Topic: Growth Stocks

Stock Pickers Digest Hotline – Friday, March 13, 2015

Article Excerpt

SASOL LTD. (ADR), $32.04, symbol SSL on New York, has developed a technology to convert coal and natural gas into motor fuels. The company is the world’s largest producer of fuel from coal at its Secunda, South Africa, facility. It also makes synthetic fuels from natural gas at plants in Qatar and Nigeria. As well, Sasol produces chemicals, oil and gas in Africa. It’s also South Africa’s third-largest coal producer. In its fiscal 2015 first half, which ended December 31, 2014, Sasol’s revenue rose 1.6%, to 99.8 billion South African rand (1 rand = $0.1099 U.S.) from 98.2 billion rand a year earlier. Earnings per ADR gained 6.0%, to 32.00 rand from 30.19 rand. The U.S. dollar rose against the rand, increasing the value of Sasol’s sales outside South Africa. That offset a 19% decline in realized oil prices. Despite the improved results, Sasol now plans to bring in an aggressive plan to conserve cash, including layoffs, a hiring freeze, lower spending on…