Topic: How To Invest

Hello, Pat: What is your take on Winpak? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Winpak Ltd., $44.25, symbol WPK on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 65.0 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; www.winpak.com), makes and distributes packaging machines and materials. Its products are mainly used for perishable foods, beverages and in health care applications. The U.S. is Winpak’s largest market, accounting for 81% of its revenue. Canada supplies 12%, and the rest of world accounts for the remaining 7%. In the three months ended September 27, 2015, the company’s revenue rose 0.4%, to $193.7 million from $193.0 million a year earlier (all figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). New contracts from U.S. meat and cheese producers increased WinPak’s volumes by 6.4% in the latest quarter. However, the company typically links its selling prices to the cost of raw materials, including plastic resins made from oil. As a result, it had to cut its prices to reflect the lower cost of resin. Earnings gained 14.7%, to $22.3 million, or $0.34 a share, from $19.4 million, or $0.30. Favourable…