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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: Hi, Nice to see Constellation software as your Top Pick on BNN !! Just a clarification about Mark Leonard's shareholding: Mark owned 1,436,136 CSU shares as per March 27, 2015 management information circular. Is there a change? You mentioned that he owns $500 mln worth of stock. Also, 17x earnings is current earnings for 2015 or forward earnings? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by rajeev on January 18, 2016
Q: I already hold a very small position of CSU in my TFSA that I purchased back in the $370 range (makes up 1% of my total portfolio). Technology is one of the sectors I want to increase my weighting in (7% currently, looking to go to 10%). Other Tech names held are GOOGL, ESL, AAPL, AVO, SYZ. I would add to GOOGL but paying +40% in USD at this point doesn't make it so compelling. So with it's recent pullback I'm looking at adding CSU. Can I have your straight up thoughts on adding CSU here? Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Richard on January 08, 2016
Q: I received this message today and wonder if you can explain its meaning more fully please. I hold the stock and debentures. Thank you.


Constellation Software Inc. Announces Rating Assignment by Fitch
Jan 06, 2016 01:44 pm | Scott Denneny

Toronto, Ontario – January 6, 2016 – Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU) announced today that Fitch Ratings has assigned the Company a long-term issuer default rating of `BBB-´with a Stable Rating Outlook. Fitch’s assigned rating and outlook for the Company does not reflect any credit risk from the Total Specific Solutions (TSS) entities, other than obligations related to the TSS minority owner’s put options.

Fitch has also assigned individual ratings to the Company’s unsecured subordinated floating rate debentures, Series 1, and $300 million revolving credit facility as follows:

Unsecured subordinated floating rate debentures, series 1 `BBB-´
Revolving credit facility `BBB´
About Constellation Software Inc.



Read Answer Asked by Ann on January 07, 2016
Q: Hello Peter and 5i team members,

I have CGI group in my portfolio representing about 4% of my RRSP account.Now I would like to add 1 or 2 names in IT sector to bring up my sector weighting to about 10 to 15%. Could you please provide some recommendations for a long time holding (say 5 to 10 years)? Thanks.

Wish you and every one of your team a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Lin
Read Answer Asked by Lin on December 21, 2015
Q: What is the max weighting in any particular stock you would recommend holding before selling.

For myself I hold between ~50-60 different stocks.

Is this too many, and should I get into 30 or 40 positions, or what is the optimum amount of positions.

With this many positions should I get rid of ETF's as I should be diversified enough?

I have smaller than full positions for more risky and growth names, and i have up to 5.5% for stocks such as CSU and CCL.

Is it okay to let these run longer and up to what percentage of a portfolio?

I know you don't know my exact situation but I am looking for some boundaries or rules that I should follow?

For example: Optimum amount of positions for a diversified portfolio, and max weighting in any one stock. If diversified enough would you recommend letting go of ETF's. I hold 6 ETFs each at around 2%.

Thanks, Colin.
Read Answer Asked by Colin on November 08, 2015
Q: I was hoping to get your thoughts on Venator's position on CSU:

http://www.venator.ca/uploads/FEB_2015__Final_.pdf

"I just don't like paying for acquisitions that haven't happened yet, and when you pay more than 20x earnings for an otherwise no growth company that is exactly what you are doing. This is why we own Open Text but not Constellation Software. If Open Text doesn't make an acquisition for the next two years it might drop about 10%, putting its valuation on par with Oracle (to name another low growth consolidator); the same scenario played out with the aforementioned Constellation Software would send that stock down over 30%."

CSU's share and earnings growth is largely based on its excellent ability to acquire businesses and less so on on its organic growth. If CSU is unable to acquire companies at the same pace (the larger it gets, the bigger the acquisition required to make an impact), would this not cause a material negative affect on its valuation?
Read Answer Asked by Arneh on October 14, 2015
Q: Read the recent questions re: CSU so will reframe mine as follows:

1. Globe investor shows forward PE at a very reasonable 16.3. Do you concur?

2. The stock has been trading in a range between 530 and 600 for the past three months. CSU has been a massive win for me but has shot up to 13% of my portfolio which I know is too high. It's probably time to abandon the "let winers run" approach and take some money off the table but the real question is this: knowing that a share split is not in the cards per the CEO, and with a tiny yield, have we had our fun? i.e. Do you see a scenario where the stock retests 600 let alone surpasses it?

Thanks as always for your insight.
Read Answer Asked by Kim on October 12, 2015
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