Diversified operations lower their risk

Article Excerpt

The slowing global economy will likely prompt airlines to spend less on new planes and simulators. However, both Bombardier and CAE operate other businesses that help diversify their operations and cut their exposure to the cyclical air-travel industry. BOMBARDIER INC. (Toronto symbols BBD.A $4.10 and BBD.B $4.01; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 1.7 billion; Market cap: $6.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.4; Dividend yield: 2.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.bombardier.com) is the world’s third-largest commercial-aircraft maker, behind Boeing and Airbus. It is also the world’s largest passenger railcar manufacturer. In the three months ended July 31, 2011, Bombardier’s earnings rose 56.7%, to $210 million, or $0.12 a share (all amounts except share prices and market cap in U.S. dollars). A year earlier, it earned $134 million, or $0.07 a share. Sales rose 17.4% to $4.7 billion from $4.0 billion. Sales at the railcar division (which supplies 56% of Bombardier’s total sales) rose 26.0%, mainly due to strong demand from European public-transit…