CP is poised for big gains

Article Excerpt

Dear safe-money investor, CP Rail’s high exposure to grain, potash and other commodities has held back the company lately. However, that puts it in a great position to rebound when freight volumes recover. As well, its cost-cutting and efficiency measures will accelerate those gains. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY $205.63 (Toronto symbol CP; shares outstanding: 147.7 million; Market cap: $29.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 1.0%; www.cpr.ca) ships freight over a 22,000-kilometre rail network between Montreal and Vancouver. It links to hubs in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. CP’s freight volumes fell 3.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2016. That’s mainly because this year’s late harvest—due in part to heavy rains—hurt grain volumes. As well, weaker prices foroil and minerals have forced producers in Canada and the U.S. to cut their output. The lower volumes reduced CP’s revenue in the quarter; it fell 9.1%, to $1.55 billion from $1.71 billion a year earlier. Earnings fell 5.2%, to $405 million from $427 million…