Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What do you think of E-L Financial? And could I also have your advice on Aecon Group? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

E-L Financial Corp. Ltd., $701.13, symbol ELF on Toronto (Shares outstanding; 4.0 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; www.empire.ca), is a holding company that owns 80% of the Empire Life Insurance Company. In addition to life insurance, Empire provides employee benefit plans and financial services. E-L also owns an investment portfolio that includes both direct investments in companies and publicly traded stocks and bonds. As well, it has a 51.38% interest in United Corporations, a closed-end investment fund (symbol UNC on Toronto). The company sold its 100% interest in the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, which underwrites property and casualty insurance, on November 1, 2013. That brought in cash of $1.1 billion and let E-L pay a $75 dollar-a-share special dividend. In the three months ended September 30, 2013, revenue fell 11.8%, to $665 million from $754 million a year earlier, mostly due to lower premium revenue after the Dominion sale. Earnings rose 32.9%, to $63.3 million, or $15.13 a share, from…