Efficiency gains to fuel this dividend

Article Excerpt

Finning recently announced that Scott Thomson will step down as CEO to head up the Bank of Nova Scotia. The company has appointed Kevin Parkes as Thomson’s replacement. Mr. Parkes will likely continue the company’s current strategy of expanding its product support (equipment maintenance) business. Finning’s improving efficiency should also give it more cash for dividends. FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $32 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol FTT; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 152.4 million; Market cap: $4.9 billion; Dividend yield: 3.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.finning.com) sells and services Caterpillar-brand heavy equipment in Western Canada but also Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, the U.K. and Ireland. Its main customers are in the oil and gas, mining, forestry-products and construction industries. Canada is Finning’s biggest market, contributing 51% of net revenue. Its other markets in order of revenue are South America (32%) and the U.K. & Ireland (16%). The servicing of equipment provides 57% of revenue, while the sale of new equipment provides 33%; the…