Higher rates could slow its turnaround

Article Excerpt

Bombardier’s stock has soared over 200% in the past year as it continues to realizes the benefits of its plan to focus solely on business jets. While the outlook for that business remains bright, sales of those planes could suffer if the global economy slows. Rising interest rates and operating costs also add to its risk. BOMBARDIER INC. is a hold. The company (Toronto symbols BBD.A $61 and BBD.B $61; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 95.3 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; 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. Bombardier received $3.6 billion for its stake (all amounts except share prices and market cap in U.S. dollars). That included 11.5 million Alstom shares, later sold for $611 million. With the end to pandemic travel restrictions, the company continues to benefit from rising demand for business…