New contracts raise SNC’s oil exposure

Article Excerpt

SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC. $55 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 150.1 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snclavalin.com) is a leading Canadian engineering and construction company that specializes in large-scale public works projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems and watertreatment plants. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, the company’s revenue fell 11.9%, to $1.99 billion from $2.26 billion a year earlier. The drop was mainly due to lower revenue from infrastructure, power plants and mining projects. However, new projects in the Middle East boosted revenue at its oil and gas operations. Oil and gas clients now supply 43% of SNC’s total revenue. Earnings in the quarter rose 3.0%, to $97.0 million, or $0.64 a share. A year earlier, SNC earned $94.2 million, or $0.62. The higher profit is largely due to the company’s new cost-cutting plan. This includes laying off 2% of its…