cheaper loblaw metro or dollarama? I want to pick up a consumer staple in this market. I already own loblaw and was thinking of adding to it.

Q: What would be your top 3 dividend paying picks for a "consumer" related stock based on current value / price and future growth. Thanks!!

Q: Can you please give me your thoughts on this, at $25:

Loblaw Companies Ltd Perpetual Preferred Shares Series B

Issue:
Cumulative Perpetual Second Preferred Shares, Series B - 5.30%

Thanks!

Q: Do you still believe that Loblaws is a good long term hold for growth and dividend income? Which would be your preference Loblaws or Thomson-Rueters?

Thanks

Q: In the Consumer Cyclicals, I hold Linamar, Magna, Disney, DHX Media and a bit of BABA. In Consumer Defensives, I hold Couche-Tard and Saputo.

I was thinking I would sell Linamar from cyclicals and add Loblaw to Defensives, under the assumption that it's probably better at this time to have more weighting in defensives than cyclicals. Does it merit holding both Saputo and Loblaw, given that their charts parallel each other in an upward trajectory, with Loblaw slightly outperforming Saputo since about the end of October. I have a sense, from reading all your answers on Loblaw, that you expect good growth from them. If not Loblaw, would you suggest another name, please? .... or should I leave well enough alone, assuming there is still good growth in Linamar? Thanks for your advice, as always: you deliver a stellar service that is beyond compare!

Q: Is this a good entry point for Loblaws? Thank you

Q: With the plans for a major expansion do you see this as a good time to buy Loblaw?

Q: Wondering which one you prefer for growth with a 5 - 10 - 20 year time frame? Any other companies that you'd pick over these 2 given the time frame / growth profile? I am leaning towards ATD.B because of the opportunity for growth outside of Canada but Loblaws recently announced plans to open 50 new stores across the country.

As always, appreciate the input

- J

Q: The globe and mail lists a p/e on loblaw of over 2,000?.. Is is that overvalued? It is one of a few of my winners in my portfolio. Is it time to trim? I like the shoppers acquisition and the expansion of joe fresh but I have watched all my profits in other stocks disappear and wonder if the same will happen to loblaw with that kind of p/e.

Q: Hi,

I own TD, T, Sun, MLF, PBH, CNR, CPR, ZLB, ZUH, GC, and BCI as well as higher growth US names like FB, DIS, SBUX. I'm looking for another canadian dividend payer with some growth (10%? Annually) and wonder if you feel the pipelines are reasonably priced and which you'd recommend?

Or another area/choice? I tend to avoid resources as they are too volatile for me.

Thanks

Q: Loblaw good earnings report. Would you add to get to a 5% full position?

Q: What is your view on Loblaw? So many analysts comment on them as a food chain ignoring the Shopper's acquisition and PC financial.

Q: In comparing my portfolio to your suggested weightings a couple of sectors need to be rebalanced.

The areas where I have the least exposure are:
1. Consumer Disc/ Staples (Total 15%) vs my PF at 5% assuming I have categorized the stocks properly. Current holdings are DHX, AW.un,CGX and ACQ. What would you add to flush out this sector?
2. Telcos (10%) vs my PF at 2%. I do hold T and BCE. Should I just add to these or do have additonal suggestions?

The adjustments will be done over a period of time as much of the new buys will be funded by selling energy stocks where I am sitting at a 21% weighting - even with pullback in this sector. (Another argument for diversification. I thought I was so smart earlier this year with a heavy energy weighting. Live and learn!)

Thanks yet again for you help.

Q: What do you think of all the changes going on at loblaw L? It hit a new high today. I really like loblaw finally and am thinking of adding to my position. I know they need to integrate shoppers but with all the joe fresh stores opening up and the dividend money they keep getting from their choice REIT I see nothing but upside on loblaw. Agree?

Q: Hello Peter,
I sent in a question a couple of weeks ago but didn’t receive a reply… so here goes again:

I was a bit surprised by some of your stock selections for the Income Portfolio, and also by some of the exclusions.

Loblaw, for example (a low margin business with big competition, small yield and only recent dividend increases) made the portfolio while companies in a somewhat similar space like THI, PBH, NWC, HLF, CSW, ADW, BPF (having generally higher yields/better 5 year dividend growth) did not. Can you explain why Loblaw?

If I follow your advice, is there a particular company in the names I mentioned that you feel would be best switched-out to acquire L?
Thank you very much,
Paul

Q: I am considering taking a position in CTC-A, but note that it is not in your portfolio. I also own Loblaws - L - which is not covered. What is your opinion on these two stocks?

Q: Hi team:
playing defense with respect to the risk of china's banking collapse. What would be your suggestions as per sectors and companies that would be least vulnerable to china sharp down turn especially the banking system.
thanks
Yossi

Q: I have been a loyal loblaws shore holder for years. So why when they "spun off" Choice Properties REIT last July I not get any actual shares of the REIT. They units yield over 6% and loblaws controls 80% of the units. I think they made about $4 mill from the IPO. The stock when up on this deal. Can you explain how existing shareholders benefit from this arrangement.

Q: With the lobaws purchase of shoppers drug mart (SC) on track to be officially complete this year, I would like to know if the current share price of either company has already accounted for the takeover or is there some upside potential of either stock.

Thank you.