Big backlogs bode well for these two

Article Excerpt

CALIAN TECHNOLOGIES $17.85 (Toronto symbol CTY; SI Rating: Speculative) (613-599-8600; www.calian.com; Shares outstanding: 7.7 million; Market cap: $138.2 million) operates in two areas: The business and technology services (BTS) division, which accounts for 64% of Calian’s revenue, provides engineers, health-care workers and other skilled professionals to clients on a contract basis. The systems-engineering division (SED) contributes the remaining 36% of revenue and sells hardware and software that is used for testing, operating and managing satellite and other communications systems. In the three months ended September 30, 2009, Calian’s earnings rose 27.0%, to a $3.4 million from $2.7 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 36.4%, to $0.45 from $0.33, on a 5.3% drop in shares outstanding (due to share buybacks). Revenue rose 11.2%, to a $54.4 million from $48.9 million. In the latest quarter, the BTS division benefited from its existing long-term contracts and new work from the Canadian federal government. Steady orders lifted SED’s results. Calian’s order backlog stands at $873…