price to sales ratio
MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. (Toronto symbols TPX.A $62 and TPX.B $62; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 183.9 million; Market cap: $11.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 2.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.molsoncoors.com) continues to make progress integrating StarBev LP, which it bought for $3.4 billion in June 2012 (all amounts except share prices and market cap in U.S. dollars). StarBev owns nine breweries in central and eastern Europe.
These savings are helping Molson Coors offset slowing beer demand. In the third quarter of 2013, its earnings rose 7.7%, to $268.1 million from $248.9 million a year earlier. Due to more shares outstanding, earnings per share gained 5.8%, to $1.45 from $1.37. However, sales fell 2.0%, to $1.17 billion from $2.0 billion.
The class B shares have less voting power to elect directors than the class A shares, but they are more liquid and receive the same dividend.
...
These savings are helping Molson Coors offset slowing beer demand. In the third quarter of 2013, its earnings rose 7.7%, to $268.1 million from $248.9 million a year earlier. Due to more shares outstanding, earnings per share gained 5.8%, to $1.45 from $1.37. However, sales fell 2.0%, to $1.17 billion from $2.0 billion.
The class B shares have less voting power to elect directors than the class A shares, but they are more liquid and receive the same dividend.
...
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD. $164 (Toronto symbol CP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 175.4 million; Market cap: $28.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.8; Dividend yield: 0.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cpr.ca) is selling 26% of the track miles of its Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) railway, which carries grain, fertilizer and other products between Minnesota and South Dakota.
The company acquired DM&E in 2008 for $1.5 billion. It decided to sell this portion as part of its new plan to focus on its more profitable rail lines. It will receive $210 million U.S. when the deal closes later this year. That’s equal to 69% of the $331 million (Canadian), or $1.88 a share, that CP earned in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
CP Rail is a buy....
The company acquired DM&E in 2008 for $1.5 billion. It decided to sell this portion as part of its new plan to focus on its more profitable rail lines. It will receive $210 million U.S. when the deal closes later this year. That’s equal to 69% of the $331 million (Canadian), or $1.88 a share, that CP earned in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
CP Rail is a buy....
DUNDEE CORP. $19 (Toronto symbol DC.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 54.1 million; Market cap: $1.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.dundeecorp.com) owns businesses in the wealth management, real estate, natural resource and agriculture industries.
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, Dundee earned $2.6 million, or $0.01 a share. That’s a big drop from the $21.2 million, or $0.34 a share, it earned a year earlier. Dundee’s earnings fell on higher costs as it expands its agricultural businesses. Revenue fell 14.5%, to $41.2 million from $48.2 million.
Dundee is still a buy....
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, Dundee earned $2.6 million, or $0.01 a share. That’s a big drop from the $21.2 million, or $0.34 a share, it earned a year earlier. Dundee’s earnings fell on higher costs as it expands its agricultural businesses. Revenue fell 14.5%, to $41.2 million from $48.2 million.
Dundee is still a buy....
CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. (Toronto symbols CU [class A non-voting] $37 and CU.X [class B voting] $37; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 260.1 million; Market cap: $9.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadianutilities.com) distributes electricity and natural gas in Alberta and Australia. It also operates 18 power plants in Canada, Australia and the U.K. ATCO Ltd. (see page 14) owns 53.1% of the company.
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, Canadian Utilities earned $127 million, up 8.5% from $117 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 4.8%, to $0.44 from $0.42, on more shares outstanding.
Without unusual items, mainly deferred payments from or refunds paid to customers, earnings would have risen 6.7%. Revenue gained 5.7%, to $755 million from $714 million, mainly due to higher power rates.
...
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, Canadian Utilities earned $127 million, up 8.5% from $117 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 4.8%, to $0.44 from $0.42, on more shares outstanding.
Without unusual items, mainly deferred payments from or refunds paid to customers, earnings would have risen 6.7%. Revenue gained 5.7%, to $755 million from $714 million, mainly due to higher power rates.
...
ATCO LTD. (Toronto symbols ACO.X [class I non-voting] $47 and ACO.Y [class II voting] $47; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 115.2 million; Market cap: $5.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.atco.com) holds 53.1% of Canadian Utilities (see page 15). It also owns 75.5% of ATCO Structures & Logistics, which builds temporary buildings for construction and energy exploration firms; Canadian Utilities owns the remaining 24.5%.
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, ATCO’s revenue rose 3.5% to $1.02 billion from $981.0 million a year earlier. That’s mainly because higher power rates in Alberta increased Canadian Utilities’ contribution. The structures division’s revenue fell 2.5% after it completed three contracts to build temporary housing and offices at an Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in late 2012 and early 2013.
