Here’s Our Pick Of The Month October 2007

Article Excerpt

SUNOPTA INC. $14.76 (Toronto symbol SOY; SI Rating: Speculative) (905-455-2528; www.sunopta.com; Shares outstanding: 63 million; Market cap: $929.8 million) has three business units: 1) SunOpta Foods operates in every stage of the purchasing, processing and distribution of organic, kosher and specialty food products from seeds to packaging. It sells these under its own brand names, as well as to private label and food service customers. 2) TSX-listed Opta Minerals, 70.6% owned, mainly sells abrasives, roofing shingle granules and other industrial minerals. 3) SunOpta BioProcess engineers and sells proprietary steam explosion technology systems that use high heat and pressure to convert biomass such as wood chips and straw into useful components such as ethanol. SunOpta also aims to participate in the construction, ownership and operation of cellulosic ethanol plants. Total revenues rose 33.5% in the three months ended June 30, 2007, to $208 million from $155.7 million a year earlier. (All figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars.) Acquisitions accounted for 52%…