Dividends give them special appeal

Article Excerpt

CALIAN TECHNOLOGIES $18.67 (Toronto symbol CTY; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (613-599-8600; www.calian.com; Shares outstanding: 7.8 million; Market cap: $146.0 million; Dividend yield: 5.4%) operates in two areas: the business and technology services division (which supplies 74% of Calian’s revenue) provides engineers, health-care workers and other skilled professionals to clients on a contract basis. The systems-engineering division (26% of revenue) sells hardware and software that is used for testing, operating and managing satellite and other communication systems. In the three months ended March 31, 2011, Calian’s revenue rose 11.9%, to $59.4 million from $53.1 million a year earlier. Earnings rose 6.5%, to $3.3 million from $3.1 million. Earnings per share rose 5.0%, to $0.42 from $0.40, on more shares outstanding. Calian earned higher profit margins on the business and technology service division’s contracts. That offset weaker earnings at the systems-engineering division due to the strong Canadian dollar. The company holds cash of $25.3 million, or $3.29 a share, and has no debt. Calian raised its…