Efficiency gains push CP higher

Article Excerpt

CP’s long-term plan to improve efficiency—implemented by former CEO Hunter Harrison—continues to pay off. The stock has gained 16% so far this year, and recently hit a two-year high. CP also continues to expand its reach, particularly in the U.S. That has helped minimize the impact of its high exposure to volatile commodities such as grains, crude oil and minerals. Even after their recent surge, CP’s shares are still attractive in relation to the company’s projected earnings. CP has also begun to raise its dividend after holding it steady for the past few years. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD. $222 (Toronto symbol CP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 145.0 million; Market cap: $32.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.0; Dividend yield: 1.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cpr.ca) transports freight over a 22,000-kilometre rail network between Montreal and Vancouver, and to hubs in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. Shipping commodities such as grain, forest products, coal and fertilizers, made up 72% of CP’s 2016…