Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat. Can you please comment on Progressive Waste Solutions?

Article Excerpt

Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd., $36.29, symbol BIN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 109.3 million; Market cap: $4.0 billion; www.progressivewaste.com), is one of North America’s largest waste-management companies, collecting and disposing of non-hazardous solid waste for businesses, municipalities and homes in six provinces and 10 states. In the three months ended June 30, 2015, Progressive’s revenue fell 4.0%, to $493.0 million from $513.5 million a year earlier (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Excluding the effect of the higher U.S. dollar, revenue rose 0.4%. Earnings per share declined 29.3%, to $0.29 from $0.41, mostly due to costs related to flooding in Texas. Progressive holds cash of $39.6 million, or $0.35 a share. Its $1.6 billion of long-term debt is a high, but manageable, 55% of its $4.0-billion market cap. The stock trades at 30.8 times this year’s forecast earnings of $1.18 a share. Progressive’s profits…