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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: Hi 5I Research team, Trying to read PHM' annual report. Some question marks:
On page 6 : " Revenue for the 12 month period ended September 30, 2015 revenue totaled $71.7 million up $50.5 million from the same period in 2014. The increase in revenue for the year w as driven primarily by the acquisitions of Black Bear, Black Bear North, Black Bear NH, West Home Health, Sleep Management and Legacy Oxygen in 2015, and Care Medical in June of 2014. Combined these acquisitions generated approximately $47.2 million revenue in the year from their respective date of acquisition. In addition favorable exchange rates benefited revenue by approximately $4.1 million." : the numbers seem to indicate an organic growth negative? What am I missing?
Bad debt expense= 6 M$ (approx 8% of revenues): versus 5% of revenue the year before: can we expect this to be a recurring expense? Is this a sign of bad management or a necessary bad that comes with the business?
Impairment of goodwill and customer relationships = 10 M$ : Isn't worrying to decrease the valuation of very recent acquisitions (Legacy, West Home, 0891532BC-a related party transaction, RMG and RMC)? Does it mean they overpaid for these acquisitions, bad allocation of acquisition costs or the new management is cleaning-up the balance sheet when starting their reign?
Stock-based compensation = 9 M$: Is it a one-time expense for the work done during the last fiscal year or is it a recurring expense? Written differently: can we expect other expenses for the acquisitions made in that fiscal year or exclusively new ones for future acquisitions?
Can you explain why and to whom the options were issued over the last +2 fiscal years (nearly 47 M! > 10% of shares)? Is it a way to pay the management in place or is it to pay while making new acquisitions and keep new "acquired managers" motivated?
This company seems to have a good strategy. The current year will reveal if operations are in good hands. But, the price paid for some acquisitions, and its accounting generate question marks. Do you agree?
Thank you for your collaboration, Eric (sorry for the lenght)
Read Answer Asked by Eric on January 18, 2016
Q: Because I am primarily a dividend investor , I don't really have a "sell discipline" for bluechip stocks and simply ride the ups and downs while dripping dividends. This has been painful for pipelines and REITS and banks etc, some of which are down substantially. Some would say it's wiser to sell at breakdown points such as 200 day average, or sell a portion when the stock is up 50%. I have only sold rarely for re-balancing and so have taken some lumps lately. Any words of re-assurance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Read Answer Asked by richard on January 18, 2016
Q: Hi 5i team

I'm trying to put together a excel spread sheet of my portfolio for better analysis based on the financials. What would be the best way to calculate the free cash flow? Is ROIC an important measurement of profitability or is ROA sufficient? Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Cheryl on January 18, 2016
Q: Hello Peter and 5i Team

Your opinion regarding the safety of the dividend for these two REITS please? DRG.UN seems to be holding up better than D.UN in the current sell-off. I could do with some reassurance as D.UN is relentlessly dragged down by market sentiment - is it only market sentiment or is there more to this story to be concerned with ?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by mike on January 18, 2016
Q: current price for this preferred stock is 9.75 with 5% dividend if fund winds down; the original issue price of 10.00 per unit will be paid to the share holder. is this correct or am i missing something. i have shares in dgs.pr , ftn.pr & dfn.pr how would you rate these funds as to saftey of dividend &repayment of orginal issue price
Read Answer Asked by neil on January 18, 2016
Q: I am 68 years old, retired, and rely on dividends for income. I went 100% into cash on December 31st, thereby avoiding the 7.2% drop in the TSX over the past two weeks. Once the dust settles, I plan on re-establishing my previous positions in individual high paying, low beta, small to mid-cap Canadian dividend paying stocks, diversified across most sectors. I prefer Canada over the U.S. for the dividend tax credit, and I prefer small to mid-cap stocks for their monthly payouts. Given the current macro and micro economic conditions influencing the Markets, in your view, is this a reasonable strategy going forward? As always, thank you for your valued response!
Read Answer Asked by Paul W on January 18, 2016
Q: Can you please give your top names (covered by you or not) of fairly-priced companies today, that stand to benefit the most from a lower Canadian dollar? XTC comes to mind as you've mentioned them before. Presuming I needed that sector in my portfolio, would you be buying it now? I'm not one to wait for a bottom in this messy market, or freak out and "sell everything". I liked your comments on BNN yesterday. Cheers
Read Answer Asked by Randall on January 18, 2016
Q: Do you think this company is getting bounced around with the market? If they can deliver on their loan book and free cash, do you see potential with this company? Is patience necessary to see upside given the market conditions, or would you sell for a loss?
Read Answer Asked by Rocky on January 18, 2016
Q: Headlines scream out "Sell Everything" ... but surely there needs to be someone on the other end to "Buy Everything".

I've been slowly dipping in and buying and appreciate the wisdom in your answers to all members questions.

Do you have a gut feel for how long the market sell off will continue? I like open ended questions like these to see where you go with them.

Thanks
Mike
Read Answer Asked by mike on January 18, 2016
Q: The value of PJT.us shares allocated to my RSP is less than a percent of RSP. My options seem to be to leave the PJT shares which were remnants from the 'corpoarte action' by BX , i.e. leave them as is..... OR I could add to the holding. Since PJT is newly independent as a listed entity little history is available to us, the NON-Bloomberg Club :( .
With the panic selling lately (panic that is incomprehensible to me) PJT shares may have become good value . Perhaps now could be an attractive point at which one could add to above-noted PJT holding?

My question is whether PJT is a business whose shares are OK to add to?
Your diagnosis of PJT’s prospects and your opinion would be much appreciated, especially if you deliver your somber (and sober) ruling with gravitas.
Enjoy le weekend. AO: jv dictated
File : Dept: Neurosurgery, Trauma, Rochester NY

Read Answer Asked by Adam on January 18, 2016
Q: hello 5i:
can you advise what type of tax treatment dividends from US REITs, such as OHI, receive here in Canada? From either a registered or open account?
thanks
Paul L
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 18, 2016
Q: Hi
I like to transfer NVS into my TSFA account.I own it since 2003 have a nice cg and would like your opinion on NVS for the transfer
thank you
Read Answer Asked by margit on January 18, 2016
Q: Peter and His Wonder Team
Peter you were great on BNN this week!
I am a little perplexed about the gold sector. Yesterday gold was up $17.50 yet most of the gold stocks retreated. I think this is irregular...why do you think this happened? In particular KGI was down with the rest ...and yet HMY was one of the exceptions to be up!
Respectfully...
Dr.Ernest Rivait
Read Answer Asked by Ernest on January 18, 2016
Q: I am looking to buy up to ten (10) shares of ALA to start a DRIP program for a granddaughter. Could a fellow member perhaps direct me to a web site where one can purchase shares to put in her name. Thanks for all help and knowledge provided by 5i's by professional staff and by fellow members. Thanks, Bill
Read Answer Asked by Bill on January 18, 2016
Q: Good afternoon:
You answered a question about MELI two years ago and stated that you viewed it as "quite risky". Would your view be the same at the current time and current price?
Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on January 18, 2016