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Opinions Michael Sprung
Stuart Olson IncSOX.TOTOP PICKJan 07, 2016
Michael SprungStock price when the opinion was issued
As of Sep 29, 2020. Market Open.
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In the construction space his favorite is WSP Global. SOX is similar and he thinks they may be a value trap as there is some concerns about the dividend, the strength of the balance sheet and their ties to the energy sector.
Benj Gallander
Benj GallanderMichael SprungMichael SprungBenj GallanderBenj GallanderMichael Sprung
A past top pick. The problem with construction companies is that they're much more volatile than the engineering ones. SOX is more construction, less engineering, and more dependent on the Alberta economy. It has a lot of upside from here, but it's riskier than peers Aecon, Stantec and SNC Lavalin.
Michael SprungIt has been a top pick in the past. It is a higher risk than a company that is both construction AND engineering. They have been figured as an Alberta-centric company but they have diversified somewhat. If we see any infrastructure dollars going to work, this company is likely to get them.
Michael SprungThe company has not only created some stability within operations, but also have the potential of improving operations going forward. When they converted from the old Churchill Corp. they took on a lot of contracts that were fixed price that went over budget, making it a real drag. Since then, they’ve diversified into other markets. They have more presence in other provinces than just Alberta. If there is going to be more spending in electrical work in buildings, and infrastructure to some extent, this company should still have a bit more room to run. If you own, he would take some profits and limit this to a smaller portion of your portfolio.
This got off the rails for a few years. Had some contracts that were fixed priced contracts that went into cost overruns, and that really hit their margins. They’ve had to reorganize and restructure, but are now at a point where they will benefit from infrastructure spending, whether provincial or federal in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, etc. in both their industrial side and their building side. The company is very well-placed and the balance sheet is in a lot better shape than it used to be. Debt to EBITDA is at about 2X. Dividend yield of 9.02%.