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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 would appreciate your take on - The cracks in the Enbridge dividend story by David Milstead in the G&M dated Dec 3, 2017. Some of the key points in the article include (all CAPS from the article):

- ENBRIDGE EMPHASIZES 'AVAILABLE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS' TO INVESTORS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS DIVIDEND. IN CALCULATING THIS MEASURE, IT IGNORES MOST OF ITS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, DEDUCTING ONLY 'MAINTENANCE' CAPEX TO ARRIVE AT THE NUMBER. THAT HAS LEFT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPEX OUT OF THE MEASURE OVER TIME. WHEN ALL OF THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE DEDUCTED FROM OPERATING CASH FLOW, ENBRIDGE POSTS NEGATIVE FREE CASH FLOW IN NEARLY EVERY YEAR. STILL, THE COMPANY PAYS DIVIDENDS — AND ISSUES DEBT, AS WELL.
- For the third quarter, Enbridge reported $360-million in maintenance capital expenditures. Total capex was $1.95-billion. Depreciation, a measure of how much of the company's property, plant and equipment was "used up" in the period, was $848-million.
- In the last 10 years, from 2007 on, it was only in 2016 that Enbridge actually posted positive free cash flow, a paltry $83-million. The 10-year total is a staggering $24.1-billion in negative free cash flow. That's before paying out $7.4-billion in dividends. Perhaps not coincidentally, the company issued almost $25.6-billion in net debt over that decade. It now has $65-billion in debt on its books, including the tens of billions it took on in the merger with Spectra Energy Corp. this year.
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/inside-the-market/the-cracks-in-the-enbridge-dividend-story/article37172663/

I would have expected that maintenance capex would be inline with the depreciation expense. Is Milstead highlighting one of the risks in ENB - ie., that the dividend is solid as long as the market has confidence in the Company and it can raise additional capital each year.

What mid/large-cap companies in this sector would you would recommend that have more conservative financials?

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by rajiv on December 04, 2017
Q: On Nov 28,BNS reported EPS of $1.65 vs $1.66 expected(e) plus offer to buy BBVA for $2.2b.For comparison purposes,CM(2.81 vs 2.59e),TD(1.36 vs 1.39e),RY(1.92 vs 1.87e) & NA(1.40 vs 1.38e).BMO reports on Dec 5.Reportedly,these banks are spending heavily on technology,& at the same time cutting costs.Heard through the grapevine that CM is revamping its system in order to increase both top & bottom line. Please comment on aforementioned offer by BNS.Is BNS still your top pick of the Canadian banks?Thanks for u usual great services & views.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 04, 2017
Q: Your recent report on SaaS players excluded ABT as a "top pick" yet it was a top pick by Peter on a recent BNN appearance. I have been in the red substantially ever since purchasing ABT on that recommendation. What do I do?

Carl
Read Answer Asked by Carl on December 04, 2017
Q: I own pretty much all the stocks in your model portfolio (other than GC, PKI, SJ, and SYZ) and about 1/2 of your growth portfolio. I also own a number of ETFs, including VXC, VCN, VAB, CDZ, SPY, XAW, and VXUS. I was doing a review of my portfolio and noticed that the ETFs above now make up 20% of my portfolio. A couple questions:
1) Are some of these ETFs redundant in my case?
2) What sector allocation would you suggest for 2018?
Read Answer Asked by Eric on December 04, 2017
Q: Many investors expect big tobacco to get into Marijuana stocks. Perhaps liability issues might deter them, but they will need to make up for lost sales and diversify.

I seek your opinion on whether it is worth buying one of the following :
British American Tobacco , Phillip Morris (PM.us), or Japan Tobacco.
I am looking for a company with minimal exposure to the US market. I wonder if PM now has significant adverse exposure to the domestic US market after its acquisition of Reynolds.
I’d be thankful for your insight on which ( ---IF ANY---) would be a good choice for dividend growth over 3 or more years.
If you believe none are worth it right now, I would appreciate your thumbs down , if applicable.
Read Answer Asked by Adam on December 04, 2017
Q: Per the G&M today, Absolute has "...withdrawn a resolution for its upcoming annual shareholder meeting...in order to secure the support of Institutional Shareholder Services to recommend that shareholders of the company vote 'for' all matters to be considered at the meeting." Do institutions hold a significant number Absolute's shares and does this note indicate the company is being "encouraged" to modify its stance in order to retain institutional support? I'm holding a small position at break-even and am wavering on continuing to do so. Your insight would be helpful.
Read Answer Asked by David on December 04, 2017
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