CGI adapts to cloud computing

Article Excerpt

CGI GROUP INC. $64 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 295.3 million; Market cap: $18.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.cgi.com) is Canada’s largest provider of computer-outsourcing services. It helps its clients automate routine functions such as accounting and buying supplies. That makes those companies more efficient and lets them focus on their main businesses. More of CGI’s clients are shifting their operations to cloud-computing systems; that’s where they use remote servers to run More of CGI’s clients are shifting their operations to cloud-computing systems; that’s where they use remote servers to run software and store data files online. In response to those changes, the company plans to speed up the development of new software products and cut around 2% of its workforce. CGI expects severance payments and other costs will total $165 million. To put that in context, it earned $278.5 million, or $0.93 a share, in its fiscal…