Buy Northbridge For Value

Article Excerpt

NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORP. $34.30 (Toronto symbol NB; SI Rating: Speculative) (416- 366-9544; no web site; Shares outstanding: 50.9 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion) reported 27% lower earnings per share in the three months ended March 31, 2007, to $0.89 from $1.22. However, the company has exited higher risk underwriting, including exposure to the energy business in the Gulf of Mexico. The year-earlier earnings also included significantly higher gains on investments. Northbridge now trades for just 1.4 times its book value of $25.36 and 12.9 times earnings. Northbridge Financial is still a buy. buy…