Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: Could I have your opinion on Norbord?

Article Excerpt

Norbord, $17.59, symbol NBD on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 43.6 million; Market cap: $766.9 million; www.norbord.com), is the world’s second-largest producer of oriented strand board (OSB). The company is capable of producing more than 5.1 billion square feet of OSB at plants in North America and Europe. OSB is an engineered wood-panel product that’s used as a plywood replacement in home-construction and industrial uses. The company also produces particleboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF) and other engineered wood products. In the three months ended June 30, 2012, Norbord’s revenue rose 12.9%, to $272 million from $241 million a year earlier. Earnings rose to $6 million, or $0.14 a share, from $1 million or $0.03. The company’s total debt of $752 million is a high 98% of its market cap, although it does hold cash of $326 million, or $7.48 a share. Norbord’s stock is up 147.1% from $7.12 in December 2012. It now trades at 14.2 times this year’s forecast earnings of $1.24 a share. That…