Investment Q&A

Q: I am a retired dividend-income conservative investor, with a diversified portfolio consisting of mostly dividend producers (AD, AQN, ALA, BCE, BNS, CGX, CPG, PBH, RY, TRP, WCP, WEF, WSP, ZLB, XIT, Sentry Cdn Inc, Sentry REIT, RBC Cdn Equity Income, TD Health, Insured annuities, Fisgard Capital).

Now that CPG has virtually no dividend, I have a couple of options:

#1 = hold and wait for the eventual rebound in oil and the associated reinstatement of the dividend.

#2 = sell CPG, capture the significant capital loss and invest the proceeds into another energy name. Please provide 3 dividend names, like VET, who you believe the dividend "should" be safe (if there is such a thing as safe).

#3 = sell CPG and reinvest proceeds in non-energy. I currently have roughly 9% of my equity portfolio in energy.

What would you recommend...hold of sell?

Thanks,
Steve

Q: Recently the share price has been on a tear. Perhaps in overvalued territory and time to take profits?

Q: Why is the stockprice stagnating?what are the metrics here and are they losing their cash cushion?
When are their results due and what do you know about insider selling/buying.
Would you put this in a tsfa?or in non reg.

Q: Hi there - with the recent run up on the stock price, would you think it is okay to buy in here (closed at 52-week high of $26.88), or would you wait for a pull back? If so, what would be a good entry point. Thanks!

Q: I am thinking about purchasing MRU and from your answers to other's questions you seem to like it well enough. My concern is that I also own ATD.B & back in Oct/15 you stated that Metro owns some ATD shares (I think you said 22% of ATD). I would like to know what %age of the Metro price depends on ATD. If you are able to give me a number I would appreciate it, and would also be interested in where to find the information.

Q: Epic collapse by Performance sports. Under $4 with a strong rebound yesterday. My question is whether this company is an obvious rebound candidate - even if only as a target for a larger company to buy for something in the 8-10 range.

Is this a solid trade to capitalize on an over reaction in the market or am I better off playing roulette?

Thanks

Q: can I have your comments on pbh results.
Stan

Q: From some recent comments I suspect I have too high a percentage in oil and gas shares (15% directly in oil and gas companies and 8% in services, including pipelines, of which 5% is TransCanada (TRP)), I was contemplating making a shift to other sectors. I was thinking of purchasing some Enghouse (ESL) or CGI Group (GIB.A) for my TFSA account replacing some oil stock. I noticed that last summer you strongly preferred ESL over GIB.A due to better management and no debt despite some poorer metrics i.e. price to cash flow, PE ratio, etc. You have included this name in your model Balanced portfolio with an A- valuation thus is a very strong recommendation. Does your opinion still remain the same at present? Also, I have noted that recently there have been price reductions in some tech stocks, which you have partially explained by sector rotation. If this is an issue should I wait for drops to completely occur or purchase now. If now and your opinion is still very high on ESL, I will plan to purchase some Enghouse shares. CGI Group (GIB.A) shares constituting approximately 0.5% of my family’s stocks (9 different accounts) were purchased two years ago for my TFSA account. Would you also recommend selling my GIB.A and consolidating in ESL. Thank you very much.

Q: On Feb 26 Tamara submitted a concern about the doom and gloomers and her positive approach to investing in spite of their opinions. We too remain invested: 50% in farm land and 50% in stocks (of this 75% is in blue chip dividend stocks and 25% in higher risk stocks that we are transitioning out of and adding to the blue chip category as we near retirement age). Your guidance on sector allocation has been invaluable.
Of concern to me is this:
1. on a scale of 1-10 where do you rate the potential for a world wide currency collapse. I have read it is not if but when.
2. I cannot get my head around what this would look like. For the average person what would be the impact to daily living. It seems in Canada we remain fairly "sheltered " from physical harm.
3. I have read it is advisable to hold gold for safety in economic uncertainty. So gold stocks or the commodity - actual physical gold? How would one use it to buy what we need daily? That is another thing I can't get my head around. It just seems impractical. How does one buy gold?
4. Which is the better option in this uncertain economic climate: to be fully invested, to hold cash, to hold gold, to hold a combination of these and in what ratio.

We remain positive in the future and fully invested but are we on the right track? Is there something we and other readers should be doing to weather what the world economic factors may send our way. Your comments would be appreciated.
Lou

Q: Hello Peter,

Can you comment on ESL year end release

Thanks
Kevin

Q: What can you tell about it's recent acquisition? It looks like it is trying to expand it's geograhic footprint - Ontario - perhaps open some branches at some point? How are they paying for this acquisition? I already own all five Canadian banks in my RIF and Non-registered accounts, and have for many years - added to positions in early 2009; however, I was thinking of buying this bank for the upside when oil slowly makes it's way back up again & the AB economy picks up.
Comments please & thank you ... JP

Q: GGG seems to be on the cusp of radical new products.Your last comment on the stock in response to a question in 2014 was not positive.Has anything changed with the company concerning products,markets,cash on hand,debt,& prospects for the future?Would it be good for long term investors or should we run?
Thanks ,as always, for your valuable information
Dave

Q: What is your opinion of the Q4 earnings report, and how does it compare to that of MRE?

Q: Dear Sirs,

Could you please comment on the holdings og BGI.un, specifically as it pertains to their ownership of MLP's in the U.S. and if this is the case , the percentage of the fund devoted to this asset class.

Best regards,
Brads

Q: Could you comment on tricon's latest quarter. I have a half position (down 20%).Good time to add to get full position?

Q: Hello, I just read your updated report on NAL. What percentage of their revenue comes from the oil sector ? Considering they are reducing their workforce, would it be difficult for them to grow again when the market turns ? What oil price do they need to get their business going again (rough estimate if possible) ? thank you, just looking for general comments.

Q: Hello, I have this left over from the days of having a broker/advisor. This fund has a management fee of 1.6% and an MER of 1.84%. It appears to be a "fund of funds" and and the information presents that it is to emphasize income wiht some potential for capital appreciation. The returns have been (starting in 2011) 4.8%, 4.3%, 2.9%, 6.9% and .1%. Seems the return/performance has been lacklustre at best and would it not be better for me to put some of the monies in a bond etf and the rest in either a stock etf or individual equities? Recommendations for the bond etf? You thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you. Bill

Q: What are your thoughts on Valeant? Based on Bill Ackman's valuation, it seems that the market is drastically undervaluing this company.

Link to his presentation: http://assets.pershingsquareholdings.com/2014/09/Investor-Call-re-Valeant-Pharmaceuticals.pdf

Q: After languishing in the 55 cent range for months, the stock price has recently increased. On March 9th it seems to have gone up to 71 cents, (18% rise) on double the normal trading volume. I can't see any specific news. Any ideas ? Is this a sector rally ?

Q: Good morning

Can you provide an updated investment opinion on this company. It has been performing very well for a technical perspective llately.Do the potential rewards outweigh the risks at this time?

Keep the beard Ryan!