One-time items hurt Linamar profits

Article Excerpt

LINAMAR CORP. $66 (Toronto symbol LNR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 65.3 million; Market cap: $4.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 0.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.linamar.com) makes a variety of automotive parts, including cylinder heads, cylinder blocks, camshafts, crankshafts and connecting rods. It also makes self-propelled, scissortype work platforms under the Skyjack brand as well as other machinery for industrial clients. In the third quarter of 2017, Linamar’s overall sales rose 6.5%, to $1.55 billion from $1.46 billion a year earlier. Sales for its powertrain business (83% of the total) rose 5.1%. That’s mainly due to the launch of new products and strong demand for lightvehicle parts in Europe. Sales of industrial equipment (17%) jumped 14.1% on higher demand in North America and Europe for Skyjack platforms and other construction-related equipment. Earnings in the quarter fell 12.9%, to $1.62 a share from $1.86. However, earning per share rose 9.4% if you factor out funds Linamar recovered from the…