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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: Peter is riding across Canada this September in support of Childhood Cancer, All of us have made a lot of money from this wonderful website; let's donate to Peter's journey. In addition, Peter is matching our donation. Let's see how much we can raise for cancer. Go Peter!
Read Answer Asked by stephen on March 02, 2014
Q: Hello!

About half a year ago, a question was asked for your top ‘pound the table buys’ at the time, you suggested Home Capital, Tourmaline, Contrans Group and Enghouse. I purchased all, and they have all done incredibly well in the past 6 months, thank you! I am looking to deploy new capital for RRSP contributions into a relatively balanced portfolio filled with 5i companies, is there anything out there that you would classify as a screaming / “pound the table” buy right now based on current valuations for an average to above average risk investor with a multi year time horizon?

Also, I’m slightly underweight in retail exposure, do you have a top pick or 2 in this sector?
Read Answer Asked by Fay on March 01, 2014
Q: Could I get your opinion on closed end funds in general and if you might be able to suggest any. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on March 01, 2014
Q: This is a fracking related question.

First the backgound for this question: my understanding is that fracking requires a "special" type of sand. I am not sure of the name or term for that sand, but I also understand that it is only found in a few areas in North America. These areas include Wisconsin where this sand is part of the soil on many of the state's dairy farms. Also, this sand is apparently found on the Canadian side of the border in provinces like Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

The questions:
1. Am I correct on the main points here?
2.Would you see significant increases in demand for this product as the US works towards energy self sufficiency?
3. Are you aware of any stocks, or can you recommend stocks - Canada or US - that would enable an investor to capitalize on this niche market.

Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on March 01, 2014
Q: RE: Bill on CSU split

I don't understand the obsession with CSU stock split. I am happy with the dip as it allowed me to buy a few more shares at the price of 2 month ago. As a small investor, I bought 11 shares at $222. It cost me $9.99 for the trade - same as if I had bought 100 shares at $22 (assuming a 10:1 split).


The only two real benefits with stock split that I see are:

1- Full 100 share lot are easier to get filled on a 'limit' order than fractional lot. Full lot must get priority because I have seen prices go lower than my fractional 'limit' order without it being filled...

2- Spliting stock results in a lower price which is more easy to DRIP (divvy reinvest) if your discount broker requires full shares - like mine does. I am actually happy with HCG 2:1 split because I have sufficient (constant) divvy dollar to buy a full share now at $43 - but could not at $86. But with CSU, even with 2:1 split, the stock price would still be $125...
Read Answer Asked by Jennifer on March 01, 2014
Q: Just a comment regarding the question today from Frank on recent unexplained price and volume movement of Village Farms VVF.
This CBC report (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/california-s-crippling-drought-could-cost-and-benefit-canadians-1.2541844)may contain some clues with respect to possible longer term supply problems with California produce and attendant opportunities for alternate sources of supply. The supply of tomato paste is specifically given as an example. Maybe completely unrelated since it is hardly a startling revelation that would only have occurred to the market in the last few weeks but thought I would pass it along anyway. Cheers.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on March 01, 2014
Q: Peter,
I am trying to find a Canadian website that gives financial ratios of Canadian stocks, Book value/share, cash/share, revenue/share, NTA/share, ect. ect. These ratios will be handy for comparing different stocks in the same sectors. Why is this information not easily available in Canada? If it is not available for free, is there a paid service that can provide these summaries?
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by John on March 01, 2014
Q: How can the average investor determine how much of a stake the company insiders have in the game? Some of us think it's an important factor in making our investment choices.Is it?
Thanks
Garry
Read Answer Asked by garry on March 01, 2014
Q: When you trade in a cash account, will the discount brokerage firm send you a capital gain/loss statement on each transaction made at year end or do you have to keep track of all the transactions yourself ? Thank you for the great service.
Read Answer Asked by Pierre on March 01, 2014
Q: Hi Team I have about 100k to invest for my 82 year old mother. I am strictly interested in income and security. I am not interested in etfs which stock or stocks would you recommend. She already has about 100k divided between CM and GWO which were bought about 10years ago.

Thanks
Mike
Read Answer Asked by Michael on February 28, 2014
Q: Village Farm int. VFF
Could you give me an opinion on vff. It has picked up in price and volume in the last week with no apparent news. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by francois on February 28, 2014
Q: Peter and team, I have a managed RRSP account that I wish to transfer into my self directed account. The account contains some large cap US stocks but mostly medium and small sized Cdn stocks. Is there a preferred strategy to move the account holdings ? I had thought to ask the firm to liquidate and transfer the proceeds but am now thinking the thinly traded small companies would be better sold over time. Is transferring everything in-kind better ? Thanks you.
Read Answer Asked by Paul on February 28, 2014