CAE Inc. $13 – Toronto symbol CAE

CAE INC. $13 (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 252.3 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; SI Rating: Average) makes commercial and military flight simulators. It also operates pilot training facilities in 19 countries. In its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007, earnings excluding unusual items rose 25% to $0.15 a share from $0.12 a year earlier. Revenue grew 6.2%, to $358.3 million from $337.3 million. CAE spends about 9% of its revenue on research, so it’s more profitable than it appears. The $0.04 dividend yields 0.3%. The stock fell to below $3 after 9/11, but rose to $15.25 in July 2007. It now trades at 20.3 times the $0.64 a share it should earn in fiscal 2008. As well, rising fuel costs could slow demand for CAE’s products and services. CAE’s recent restructuring should continue to pay off for years to come. But we’ve reviewed the factors that go into assessing CAE’s Successful Investor Rating, and we’re now taking a more conservative view of those factors. We now rate CAE as Average, down from Above average. CAE is a hold.

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