Investment Q&A

Q: What do you think the end game is for Constellation Software? Will it just keep acquiring more and more companies, or will it eventually be acquired itself?

Q: Hi, any comments on the wild swings of open and close for CSU on Friday ? I know it was the options expiry for the month, and many stocks witnessed large swings. Is there any other explanation for $516.97 open and $500.68 close with unusual large volume at open and close? Has it got anything to do with shorts for this stock? Thanks

Q: Constellation Software closed sharply lower to $500.68 with a substantial higher volume on Friday, crossing below its 50 and 200 days moving average. I am already a share holder at much lower entry price. Does this indicate some coming bad news? Please kindly advice buy/sell or hold? Thank you. Bill

Q: Hi Peter and Ryan,

For an RESP lacking Tech exposure, what would be your 2 top picks at this time.

Thanks

Dave

Q: Hi, CSU earned a lot of praise from analyst community (including 5i)after recent release of solid quarterly results. Most analysts upgraded company outlook and revised their ratings and price targets upwards. The stock responded very well and revisited $589, close to its last high reached in late 2015. However, it could not hold there and over past 10 days has returned to pre results level. I have a decent position and continue to own CSU for long term. But, with such wild fluctuations, I am interested in your comments on TA for the stock. It appears to have again moved into oversold territory with support at $525 and $500. Is the stock presenting another buying opportunity at current levels $525-$530? I know, Tech sector has sold off recently in US and Canada, but I guess there is no other specific reason for this price decline. Thanks

Q: Hi - Does CSU have to keep acquiring more companies to be sucesful or can they grow and prosper with their current lineup of businesses? Thanks

Q: You mentioned in previous member answer that (a high) Return on Equity is one of the more important markers of a well run company of which Constellation Software is consistently one of.

Can you run a screen for other companies in your coverage that exhibit this characteristic?

Q: Re John's question CSU was upgraded by RBC Monday with a $675 target price.

Sheldon

Q: Good Afternoon, CSU finished the day at $535.21. The 52 week
high is $598.00. Do you see it getting back up to the $600.00 area any time soon? Thanks John

Q: Results out today, Feb 17th. From my reading looks great! But what is 5i experts assessment?
Thanks so much.

Q: Could you please analyze and comment on CSU earnings release. I see that company handily beat on most metrics. Still trying to figure out organic growth numbers and a neutral currency organic growth rate. Thanks

Q: Many commentators are concerned growth stocks may retreat in the next while taking a back seat to value stocks. Do you agree? Thanks Bill

Q: When you say that CSU's P/E ration is 17x, are you referring to the E portion from Cash Flow or from Earnings?

Q: Peter and Team,

I've been a holder of CSU for a number of years, trimming the position as it gets overweight in the portfolio. With the recent down draft, I am at approximately 4% weighting.

Any thoughts on topping up the position and, further, why the big downdraft in the stock now? I have seen these down drafts with CSU leading into earnings announcements in the past only to have them beat and the stock rallies a lot in the following weeks.

Thoughts? Is this a case where we should sell and wait on the sidelines until we see a bottom start to form from a technical perspective and then buy back in?

Q: Hi,
Jason Donville was on BNN this morning and mentioned that Veritas had done a report on CSU with a sell recommendation. I don't see anything on the internet on this. Wondering if you've seen the report and if you have any comments on the content of the report. Thanks.

Q: Is there anything in particular causing the big drop in CSU the past couple of days. Seems odd with many tech stocks going up that this one is heading down. Thanks.

Q: Hello team. CSU appears to be in a downward trend for the last 5 days. Is this because shareholders want to lock in gains in a down market to balance their losses or is this a rotation out of thecnology stocks and into oil and resources. I note that ESL, DSG are also behaving similarly. I am a long term investor and want to better understand what are the drivers pulling these well performing companies in a downdraft. If there is a particular concern in the technology sector what might this be and what should one expect. Aside from this other recently well performing stocks such as Stella Jones and CCL Industries are on a downtrend and if these are lumped together with the other stocks mentioned above appear to all be selling off. What can you share with us and how would interpret my observations.

Thanks for your detailed insights.

Joseph

Q: Mr. Hodson, CSU 487$ ?

Q: Hi, I have owned this stock for a long time and I highly respect Marc Leonard's disciplined approach to growing Constellation to a CAD$ 11 billion company over years. However, since late 2015 and more recently in past few weeks, stock appears to show signs of exhaustion. After reaching a high of $595, a few times in 2015, stock price seems to be range bound between $495 and $525, with a day time low of $485 during January 18 market sell off. I do not wish to reduce/sell my position, but trying to figure out why this stock has been a laggard, recently. Even on the days of market rallies, while many good stocks (several from portfolios) have shown strong bounce back, price action of CSU has been only lukewarm, at best. Do you believe market is grossly underestimating its potential and stock is very underpriced at current levels? what is the short interest in the stock ? Any other comments will be most appreciated. Thnaks

Q: Hi Peter and Team,

With the recent market turmoil and economic conditions expected for the next little while can you name 3-5 companies that you think would be absolute BUYs? Whether they are solid companies that have been brought down with the general market, or ones that can actually benefit from the current conditions.

Thanks,

Jordan