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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: I have a small position in constellation software. What would you think of acquiring some more rights and invest in the debentures by borrowing against the home line of credit? Maybe even convert it to a mortgage amount at a lower floating rate?
The interest rate on the borrowing is a floating rate as is with the debenture and the premium offered with the rate reset would more than justify the risk?
Read Answer Asked by Rajiv on August 24, 2014
Q: Based on yesterday's close Auto Canada's (ACQ) price to book ratio is 7.25 compared to Constellation Software's (CSU) 21.26 and trailing PE ratio is 36.21 compared to 57.47. Considering the nature of each company's business and assets, which I appreciate are comparing apples and oranges, I consider ACQ fully valued however significantly more reasonably priced than CSU. Doesn't the high rate being offered by CSU on the recent rate reset pfd share issue indicate the risky nature of CSU as an investment? How does the market justify a price for CSU that is so high relative to what is supported by their financials? Could I please have your comments?

Duncan
Read Answer Asked by Duncan on August 14, 2014
Q: Peter and Team,

I am a shareholder of CSU and am interested in the debentures they are issuing. I have a few questions: first, does it make sense to buy more stock now to get more rights to get debentures at a $95 per $100 par value or should I wait for the rights to come on the exchange and buy them then? Second, I think the debentures are supposed to yield 7.4% compared on the par value and then reset to 6.5% + CPI annually. Is my understanding correct? Third, I think that the floating nature of this debenture should make its capital value stay pretty flat even in a rising interest rate environment as long as CSU's credit-worthiness is good. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Read Answer Asked by Marc on August 13, 2014
Q: Thoughts on the subordinate debt Constellation (CSU) is offering? Joel Greenblatt wrote a good book on making money in odd deals like this. His thoughts are the big holders create initial selling pressure bc they either specifically invest in equities or the position wouldn't be large enough. Then one could pick up the rights at a discount and to purchase the debt at discount. At $95 for $100 debentures with 7.4% yield your essentially getting a yield of 13.1% annualized in the first year.
Read Answer Asked by Michael on August 12, 2014
Q: Hi Team..Peter - I do hope you are mending. I have sent in a contribution to your cancer ride and have my fingers crossed for you.
First question; I would like to increase my Info Tech holdings to be about 15% of my stock holdings. I own DH Corp, Enghouse, Constellation, Syologist and Avigilon all adding up to 11.6% of my entire 3 PFs (which have most of your 2 PFs stocks and a few extra. Any sugguestions for good growth over the next 2 years or so - small cap is OK! Or I can add to one of the above (which would you suggest?)My second question is I now have 38 holdings including some CBO CDZ ZRE and BYD.UN. Am I now too diversified??
thanks so much for all you do ...get better!
Read Answer Asked by El-ann on June 28, 2014
Q: My question is with respect to growth stocks which we know are rapidly losing favour in a shift to value stocks. In this environment and knowing declines could continue for some time, why would an investor not sell growth stocks and move to value stocks? It doesn't seem to me prudent to keep riding the wave down.But I know market timing is a mug's game.
Also, given its size, is Constellation Software (CSU) a growth or value stock or is it a bit of a hybrid?
Thank you, Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on May 12, 2014
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