
Billy 5i Research Coverage at 5i Research
Member since: Aug '20 · 3118 Opinions
The deal prices tonight. Yesterday's major contract (comments posted) requires capital to execute, and they're comfortable with the company maintaining financial flexibility. They view yesterday's rally as excessive and today's decline as overdone. With a 45-50% conversion premium across two tranches, dilution is limited unless the stock rises 45%+ (though they doubt investors would mind in that scenario). Coupons are low and provide tax-deductible interest. The stock's volatility remains frustrating, but they believe this is the right move following such a significant contract win. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
The Saskatchewan data centre is positive news, but represents short-term pain for long-term gain. The deal reduces BCE's free cash flow this year from $3.5B to $2.3B, with $1.7B allocated to the project. For investors worried about capital expenditures, this may be troubling. However, it's likely the right long-term strategic move to generate higher-growth diversified revenue. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
WSP only provides breakdowns for its EMEIA division, which encompasses Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa. This division represents roughly 30% of revenue (pre-acquisition). WSP maintains a solid presence in Qatar and the UAE. They estimate total regional exposure at 4-7% of revenue. While this presents some risk, it's unlikely to be material given the nature of long-term contracts that can take years to convert into revenue. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
A dividend suspension should certainly be viewed negatively. "Temporary" pauses have been known to last several years. EPS of 24c beat the 10c estimate, and revenue of $25.6M topped the $22.6M forecast. EBITDA of $6.5M came in 33% above expectations. MCB is preserving capital due to the Middle East conflict, with two-thirds of its backlog tied to the region. The company has also identified roughly $2M in cost savings through workforce reductions and other measures. The balance sheet remains reasonably sound, though trailing twelve-month cash flow has turned negative. While not catastrophic, its small size introduces additional risk, and investors will likely stay away during the ongoing conflict. They would rate it a HOLD given its cheap 6x earnings valuation, as the conflict will eventually resolve. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
The private equity sector has been hit hard with concerns about software loans. The war and potential for higher inflation have added to investors' concerns. Company-specific, BLK recently halted redemptions on one of its funds, and this caused more angst. We would HOLD. Recent news was not great but sentiment is so low any good news would move the stock up. In addition, market volatility can create opportunities. This is not its first crisis. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
EPS of 78c topped the 74c estimate, while revenue of $1.91B fell short of the $2.11B forecast. EBITDA of $1.08B missed by 1.4% and declined 14%. Revenue dropped 11% and cash flow decreased 4.5%. Guidance was unchanged. Results were clearly mixed, but investors are forward-looking, and consensus projections call for roughly 10% growth this year. The stock remains appealing, particularly in a declining interest rate environment. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
DCI is a solid mid-cap industrial with a strong long-term track record. Filtration isn't glamorous, but the company has performed well, with shares up 34% over the past year. It trades at 22x earnings with a 1.31% yield and maintains a healthy balance sheet. EPS growth is expected in the 10%+ range, though the recent quarter disappointed and weak guidance triggered the stock's largest single-day decline in six years. EPS guidance was lowered to $3.93-$4.01 from $3.95-$4.11. A modest reduction. The stock may drift near-term, but they would view it as a buy for long-term investors. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
Revenue jumped 45% year-over-year to $20.3M, driven primarily by the DS Consultants acquisition and increased activity in core markets, particularly mining and military-related WaterTech projects. Gross margins fell to 28% from 33% the prior year due to a revenue mix shift, and the company posted a small quarterly net loss. Shares declined following the release, though broader markets were also weak. With a small $64M market cap, growth has been robust but margin pressure is concerning. They would prefer to see the stock regain positive momentum before considering it. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
Star Mayan, acquired for $200M last June, has been reflected in recent quarterly results. Year-over-year comparisons for Q1 and Q2 will show strength from the added revenue, though analysts have already incorporated this acquisition into their estimates. The most recent quarter was solid, and the stock trades at a reasonable 21x earnings. It's not a business likely to face AI disruption. Expected EPS growth of roughly 20% this year makes it unexciting but reliable. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
EPS of 50c surpassed the 42c estimate, and revenue of $10.88B beat forecasts by 2%. Results demonstrated Cenovus' substantial expansion through its MEG Energy acquisition, with record upstream production of 917,900 barrels per day in Q4 providing crucial volume protection against softer crude prices. Despite a recent geopolitical boost to oil prices, WTI has averaged $61.40 in Q1, down roughly 14% from Q1 2025. With stable to growing production, operating cash flow will likely face pressure in Q1 and throughout the year without a sustained price rebound. Shareholder returns should remain a focus, but buybacks are expected to moderate from last year's approximately C$2 billion as Cenovus manages MEG-related debt and works toward its C$4 billion net debt target. They remain fully comfortable with the position, though commodity price direction will be critical. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
The production guidance was disappointing, but they're comfortable waiting for the complete financials on March 2nd. EPS is still projected to more than double this year, which along with sector dynamics maintains their interest. Given the uncertainty, they would shift the rating toward HOLD rather than BUY currently, though production fluctuations are routine in the industry and they don't view the long-term outlook as materially impaired. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
Earnings per share of $1.03 beat the $0.94 estimate, and revenue of $2.6B topped the $2.58B forecast. Revenue rose 15% year-over-year, driven by subscription and support sales (roughly 80% of total). Operating margins stayed around 30%, and RPO of $16.0B grew 23%. FY2026 guidance calls for 22-23% revenue growth and EPS of $3.65-$3.70. Investors found the profit outlook conservative despite strong results and raised revenue guidance, though this caution reflected integration costs from major acquisitions. They viewed the results as solid but noted the stock has declined with the broader software selloff. They would consider buying gradually at current levels while acknowledging potential for further downside. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
MELI's forward growth projections are robust, and while historical growth has been strong, it has moderated over time. Margins have improved substantially, and the company produces significant free cash flow. The stock trades at a premium 40X forward earnings multiple, though this valuation has compressed in recent years. They find it attractive at current levels but note risks from geopolitical issues and potential international growth deceleration. They would be comfortable initiating a position here. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
EPS of $0.522 missed the $0.117 estimate, and sales of $127.86M fell short of the $132.39M forecast. Revenue surged over 200% year-over-year, while gross operating margin of 35% improved significantly from the prior year. The company mined 885 bitcoin in the quarter, up 23% sequentially, and generated $4.9M in AI revenue from its BUZZ high-performance computing services. Overall, results were respectable given weaker bitcoin prices and higher network mining difficulty compared to the previous quarter. They would be comfortable holding at current levels. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
The shift has been so dramatic that it's difficult to deny a structural change has occurred. While the absence of insider selling is encouraging, it could simply reflect a blackout period given the severity of the news and upcoming earnings in a week. Though executive talent remains, they wouldn't assume a rapid turnaround is imminent. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free