Bombardier’s high debt is a concern

Article Excerpt

BOMBARDIER INC. is a hold. The company (Toronto symbols BBD.A $1.83 and BBD.B $1.77; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 2.4 billion; Market cap: $4.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend suspended in February 2015; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; www.bombardier.com) now focuses solely on making private luxury and business jet planes following the January 2021 sale of its passenger railcar business to France’s Alstom SA. The new focus is now paying off, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted business executives to avoid commercial airlines. For example, Bombardier has a firm order for 20 of its Global 7500 planes from NetJets, the world’s largest operator of private jets. Based on list prices, that deal is worth $1.5 billion U.S. However, the company’s long-term debt of $7.04 billion U.S. (as of September 30, 2021) is a high 2.1 times its market cap. That adds risk, particularly if interest rates start moving up in 2022. Bombardier is still a hold. hold…