Top technology stocks look to expand

Article Excerpt

These leading technology companies will likely use their strong balance sheets to make acquisitions. While that adds risk, they both have a solid history of successfully absorbing new businesses to expand their earnings. CGI GROUP INC. $67 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 296.2 million; Market cap: $19.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; 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 lets those companies focus on their main businesses and improve their efficiency. In its fiscal 2017 second quarter, ended March 31, 2017, CGI earned $275.2 million. That’s up 2.6% from $268.3 million a year earlier. Per-share profits jumped 5.8%, to $0.91 from $0.86, on fewer shares outstanding. The company’s revenue fell 0.9% in the quarter, to $2.72 billion from $2.75 billion. However, CGI gets 90% of its revenue from outside of Canada. If you factor out…