Lower dollar and cost cuts spur ShawCor

Article Excerpt

SHAWCOR LTD. $24 (Toronto symbol SCL.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 70.4 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; SI Rating: Average) makes sealants and coatings that protect onshore and offshore oil and natural-gas pipelines from corrosion. This business supplies 90% of its revenue. The remaining 10% comes from making industrial equipment, such as electrical wire and protective sheaths. In the three months ended June 30, 2009, ShawCor’s revenue rose 6.0%, to $312.8 million from $295.1 million a year earlier. Overseas customers account for 75% of its revenue, so the company benefitted from a lower Canadian dollar. As well, it prices most of its contracts in U.S. dollars. As a result of these two factors, favourable foreign-exchange rates added $25.1 million to ShawCor’s revenue in the latest quarter. Earnings in the quarter jumped 92.7%, to $34.3 million, or $0.49 a share, from $17.8 million, or $0.25 a share, a year earlier. ShawCor has upgraded its plants…