Linamar can handle bankruptcy risk

Article Excerpt

LINAMAR CORP. $3.10 (Toronto symbol LNR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 64.7 million; Market cap: $200.6 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.1; SI Rating: Extra Risk) supplies transmissions and other parts to several carmakers, including General Motors and Chrysler. These two customers owe Linamar $30 million, and it could have trouble collecting if they go bankrupt. To put this amount in context, Linamar earned $85.6 million, or $1.28 a share, in 2008. However, GM and Chrysler together represent just 9% of Linamar’s total receivables. Moreover, based on its experiences with other customers’ bankruptcies, Linamar would likely recover at least half of these funds. Linamar is a buy. buy…