Lower costs enhance Finning’s outlook

Article Excerpt

FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $16 (Toronto symbol FTT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 170.6 million; Market cap: $2.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; SI Rating: Above Average) sells, rents and repairs heavy equipment made by Caterpillar Inc. This includes tractors, bulldozers and trucks. Finning’s major customers are mainly in the western Canadian mining, forest products and construction industries. The recession has driven down the prices of oil and metals. In response, many of Finning’s customers have cut or put off spending on new equipment. As well, some are conserving cash by delaying routine repairs and maintenance. Finning gets 40% of its revenue from services like these. In the three months ended June 30, 2009, Finning’s revenue fell 23.9%, to $1.2 billion from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Earnings dropped 28.9%, to $47.8 million, or $0.28 a share, from $67.2 million, or $0.39 a share. Favourable exchange rates added $0.13 a share to Finning’s earnings during the quarter. That’s because the company…