Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What do you think of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers?

Article Excerpt

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc., $20.56, symbol RBA on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 105.4 million; Market cap: $2.2 billion) is the world’s largest industrial auctioneer. The Vancouver-based company has over 110 locations, including 40 auction sites, in more than 25 countries. The company first sold shares to the public at $2.83 U.S. (split adjusted) and began trading on New York in March 1998. The stock began trading on Toronto in January 2004 at $11.35 (split adjusted). Ritchie Bros. holds around 340 unreserved auctions each year. (Unreserved means that there are no minimum or reserve prices. Each item goes to the highest bidder, regardless of price.) It sells used and unused industrial equipment and other assets for the construction, transportation, material-handling, mining, forestry, petroleum, marine, real-estate, and agricultural industries. The company’s auctions include both on-site and online bidders. About 80% of Ritchie Bros.’ customers are the users of the equipment they buy, such as contractors. However, equipment makers, dealers, brokers and finance companies also participate…