Investment Q&A

Q: I looked at PUR, liked the business, but found it pricey and chose to wait. A bad call I suppose. I realize Xylem will realize cost savings on the acquisition, and will no doubt see opportunities to expand PUR's business within its portfolio, but please help me understand something. I estimate Xylem is paying over 20 times PUR's expected 2017 EBITDA. I thought 10 to 11 times was "high". Isn't $9.00 exceptionally pricey? What can I take away from this? Thank you for your time. Edward.

Q: Hello, I have read your answer to a member asking about AGU today. I hold Agrium and I have just contacted my online broker. He told me that I have 2 choices:
1) the default action is "disposition" (if I do nothing)
2) the "rollover".
He was not in a position to tell me which one of these 2 choices is best for me (non registered account). What would you do? What is the difference between "disposition" and "rollover" ? Is there any tax implications for the investors? Best regards, Gervais

Q: Hello,
What can you tell me about this small cap? Are the fundamentals looking good etc... AKE.cn
Thanks,
Craig

Q: What is your opinion on this company ?

Q: To cut down on the length, let me get directly to the questions. Is your tax lost list periodically updated to add potential new candidates?

In the daily 52 week lows, a number of energy names reappear. Looking at them as part of an out of favour sector rather than a January bump play, what should I focus on? Clearly location is gaining importance but which financial measures would you focus on to start? The industry experts talk of their benchmarks such as excessive debt or value, often based on cash flow. Depletion rates and reserve life , the type and quality of the wells other considerations. Would they cover the basics and above/below what ratios would make you interested to look closer at any company? If not, what would you focus on?
Keeping with the spirit of the season, If one were seeking a last minute shopping list, would you kindly provide your top 1 or 2 best investment ideas in the oil, gas and service sectors? A basic reason why would be helpful and most appreciated.

Thank you for the education, as well as, the very good guidance you provide in making more informed investment decisions.

Season's greeting,
Mike

Q: Do you know of a software program which will give you a visible pie chart to display your portfolio in terms of asset allocation amongst the various sectors in your portfolio? Thanks!

Q: Hi, for my US exposure, I hold the following 3 US ETFs at the following total percentages:

VTI - 50%
VIG - 20%
IWO - 30%

I have $10K USD to add and I'm wondering whether VTI and VIG are too similar or whether I'm fine to add to all 3 and keep the same rough percentages.

Thanks
Robert

Q: Hi Peter: A few months ago Yahoo Finance changed its website resulting in a site that is much less useful and now Google Finance has followed suit. Before Yahoo and Google changed their websites these websites were very useful for giving access to financial statements of Canadian and US companies. Are there any other good financial websites that an individual investor can access that would have quarterly and yearly financial statements?

Q: Is AEM still a hold or is it time to let it go?

Q: How are the dividends from VE and VEE treated from a tax perspective in a cash account, TFSA and a RRSP account.
Many thanks.

Q: Please explain the difference between ENB and ENF.
Thanks for your ongoing excellent service.
Frank

Q: I have a question about FIH.UN

For weeks there seems to be a large seller that trips any momentum the shares develop. Is there a short position developing or any indication of an institution selling.
A recent notice of a shelf prospective is the only other explanation in my view. Some indication in the prospectus that the funds could be used to purchase shares of large sellers.
Could be that shareholders are worried about dilution.
Can you determine which of the above might explain the negative momentum.
What would you estimate fair value to be.

Q: Hi guys
I would like a start a small position , the div is to high ,whats
going on with this trust, or should i go with byd. income
Bob

Q: Hi guys
Is this stock cheap or their something we dont know
div is high would it be a mistake to start a position or
is it better to buy perfds
Bob

Q: So everyday you hear more and more about this blockchain technology, from banks to Wal Mart, using it, and companies now like Microsoft and IBM developing it, so where does a small company like BTL, now over 200M market cap, fit into this with there size. Do they have technology and products that a large company would want and would buy them out at a large premium? Is there another Canadian company like BTL that is developing the products that they produce? Would you say that it is now becoming a BUY?

Q: I own shares in this company. Small cap, no debt, decent growth.
Do you have any impressions about this name?

Q: Please relate briefly to:

1. is it time to reduce stocks in a heavily weighted dividend portfolio
2. assuming it is how would you treat the below L- leave R- reduce I- increase S-sell
3. buy other div. stocks that may fair better in a increasing interest rates economy,

ACR.UN (2%
HOT(0.8%
BEP.UN (4.8%
DRG.UN (5.2
DIR.UN (1.3%
HR (0.8%
NWH.UN (6%
AD (1.5%
AQN (1.9%
ZWE 1.4%
BK (6%
CHE.UN (1.0%
CHR.UN (4%
DR(1.2
PVD(4.8%
SOX (4.9%
STB (1%
MBK(1%
ENB (1.5%
RCI ( 1.2%
PPL (1%
IPL (1.5%
ALA (1.2%
PGI.UN (3%

THANKS
PS

YOU CAN CHARGE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU LIKE.

YOU HAVE NOT ADJUSTED THE EXPIRY DATE AFTER MY LAST RENEWAL

Q: Hi, I am looking to sell my SVM shares to take a tax loss. However, with the price of silver down and a potential bounce that may occur soon, could you recommend a couple alternatives I could buy now to take advantage of any bounce that occurs in the precious metals? I already own AEM and Goldcorp on the gold side. How does First Majestic compare with SVM, besides it being triple the market cap, would it be a suitable replacement? Any better options that may offer more torque in a bounce? Thanks.

Q: Apart from a brief scare because of the GOP tax proposals US home builders have been on a consistent winning streak YTD. What Canadian companies would you recommend in that sector, since here building permits have been soaring recently?

Q: What would you suggest to replace PUR, in comparable sector and market cap and any other best option at this time.