Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: I’m considering Constellation Software. What do you think about this stock? Thank you!

Article Excerpt

Constellation Software, $124.75, symbol CSU on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 21.2 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; www.csisoftware.com), sells software to a range of public and private sector clients. In the three months ended September 30, 2012, Constellation’s revenue rose 11.7%, to $226.0 million from $202.3 million a year earlier. All of the increase came from companies that Constellation has recently purchased. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 6.4%, to $1.99 from $1.87. Constellation holds cash of $61.9 million, or $2.92 a share. It has no long-term debt. The company continues to grow by acquisition738212;it has completed 44 purchases since the beginning of 2011. A recent example is the late 2012 acquisition of Computer Software Innovations (symbol CSWI on Nasdaq) for $15 million. Computer Software Innovations sells financial software to school districts and local governments, mostly in the southeastern U.S., and has annual sales of about $58.5 million. Constellation’s growth-by-acquisition strategy adds risk. However, it continues to successfully integrate its acquisitions. The shares…