Topic: Growth Stocks

Stock Pickers Digest Hotline – Friday, November 5, 2010

Article Excerpt

WESTJET AIRLINES, $13.10, symbol WJA on Toronto, has reported higher revenue and earnings in the latest quarter. In the three months ended September 30, 2010, WestJet’s revenue rose 14%, to $684.6 million from $600.3 million a year earlier. Earnings jumped 71.8%, to $54 million from $31.4 million. Earnings per share rose 54.2%, to $0.37 from $0.24 on more shares outstanding. This was the company’s 22nd consecutive quarter of profitability. The recovering economy pushed up demand for the company’s flights; that was the main reason for the higher revenue and earnings. WestJet has a new, fuel-efficient fleet and a low cost structure. As well, it serves more cities than many of its competitors. It’s selectively adding to these destinations, and focusing on sunshine destinations where it can add to its earnings by selling customized vacation packages that include flights. These strengths put the company in a good position to continue profiting from the economic recovery. As well, WestJet will start paying…