Our top aggressive pick has a bright future

Article Excerpt

CGI INC. $101 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 274.2 million; Market cap: $27.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.cgi.com) is Canada’s largest provider of computer outsourcing services. It helps its clients automate routine functions such as accounting and buying supplies. That makes companies more efficient and lets them focus on their main businesses. CGI follows what it calls its “Build and Buy” strategy. The “build” part refers to the expansion of its relationships with current clients as well as the development of new ones. The “buy” part involves making acquisitions. CGI tempers the risk of buying other companies by targeting firms that complement its expertise or help it expand geographically. Europe is now CGI’s biggest market Its biggest purchase to date was the August 2012 acquisition of U.K.-based outsourcing firm Logica for $2.7 billion. Thanks to that purchase, clients in Europe now account for 55% of its orders, followed by the U.S….