Two market leaders with gains ahead

Article Excerpt

TOROMONT INDUSTRIES LTD. $26.96 (Toronto symbol TIH; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-667-5511; www.toromont.com; Shares outstanding: 76.9 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; Dividend yield: 2.2%) distributes a broad range of industrial equipment, including machinery made by Caterpillar Inc. It also makes refrigeration systems through its CIMCO division. The company completed the spinoff of Enerflex Ltd. (see right) in July 2011. Shareholders received shares of both the new Toromont Industries and Enerflex. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, Toromont’s revenue fell slightly, to $311.7 million from $313.1 million a year earlier. However, earnings rose 4.4%, to $18.6 million, or $0.24 a share, from $17.8 million, or $0.23. Toromont sold more product-support services, which are more profitable than equipment sales. Ready for a mining rebound The company’s financial position is strong: its $130.3 million of long-term debt—down from $169.0 million a year ago—represents just 6.2% of its market cap. Toromont raised its quarterly dividend by 15.4% with the April 2014 payment, to $0.15 a share from $0.13….