snc lavalin

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. (Toronto symbol SNC; www.snclavalin.com) is a leading Canadian engineering and construction company. It specializes in large-scale public works projects, such as roads, bridges, transit systems and water-treatment plants. SNC-Lavalin replaced most of its senior management following the discovery of $56 million U.S. in unusual payments it made in 2011 to help win Libyan construction contracts. SNC has also strengthened its oversight and compliance procedures in response to allegations that it used bribes to win certain contracts in Quebec....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $41 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 151.6 million; Market cap: $6.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snclavalin.com) replaced most of its senior management following the discovery of $56 million U.S....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $45 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 151.1 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snclavalin.com) has held up well in the face of negative press coverage, beginning with $56 million U.S. in unusual payments it made in 2011 to help win Libyan construction contracts. Lately, the company has come under scrutiny over allegations of widespread corruption in the Quebec construction industry.

SNC’s quick response to these situations, including replacing its chief executive officer and other executives, helped prevent permanent damage to its 102-year-old reputation. It has also brought in stronger oversight and compliance procedures.

Due to higher than-expected costs on a powerplant project, SNC’s 2012 earnings fell 18.4%, to $309.1 million, or $2.04 a share. In 2011, the company earned $378.8 million, or $2.49 a share.
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TECK RESOURCES LTD., $25.21, Toronto symbol TCK.B, fell 10% this week, along with other mining stocks, mainly due to concerns about weakening economic growth in China. The Chinese economy grew by 7.7% in the first three months of 2013, down from 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2012. The latest figure also fell short of the consensus estimate of 8% growth. China is a major consumer of coal, copper and other resources, so the news pushed down the prices of these commodities. As well, British Columbia environmental regulators have ordered Teck to develop a plan to reduce runoff from its coal mines because it is polluting adjacent rivers. The company estimates that building water-diversion systems and treatment facilities will cost $600 million over the next five years. To put that in context, Teck earned $1.5 billion, or $2.60 a share, in 2012....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. (Toronto symbol SNC; www.snclavalin.com) has held up well in the face of negative press coverage, beginning with $56 million U.S. in unusual payments it made in 2011 to help win Libyan construction contracts. Lately, the company has come under scrutiny over allegations of widespread corruption in the Quebec construction industry. SNC’s quick response to these situations, including replacing its chief executive officer and other executives, helped prevent permanent damage to its 102-year-old reputation. It has also brought in stronger oversight and compliance procedures....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $45 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 151.1 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snclavalin.com) has held up well in the face of negative press coverage, beginning with $56 million U.S....

TRANSCANADA CORP., $47.92, Toronto symbol TRP, continues to move ahead with its plan to convert its main natural gas pipeline, which pumps gas from Alberta to markets in central and eastern Canada, to handle crude oil. That’s because rising production of shale gas in the northeastern U.S. has lowered this pipeline’s volumes and hurt its profitability. The company is now signing up oil producers. If demand is strong, it will begin converting the pipeline. TransCanada did not say how much this would cost, but it should complete the project by late 2017. Converting this pipeline to oil would also improve TransCanada’s long-term prospects, particularly if the U.S. government rejects its proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would pump crude oil from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast....

TRANSCANADA CORP., $46.80, Toronto symbol TRP, hopes the U.S. State Department will approve its proposed Keystone XL pipeline in the next few months. Nebraska’s governor recently approved the company’s plan to reroute the line around environmentally sensitive areas of the state. When completed, Keystone XL would pump oil from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The entire project would cost $5.3 billion U.S. It could begin operating in late 2014 or early 2015. So far, TransCanada has invested $1.8 billion U.S. in Keystone XL. Meanwhile, TransCanada’s earnings fell 14.7% in 2012, to $1.3 billion, or $1.89 a share. These figures exclude unusual items, such as gains and losses on contracts the company uses to lock in prices for natural gas and electricity. On that basis, the latest earnings missed the consensus estimate of $1.98 a share. In 2011, it earned $1.6 billion, or $2.22 a share....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $50 (www.snclavalin.com) continues to win new oil and gas engineering contracts. Recent deals include an agreement to design pipelines and pumping stations in Iraq for an unspecified amount. In addition, Colombia’s Ecopetrol oil firm has hired SNC to help improve its oil pipeline systems....

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $42 (www.snclavalin.com) owns 50%of a joint venture that has won a contract to design and build a new natural-gas-fired power plant in New Jersey. Thanks to new turbines and other technology, this facility will be one of the most environmentally friendly power plants in the U.S....