Earnings jumped 63.0%, to $132 million, or $1.15 a share, from $81 million, or $0.71. Without unusual items, earnings rose 6.3%.
...
In the three months ended September 30, 2013, ATCO’s revenue rose 3.5% to $1.02 billion from $981.0 million a year earlier. That’s mainly because higher power rates in Alberta increased Canadian Utilities’ contribution. The structures division’s revenue fell 2.5% after it completed three contracts to build temporary housing and offices at an Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in late 2012 and early 2013.
Earnings jumped 63.0%, to $132 million, or $1.15 a share, from $81 million, or $0.71. Without unusual items, earnings rose 6.3%.
...
CANADA BREAD CO. LTD. $72 (Toronto symbol CBY; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 25.4 million; Market cap: $1.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 2.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadabread.ca) recently sold its Olivieri Foods business, which makes pasta and sauces, to Spain’s Ebro Foods. The company received $120 million, increasing its cash holdings to $308 million. Its recent $8.00-a-share special dividend cost it $203.2 million.
The special dividend would seem to indicate that Maple Leaf (see page 13) is close to selling its 90.0% stake in Canada Bread. If not, Canada Bread would likely invest the cash from the Olivieri sale in its own bakeries or pursue acquisitions.
But even if Maple Leaf hangs on to Canada Bread, its future looks bright. It recently opened a $100-million bakery in Hamilton, Ontario, which let it close three outdated facilities in Toronto and shift their production to the new plant.
...
The special dividend would seem to indicate that Maple Leaf (see page 13) is close to selling its 90.0% stake in Canada Bread. If not, Canada Bread would likely invest the cash from the Olivieri sale in its own bakeries or pursue acquisitions.
But even if Maple Leaf hangs on to Canada Bread, its future looks bright. It recently opened a $100-million bakery in Hamilton, Ontario, which let it close three outdated facilities in Toronto and shift their production to the new plant.
...
MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $16 (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 140.1 million; Market cap: $2.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mapleleaf.ca) is Canada’s largest food processing company. It mainly sells its products, including fresh and prepared meats and poultry, under the Maple Leaf and Schneider brands.
The company recently said it plans to sell its 90.0% stake in Canada Bread (see right), Canada’s second-largest producer of baked goods after Weston Bakery.
Canada Bread supplies a third of Maple Leaf’s sales. Maple Leaf’s $1.6-billion stake in this business is equal to 73% of its $2.2-billion market cap.
...
The company recently said it plans to sell its 90.0% stake in Canada Bread (see right), Canada’s second-largest producer of baked goods after Weston Bakery.
Canada Bread supplies a third of Maple Leaf’s sales. Maple Leaf’s $1.6-billion stake in this business is equal to 73% of its $2.2-billion market cap.
...
CAE INC. $14 (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 261.4 million; Market cap: $3.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 1.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.cae.com) began operating in 1947 as Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. It originally made ground-communication equipment and antennas for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In 1952, the company began making flight simulators for air force pilots. It’s now the world’s leading maker of flight simulators for commercial and military aircraft. CAE made about half of the commercial aircraft simulators in use today and has 16% of the military simulator market.
Sales of simulators to airlines tend to move up and down with the economy. To steady its revenue, CAE began training pilots in 2001. It now trains over 100,000 pilots and crew members a year at 50 schools worldwide.
...
In 1952, the company began making flight simulators for air force pilots. It’s now the world’s leading maker of flight simulators for commercial and military aircraft. CAE made about half of the commercial aircraft simulators in use today and has 16% of the military simulator market.
Sales of simulators to airlines tend to move up and down with the economy. To steady its revenue, CAE began training pilots in 2001. It now trains over 100,000 pilots and crew members a year at 50 schools worldwide.
...
We’ve chosen CAE Inc. as our Stock of the Year for 2014.
This is CAE’s third time as our #1. It was our Stock of the Year in 2000, when it gained 130.0% for us. We picked it again for 2002, but 9/11 hurt air travel much more than we expected. Fuel prices also moved up, the economy weakened, and CAE dropped 54.2% that year.
Today, CAE is a much different company....
This is CAE’s third time as our #1. It was our Stock of the Year in 2000, when it gained 130.0% for us. We picked it again for 2002, but 9/11 hurt air travel much more than we expected. Fuel prices also moved up, the economy weakened, and CAE dropped 54.2% that year.
Today, CAE is a much different company....
Holding companies give you an easy way to buy a variety of businesses at a discount. As well, their structure makes it easy for them to unlock hidden value by selling undervalued subsidiaries.
For example, Maple Leaf Foods has risen sharply since it said it would sell Canada Bread....
For example, Maple Leaf Foods has risen sharply since it said it would sell Canada Bread....