Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your opinion on Héroux-Devtek Inc.? Best regards.

Article Excerpt

Héroux-Devtek Inc., $11.40, symbol HRX on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 35.9 million; Market cap: $409.6 million; www.herouxdevtek.com), is the world’s third-largest maker of landing gear for aircraft, particularly helicopters and small jets. It also makes metal enclosures for airborne radar and other electronic equipment. Customers include Boeing, Sikorsky, Bombardier and Embraer, as well as various militaries. About 75% of Héroux-Devtek’s sales come from outside of Canada. In February 2014, the company paid $138.8 million for U.K.-based landing gear maker APPH Ltd., which has four plants in the U.K. and one in Wichita, Kansas. Thanks to this acquisition, Héroux-Devtek earned $3.8 million, or $0.11 a share, in its 2015 second quarter, which ended September 30, 2014. That’s up 37.4% from $2.8 million, or $0.09 a share, a year earlier. Sales jumped 49.1%, to $84.1 million from $56.4 million. Without APPH, sales rose 4.8%. As of September 30, 2014, the company’s total debt was $98.6 million, or 24% of its market cap. It also held cash of…