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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: FFH and ECI have set new lows. Their charts are ghastly and their RSI numbers are in the oversold category, especially FFH. I am now at the point where I am debating adding more funds to these stocks (buy low, right?) or selling them and moving on. Currently they are a small part of my portfolio: FFH 1.2% and ECI 1%. I can see that ECI has fallen with income stocks, but I would appreciate your views on the collapse of FFH stock.
Read Answer Asked by Dennis on November 21, 2016
Q: Hi there

I was thinking of investing about 2.5% of a diversified portfolio in Fairfax Financial as a bit of a hedge on the maket not really going the way it is going now - up. But I see today Fairfax is removing many of it hedging positions betting the market would decline. Two questions:

1) Will this cost them much to get out of these contracts and will this affect their next quarter results?

2) Given it has pulled way back from its highs do you see it as a buy here?

Much thanks

Stuart
Read Answer Asked by Stuart on November 14, 2016
Q: I'm considering an investment in India. What do you think about a long-term (5+ years) in that country? Capital gains are my primary interest. How should I invest there - Fairfax India (FTD.UN), Excel India Growth & Income Fund, INDY or XID? Do you have other suggestions for that market?
Read Answer Asked by George on November 10, 2016
Q: I purchased Sun Life for some exposure to a rising rate environment even though I don't expect rates to increase very much. My concern with Sun Life and other insurance companies is there exposure to Canadian real estate as part of their investments. I know that Sun Life has an active real estate division and they purchased a real estate company in 2015 as well. Do you think this is a risk in the event of a real estate downturn in Canada? Safer to play Fairfax which I understand has zero exposure to Canadian real estate, despite its higher valuation? Am I over thinking things here?

Thanks,
Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 19, 2016
Q: Hello Peter,
Any idea why these stocks:Pacific Insight, Fairfax, Knight, and Stella Jones have been declining of late, especially Pacific Insight. It has been hit very hard after their earnings. Is it a good time to pick up these 4 companies given the current decline? Thanks very much.Umed
Read Answer Asked by umedali on October 11, 2016
Q: Hello Peter,
I was expecting Fairfax, CRH medical, and Constellation to go up significantly after the earnings announcement. Fairfax dipped, CRH and CSU went up slightl. Any comments please? Do you think it is too late to enter Electrovaya at 3.40 or above? Also, do you think Knight (gud) is a type of stock you can buy and hold it for years given the credibility of the management team? Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by umedali on August 02, 2016
Q: Hello Peter,
Can you please explain the various reasons for gold to move higher? One of the reasons i have been reading is deflation. If that is true, it appears that Prem Watsa at Fairfax is betting on deflation. His portfolio supposedly will do well if he is correct. If gold is going up due to deflation, why is Mr Watsa not buying gold? I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks very much.
Read Answer Asked by umedali on May 02, 2016
Q: Hi Peter, Can you please suggest me 5 names based on today's price which I will hold until 2030 and those will have a good growing dividend? Does Fairfax financial qualify? I just mentioned FFH as I am looking for those names that will predictably increase book value and dividend on a 15% CAGR basis for next 15 years. Just want to mention that the changes 5i made to the site is very effective. Great service!!
Read Answer Asked by Sridip on April 18, 2016
Q: Hi Peter, I know the question I am asking is very hard to predict/answer. Although I would appreciate if you give it a shot.

I currently have your growth portfolio and some stocks from your balance portfolio on a margin account. I have some US growth stocks too(like AGN, CERN, BIDU). I have enough cushion but I do have 30% of my portfolio on margin. I would appreciate if you just do not advice me not to use margin(like other financial professionals).

My question is do you think considering all current turmoil and risks looming(US election, oil price, global recession), should I be better off taking some profit off the table? I was reading Prem Watsa's 2016 letter and he was very negative things to say regarding current valuation. Basically what do you think Canadian/US market would be at year end? Do you think there might be some opportunity(like last August or October or like Feb 2016)? I would really appreciate your insight. What would you do in this situation if you are in my shoes?
Read Answer Asked by Sridip on April 06, 2016
Q: Hi,

I am considering buying a FFH bond. I do have some bond ETF's but I like the certainty of a known maturity date when I get my original investment back and the ability to select the company. I have never owned a bond directly and would like your advice. Two concerns: 1) trading fees from BMO investorline seem quite high at 1% plus there is no bid/offer spread so they probably gouge me on that too. 2) Specific to FFH the +3% yield seems high compared to other names which I presume implies it is riskier. I understand FFH have a lot of equity hedges to protect against deflation so wouldn't that mitigate risk? Am I crazy to start down this path and am I missing something wrt to FFH in particular?
Read Answer Asked by Morgan on April 01, 2016