Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: Can I have your insights on Western Forest Products? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Western Forest Products, $2.13, symbol WEF on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 395.4 million; Market cap: $842.3 million; www.westernforest.com), is the largest woodland operator and lumber producer in coastal British Columbia. About 97% of its timber harvest (6.4 million cubic metres) comes from Crown lands. The company’s overall lumber capacity, at seven sawmills and two remanufacturing plants, is more than 1.1 billion board feet. Western’s main activities are timber harvesting, reforestation, and milling logs to make lumber and by-products such as wood chips. It also remanufactures, or reproduces, original wood products. Most of the company’s employees, operations and corporate facilities are in the coastal region, although its products are sold in over 25 countries worldwide. In the three months ended June 30, 2016, Western’s revenue rose 4.4%, to $301.8 million from $289.2 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 20.0%, to $0.06 from $0.05. While lumber markets in Japan remain…