These Two Techs Will Prosper Anew

Article Excerpt

AASTRA TECHNOLOGIES $8.28 (Toronto symbol AAH; SI Rating: Speculative) (905-760-4200; www.aastra.com; Shares outstanding: 14.8 million; Market cap: $122.7 million) develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks, including the Internet. In the three months ended September 30, 2008, Aastra’s revenues rose 59%, to $224.5 million from $141.1 million. The increase came mostly from the acquisition of the enterprise communications business of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson earlier this year. Despite the higher sales, earnings in the latest quarter fell 63.5%, to $2.6 million or $0.17 a share, from $7.1 million or $0.44 a share. Earnings in the latest quarter included a $10 million pre-tax loss on the Ericsson business. However, the company believes the Ericsson business can reach break-even levels early next year. Without the Ericsson loss, earnings per share would have been $0.73 in the latest quarter. Aastra holds cash of $82.3 million, or $5.56 a share and has low debt. Aastra continues to expand successfully by acquiring money-losing product lines in…