Alberta slows SOX sales

Article Excerpt

STUART OLSON INC. $5.29 (Toronto symbol SOX; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (780454-3667; www.stuartolson.com; s/o: 27.0 million; Market cap: $144.6 million; Dividend yield: 9.1%) mainly operates in Western Canada, with both government and private-sector clients. Its services include construction, earthmoving, industrial insulation and electrical contracting. In the three months ended March 31, 2017, revenue fell 10.3%, to $220.1 million from $245.5 million a year earlier. Slower demand in Alberta led to the decline. However, the company lost $0.01 a share in the quarter compared to its $0.03 loss a year earlier. Stuart Olson’s dividend yields a high 9.1% and appears safe. However, its long-term debt is a high 77% of its market cap. That adds risk, especially if the Alberta market continues to remain sluggish. Stuart Olson is still a hold. hold…