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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'm sitting on a +/- 50% loss on both CCO and WJX and have been waiting for some sign of life for several years. Is it time to accept defeat and move on? I'm also holding on to a smaller loss on CXI. If I sell it I need to replace it with some other financial. What would you advise? Also, my CSI has grown to approx. 8% of the portfolio. Do I sell some to cover the other losses even though it's my best performer?
Thanks, Rod
Read Answer Asked by Rod on August 21, 2017
Q: I am beginning to think that the market is starting to factor in a permanent reset (downward) in the evaluation of all things to do with the oil industry - service cos, drillers, e&p, integrated, midstream and pipelines.

The 2 basic elements of economics seem to be working against oil. SUPPLY is in excess with easy access shale. DEMAND is poised to fall with the sooner than expected arrival of affordable electric cars. Shell Oil expects peak demand for oil is a decade away. Prices will reflect this reality long before then.

Do you believe this to be true. Is it time to wean off oil stocks. Is this why IPL is yielding 7%?

Thanks

Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on August 21, 2017
Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
I know you are value investors who look for companies who appear to have positive momentum. So BB is not exactly your forte. So I have an impossible question for you. All factors considered ...taking risk and there patients into account...at what price do you think BB is worth right now. I realize the market is loosing patience and it has fallen in the past several months. So it is a $10.00 stock...a $8.50 stock...a $7.00 stock...I know impossible to say...but please just give your best guess!
Thanks a ton!
Dr.Ernest Rivait
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on August 21, 2017
Q: Hi Peter and team

I was thinking of starting a position in DR after the last Q report (and I wish I had) but I found something in the financials (from morningstar.ca) that gave me pause:

Earnings per share: $.46
Earnings per share (diluted): $.18

The diluted share count did grow by 8,000,000 (or roughly 25%) but that doesn't account for the difference in per share earnings. Was there a share offering? How should I interpret the bigger difference in per share earnings versus share count?

Thanks
Peter
Read Answer Asked by Peter on August 21, 2017
Q: Convertible bonds are obviously not exactly the same as corporate bonds due to the possibility of converting them into common stock. I was wondering if they are treated exactly the same as the other bonds a company may have issued as long as they are still in the bond form? That is are they they still guaranteed to be paid as long as the company is solvent and are they at the same debt obligation level as other bonds issued? Thanks you.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on August 21, 2017
Q: This is my dilemma I already hold 32 stocks. I own the above stocks with full positions in SBUX and MG and 1/2 position in AMZN to make up the consumer discretionary portion of my portfolio for a goal of 10%. This currently makes up 8% of this sector. My question is do I add to AMZN for a full position or add another stock? I own most of the stocks in the balanced portfolio and if I would follow that TOY would be your choice if I add another stock(I think) or would you add something else to the mix if adding another stock makes sense. My $US/$CAD mix is pretty much in line with what I want so I could go either way on that option. Thanks for the opinion in advance.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on August 21, 2017
Q: Manulife Class-action has a settlement amount of $69,000,000 to be distributed among shareholders past and present April 1, 2004 to October 9, 2017). It has 2 billion shares outstanding. I have 350 shares which I have held for five months. Since the shares are in insurance company, pension fund, ETF and mutual fund portfolios, is it worth filing a claim. I predict a payout of less than $10 (if any) as many shares have been sold in the 13 year time lapse.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on August 21, 2017
Q: Hello,
I currently hold a DRIP Portfolio consisting of BAM.A,BNS,RY,MFC,SU,FTS,RCI,ECA,TRP,and POT. I have found this style of investing quite profitable and am looking to add a couple names. I'm considering WSP and TCN. Given the names I already own and the valuation of the two companies, which one would you suggest? Can you think of any other companies that might be a nice addition? I have a 15 year time horizon. Thanks for your awesome service.
Read Answer Asked by Curtis on August 21, 2017
Q: I am a new member. So, sorry I am not familiar with how reports get published. I just read report on TPK with C rating. This is my own preference but as a member, I would like to know about the companies with possible good future growth which can enhance our portfolio value. In that perspective, the reason behind publishing report on TPK.And how would this report is helping me.
Thanks so much, I am a big fan of your questions-answers, and you guys are doing fabulous job.
Read Answer Asked by Pradip on August 21, 2017
Q: Although I have referenced AQN and FTS in this question, I am hoping you can apply your answer to utilities in general.

My question is how do these companies operate such that some are considered to have good to great growth potential while operating in a sector that tends to be highly regulated in terms of pricing power. The major companies tend to be acquisitors. However, unlike other industries, buying another company doesn't improve pricing power, eliminate competition or reduce selling costs through operating synergies (or at least I don't think they do.) Ontario Hydro's purchase of a company in the US northeast comes to mind here.

I can see that financially, larger companies may have lower costs of capital and higher cash flows which could lead to quicker modernization and better upkeep of equipment but is there more to it than that? What am I missing that makes AQN a growth story and not just a dividend producer?

Appreciate your insight.

Paul F.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on August 18, 2017