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Morneau Shepell IncMSI.TOHOLDSep 09, 2016Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of May 19, 2021. Market Open.
It has been a favourite for him for some time. He bought it for income but it is providing some growth as well. They are overdue to raise their dividend but they are using their cash to grow. He does not mind that. He is buying for new clients. It’s a little rich but he is still buying it because there are some onetime items and the PE ratio is not too bad.
We are in a market where things that have been working have changed over the last couple of years. When that happens, institutions look at their investment managers to see if they’ve been keeping up or not. Because markets have been going through structural changes and institutions have been going through reallocations, there are lots of searches going on for managers. This company is right in the heart of that business and participates. It has been a pretty good performer and he would have no trouble owning the stock.
Valuation is pretty decent, and actually trades at a discount to its US peer group. It is a large player in Canada. Ultimately it should continue to benefit by growing in the US. Has a very decent free cash flow yield. Has a very predictable reoccurring revenue model that will support its earnings growth. (Analysts’ price target is $24.)
This has been a beneficiary of the chase for yield, because of its healthy dividend. Earnings are growing and it hasn’t raised its dividend in quite a number of years, but the payout ratio is right at the bottom end of their window. Any quarter now we should see a positive move in the dividend. However, the stock is not a bargain anymore.