Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Would you recommend buying Constellation Software? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Constellation Software, $95.00, symbol CSU on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 17.5 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; www.csisoftware.com), sells software to a range of public- and private-sector clients. The company has over 20,000 customers in over 30 countries. In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Constellation’s revenue rose 23.6%, to $202.3 million from $163.6 million. Excluding one-time items, the company earned $1.87 a share, up sharply from $1.06 a year earlier. The latest earnings also beat the consensus estimate of $1.47 a share. Constellation continues to make acquisitions. It just bought Capital Computer Associates, Inc. of Albany, New York, for an undisclosed sum. Capital sells software to New York State school boards. Constellation’s growth-by-acquisition strategy adds risk. However, it continues to successfully integrate the companies it buys. The shares trade at 12.6 times the company’s latest 12 months of earnings. Constellation recently began paying dividends of $1 per quarter. The shares now yield 4.2%. Constellation Software is okay to hold. hold. …