Topic: How To Invest

Is Canfor Corp. a good choice to invest in the forestry industry? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Canfor Corp., $7.76, symbol CFP on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 142.6 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion), is the largest softwood-lumber producer in British Columbia. It also produces oriented strand board (OSB), remanufactured lumber products and specialized wood products. Canfor also owns a 50.2% interest in Canfor Pulp Income Fund (Toronto symbol CFX.UN). The fund is one of Canada’s largest producers of northern softwood kraft pulp, and a major kraft-paper producer. Most forestry stocks have gone sideways or downward since the 1980s. Most have high debt, and markets for their products tend to be volatile. Moreover, they must frequently deal with trade barriers and environmental opposition. Lately, lower U.S. housing starts have put strong downward pressure on lumber demand. Canfor is losing money, but it has reasonable debt. If you want to own a forest-products company, Canfor is okay to hold. ..