A Yield to Caution

Article Excerpt

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION $7.33 (Toronto symbol STB; Shares outstanding: 91.9 million; Market cap: $673.6 million; Dividend yield: 8.1%; www.ridestbus.com) is North America’s third-largest school bus operator, with almost 13,500 vehicles in Canada and the U.S. The company pays a monthly dividend of $0.0367 U.S. The yearly payout is $0.44 a share and results in a very high 8.1% yield. Student Transportation reported just $0.06 a share in the last fiscal year. But it generated $0.67 a share in cash flow and paid out just 59% of that in dividends. However, the company operates in a competitive industry now dealing with a growing driver shortage in many regions. That means Student Transportation will need to put significantly more resources into recruiting and increasing driver pay. As well, the company has grown rapidly through acquisition; its debt of $328.7 million U.S. already represents a high 62% of its market cap. That could become even more of a burden if interest rates rise. Additionally, the majority of that debt…