Topic: How To Invest

Pat, could you give me your opinion on WesternOne, please?

Article Excerpt

WesternOne, $7.90, symbol WEQ on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 31.7 million; Market cap: $250.4 million; www.weq.ca), aims to keep expanding by acquiring privately owned small- and medium-sized businesses, mainly in Western Canada. The company converted from an income trust to a corporation on January 1, 2013. WesternOne operates in two main areas: construction heat services and aerial equipment; and modular building construction and leasing. The company’s businesses include Britco Building Innovation, a designer and maker of commercial custom-built mobile and modular buildings in North America. In January 2013, Britco expanded into Australia through the acquisition of APB, one of that country’s largest modular building manufacturers. As well, the company’s WesternOne Infrastructure Services business has 15 locations across B.C. and Alberta. This subsidiary rents equipment to customers that include mid-sized construction firms in the commercial, residential and infrastructure industries, as well as niche markets like television and movie production. In the three months ended December 31, 2013, WesternOne’s revenue jumped to $103.8 million from $54.5 million…