Stockchase Opinions

Chris Rankin, MBA, CFAKeystone North America Inc.KNA.TOTRADEOct 19, 2007

Be patient, may take a year or two.
$7.90

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PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 31/08. Up 133.6%.) Being taken out by another funeral home group.
COMMENT
Cemeteries in the US. Decent business long-term. Had some debt issues.
TOP PICK
Yield of about 20%. Completely unknown. Converted from an income trust. Fifth largest funeral home, cemetery in North America. Great earnings.
BUY
13% yield. Funeral homes in the US. Converted from a stapled income trust, which the US could lap up on a tax effective basis. Part stock, part bond.
COMMENT
Wasn't actually structured as an income trust but as an Income Depository Security that consisted of a common share and some debt paper clipped together. They are proposing to replace debt with more equity. Rights were issued to unitholders. This allows debt to be replaced with common shares. He feels it makes sense to exercise the Rights.
HOLD
Operates funeral homes. Last year was particularly slow. Generally should be a stable business. US$ income that has been converted into Cdn cash flow, which has been a problem. Recently cut their distributions and are doing a rights issue and lowering their debt, which is positive but a bit dilutive. Fairly valued.
BUY
(Market Call Minute.) A company that has fallen off the radar screen and funeral homes is a steady business.
COMMENT
Very good management team. Won't be as impacted from the tax changes as it is mainly US operations. Because it is small cap, it seems to fly below everyone's radar. Would have liked to have seen a faster pace in consolidations and acquisitions.
TOP PICK
Funeral home operator. This is an industry that consolidates from time to time. Substantial US exposure, so there is currency risk.
COMMENT
Cemeteries and cremation services. A US IPS, so it’s not an income trust and won't be impacted by legislation. Did well in Q1. Would like them to get debt levels down. Payout ratio of about 90%.
BUY
Funeral services in the US. Technically not an income trust, but an Income Participation Security. Doesn't feel it is subject to the new income trust rules. Non-cyclical. A great long-term business. Good yield of about 12%.
COMMENT
Funeral home and cemetery business. This will not be affected by the proposed legislation. Debt levels are a bit too high. Payout ratio is also too high.
COMMENT
Funeral homes across the US. Stable business. Recession proof. Foreign exchange risk. Manageable debt. If you are a bull on the US$, it would be a good stock to own.
BUY
Funeral home operator. Operate out of 27 US states as well as in Ontario. More deaths are fuelling their growth, but attitudes to cremation have changed and % of cremations are expected to rise, which will squeeze margins. 12% yield. There is still growth here.