Russel makes cuts

Article Excerpt

RUSSEL METALS $9.58 (Toronto symbol RUS; SI Rating: Speculative) (905-819-7777; www.russelmetals.com; Shares outstanding: 59.7 million; Market cap: $571.9 million) fell recently, even though it reported improved results in the fourth quarter of 2008. Investors mainly sold the stock because the slowing global economy drove steel demand down by roughly 40% during the first two months of 2009. Russel is now working to cut costs and save cash. In the three months ended December 31, 2008, Russel’s earnings per share (excluding one-time items) more than doubled, to $0.87 from $0.37 a year earlier. Its revenues rose 40.8%, to $842.7 million from $598.4 million. In response to falling steel demand, Russel plans to cut 500 jobs (or 16.7% of its workforce), lower executive pay by 10%, and reduce its remaining employees’ working hours. Russel expects these moves to cut its annual costs by as much as $70 million. Russel has also cut its dividend by 44.4%. The stock now yields 10.4% on an annualized basis…