Restructuring sets them up for gains

Article Excerpt

WAJAX CORP. $18.99 (Toronto symbol WJX; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (905-212-3300; www.wajax.ca; Shares outstanding: 20.0 million; Market cap: $377.5 million; Dividend yield: 5.3%) sells and services cranes, forklifts and other heavy equipment. It also provides related parts and systems such as ball bearings, hoses, diesel engines and transmissions. Wajax’s customers are spread across the resources, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries. In the three months ended June 30, 2017, the company’s revenue fell 3.4%, to $325.3 million from $336.6 million a year earlier. However, revenue actually rose 2.7%, if you disregard a $20 million mining order during the year-earlier period. Wajax made $7.3 million in the latest quarter, or $0.37 a share. That’s up 69.8% from $4.3 million, or $0.22 a share. Workforce cuts create big cost savings The company’s ongoing restructuring efforts are responsible for the profit gain. That plan aims to reduce Wajax’s workforce by 10%. Total savings in 2016 was $8.6 million. The company expects annual savings of about $17 million, starting this…