Growth stocks: Calian Technologies’ earnings decline in latest quarter

Calian Technologies, symbol CTY on Toronto, operates in two areas: the business and technology services division, which accounts for 71% of the growth stock’s revenue, provides engineers, health-care workers and other skilled professional to clients on a contract basis. The systems-engineering division contributes the remaining 29% of revenue, and sells hardware and software that is used for testing, operating and managing satellite and other communications systems. In its first fiscal quarter, which ended December 31, 2010, the growth stock’s earnings fell 8.8%, to $3.1 million from $3.4 million a year earlier. Earnings per share dropped 6.8%, to $0.41 from $0.44, on fewer shares outstanding. Calian saw slightly lower demand for its higher-profit-margin contract workers. The growth stock’s revenue rose 2.0% to $53.3 million from $52.1 million. Calian holds cash of 26.4 million, or $3.43 a share, and has no debt. The business and technology services division’s revenue rose 2.7%, to $38.1 million from $37.1 million a year earlier. The systems-engineering division’s revenue rose less than 1%, to $15.1 million from 15.0 million. As well, Calian raised its quarterly dividend from $0.22 a share to $0.25. The new annual rate of $1.00 yields 5.4%. You can get our latest analysis, including our clear buy/sell/hold advice, on Calian and dozens of other stocks that may be suitable for the part of your portfolio you devote to aggressive investing in Stock Pickers Digest. What’s more, you can get one month free when you subscribe today. Click here to learn how.

Jim is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for The Successful Investor and Wall Street Stock Forecaster and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Jim has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 1992 and spent more than a decade at the Financial Post DataGroup before joining TSI Network. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.