Dividend Stocks: Extendicare Inc. expands operations, cash flow

Extendicare Inc. has sold its U.S. nursing homes to focus on Canada, where it continues to expand. Its latest financial results show improved revenue and cash flow.

EXTENDICARE INC. (Toronto symbol EXE; www.extendicare.com) owns 62 long- and short-term senior-care facilities that can house 8,464 residents. It manages another 54 residences that are home to 6,426 seniors.

Extendicare also operates 47 ParaMed Home Health Care branches in six provinces. ParaMed’s 10,900 staff members provide nursing care and other forms of assistance to clients who remain in their homes.

In late 2014, the company sold its 156 U.S. facilities for $231.1 million U.S. Extendicare has now deployed the cash from the sale.


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That new spending includes the April 2015 purchase of Revera Home Health for $83.6 million. As well, in late 2015, it bought four senior-care facilities in Ontario and Saskatchewan for $98.8 million. In February 2016, it acquired two more in Saskatchewan for $40.5 million. Extendicare is also building three homes in Ontario for $81 million.

Dividend Stocks: Federal and provincial regs react

In the three months ended December 31, 2015, the company’s revenue rose 27.3%, to $270.9 million from $212.8 million a year earlier. Cash flow rose 10.1%, to $9.7 million, or $0.11 a share, from $8.8 million, or $0.10.

Provinces regulate nursing home fees in Canada, and provincial programs provide substantial funding. Both of these are subject to extensive and frequently changing standards.

However, Extendicare’s cash flow is steady, and it’s in a growing business. The stock trades at 14.1 times the company’s forecast 2016 cash flow of $0.68 a share. It yields a high 5.0%.

Extendicare Inc. is a buy.

For our view on how to pick the best dividend stocks for your portfolio, read How to spot the best Canadian dividend stocks.

For our recent report on another Canadian dividend stock, read Toromont Industries raises its dividend.

Scott is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for Dividend Advisor, Power Growth Investor and Canadian Wealth Advisor and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Scott began his investment and financial career working with Pat McKeough at The Investment Reporter in the 1980s. Subsequently, he worked at the Financial Post Corporation Service for 10 years. He joined TSI Network in 1998. He is a Bachelor of Economics graduate of York University, and he also has an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business.