A Yield to Caution: Medical Facilities

Article Excerpt

MEDICAL FACILITIES CORP. $8.19 (Toronto symbol DR; Shares o/s: 26.3 million; Market cap: $215.4 million; Divd. yield: 4.0%; www.medicalfacilitiescorp.com) holds majority interest in four U.S. specialty surgical hospitals. It also operates an outpatient surgery clinic in California. In addition, it owns controlling interest in five ambulatory surgery centres as well as minority ownership in both an Indiana specialty surgical hospital and a Missouri ambulatory surgical centre. The shares yield a high 4.0%, but that high rate may not be sustainable. The company’s current reliance on a limited number of surgical centres increases its risk. Moreover, Medical Facilities’ centres are subject to numerous and constantly changing rules and requirements. Those regulations could eventually slow growth for operators of specialty hospitals. This adds some uncertainty to Medical Facilities’ prospects, considering its plan to grow quickly through acquisitions. We don’t recommend the shares of Medical Facilities Corp. Corp…