Updating your Conservative-Growth Payers: CAE

Article Excerpt

CAE INC. $29 remains a buy for long-term gains. The company (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 317.9 million; Market cap: $9.2 billion; Dividend suspended in March 2020; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.cae.com) makes flight simulators for commercial and military aircraft. It also operates pilot-training schools in over 35 countries and makes medical-simulators for training health professionals. CAE suspended its $0.11-a-share quarterly dividend in 2020 as COVID-19 hurt demand for its flight simulators. The company’s revenue in its fiscal 2023 third quarter ended December 31, 2022, gained 20.2%, to $1.02 billion from $848.7 million a year earlier. That’s largely due to stronger demand from airlines as air travel volumes return to pre-pandemic levels. Higher sales to military clients also contributed to those gains. Earnings before unusual items jumped as well, rising 47.4% to $0.28 a share from $0.19. CAE expects savings from a restructuring plan should lift its projected earnings from $0.87 a share for fiscal 2023 to $1.37 in 2024. The stock…