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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 am looking at making my first, (if you do not consider Interpipe) energy investment at 3 to 5% of my RRSP. Looking at the 4 stocks and note , over the past year, WCP up 20 %, SPE and RRX flat and TOG down 10%.
Has the recent noise with RRX changed your opinion ( good or bad)? Dividends are not important. Looking for the stock(s) with rising production and torque to oil prices. Please list in order of best using this criteria. Would owning 2 of these instead of one be better in this case? Thanks

Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on April 10, 2017
Q: RenoWorks (RW-TSXV) develops and distributes digital visualization software for the renovation and new home construction industry - clients can visualize and evaluate various alternatives (e.g. colours, textures, materiels etc.) making it a lot easier to 'close the deal'. They claim that the digital visualization software imaging industry is currently in its infancy with few independent participants who match the breadth of their offerings. Insiders own ~ 50%.

Their year-end (and Q4) report on Friday showed significant progress - Q4 revenue was up 67% yoy with recurring revenue representing 56%. Though still in a net loss situation, they were Adjusted EBITDA positive for Q3 and Q4, as well as for 2016 overall.

Would appreciate your always well-measured take on this microcap.

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Richard on April 10, 2017
Q: I have 2 questions, feel free to deduct 2 points.

1. I would like to add SYZ and CXI to my portfolio. is this a good time to do so or should I wait for a summer pullback? How much more downside do they have. Should I buy them in my TFSA or non-regsistered? The SYZ dividend could be good for the non-registered?

2. For the IT side of my portfolio I own OTC and SHOP, and assume I'll add SYZ. I still need a 4th stock to make my tech holding complete. What do you suggest would go well with these three? Please note I recently sold Enghouse due to the amazon competition and sold CSU after its huge run the last few years, so don't want to add either of these.
Read Answer Asked by Carla on April 10, 2017
Q: Hi 5i Team:
While I have a good sense of how my overall portfolio is performing I am struggling to find an uncomplicated method of assessing the contribution of individual holdings. When I try to apply a formula for CAGR say, I find myself stymied in almost all cases by having bought and sold shares over time,or having return of capital issues, or at the very least not necessarily re-investing the dividends in the same stock over the time frame in question but just somewhere in the portfolio. Can you suggest a workable way to bring some discipline (objective "hard numbers") to assessing the contribution of individual holdings to the overall portfolio given the above types of complications (and more)? If the answer is too involved/lengthy for Q&A perhaps you would consider the topic for a future blog?
Thanks,
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on April 10, 2017
Q: How material is the announcement of a settlement in the dispute over intellectual property (Photon Control Announces Completion of Settlement Agreement with Photon R&D [source: CW]) to the medium-term prospects for PHO?

This has been a long-term, ultimately successful, investment for me which I started buying in 2006 for an average price of $0.18, so volatility is not a big concern.

Thanks for your informative insight.
Read Answer Asked by Steve on April 10, 2017
Q: Currently have no materials stocks. In the recent past I have owned cco, teck.b and hbm but as short term holds on weakness/momentum. Looking to add a longterm hold in materials but I am having trouble falling in love with SJ mainly due to the past 12 month stock, relatively low div of 1% and the general high for the sector PE of 18. CCL isn't a classic "materials" stock although I like the look of the price movement.

Can you make your case for me to jump on the SJ and CCL 5i bandwagon and/or suggest a few other options.

Working on matching the balanced equity portfolio.
Read Answer Asked by Tom on April 10, 2017
Q: Recently some US shipping companies have made major gains. Rather than chase a high performer such as DSX I am interested in its preferred, DSX.PR.B, which is also moving up but more slowly with less volatility and with a high yield of around ten percent. (Another possibility: SB and SB.PR.C) Your advice, please. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Kurt W on April 10, 2017
Q: I hold the above companies (pretty much at equal weights) in my Utilities portfolio. I need to trim because I am overweight in the sector. Perhaps I should reduce the number of holdings by 1 full position. May I please have your opinion. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Terry on April 10, 2017