IGM FINANCIAL INC. $42 - Toronto symbol IGM

IGM FINANCIAL INC. $42 (Toronto symbol IGM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 262.5 million; Market cap: $11 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.2; SI Rating: Above Average) is Canada’s largest independent mutual-fund company. It manages $108.5 billion of assets. Power Financial (Toronto symbol PWF) owns 56.4% of IGM. The sharp drop in stock prices has hurt IGM’s profits. In the three months ended March 31, 2009, its earnings fell 36.8%, to $133.5 million from $211.2 million a year earlier. Earnings per share fell 35.4%, to $0.51 from $0.79, on fewer shares outstanding. Revenue fell 21.7%, to $559.1 million from $714.2 million. The company continues to do a good job of hanging onto its clients. In the first quarter, the redemption rate at its main Investors Group division was 7.7%, among the lowest in the industry, and down from 7.9% in the last quarter of 2008. IGM is in a strong position to benefit from the recent market rise. It now trades at 18.6 times the $2.26 a share it will likely earn this year. That’s a reasonable p/e in light of its loyal clientele and high market share. The $2.05 dividend yields 4.9%. IGM Financial is a buy.

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