Topic: Growth Stocks

2 tech stocks grow in profitable niche markets

Tech StocksCOMPUTER MODELLING GROUP (Toronto symbol CMG; www.cmgroup.com) sells software and consulting services that help oil and gas producers use advanced recovery techniques to get more out of their wells. It has customers in over 50 countries and offices in Calgary, Houston, London, Caracas, Bogota, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. The company is a leader in complex heavy oil and oil sands simulations.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2014, Computer Modelling’s revenue rose 3.6%, to $20.0 million from $19.3 million a year earlier. Software licence sales (89% of total revenue) rose slightly, but consulting and professional services (11%) jumped 39.1%, thanks to new projects and a large consulting agreement.

Earnings gained 6.7%, to $7.7 million from $7.25 million. Per-share earnings jumped 18.8%, to $0.095 from $0.08, on fewer shares outstanding.
Computer Modelling holds cash of $72.4 million, or $0.92 a share, and has no debt. It spent $3.9 million, or a high 19.6% of its revenue, on research in the latest quarter.

The company has raised its quarterly dividend by 5.3%, to $0.10 a share from $0.095. The stock now yields 2.7%. Computer Modelling also split its shares on a 2-for-1 basis effective June 23, 2014.


You have a chance to get in on a stock that’s ready to surge with Pat McKeough’s Pick of the Month in Stock Pickers Digest. Just one example: top pick Aastra Technologies agreed to a takeover last December and more than doubled, rising 104% from the time he picked it.

Pat will release his next Pick of the Month on July 25. Subscribe to Stock Pickers Digest now and get all the details on a stock Pat is tapping for big gains. And you immediately start getting weekly updates and recommendations in his Email Hotline. As a new subscriber, you can save $50.00 on a risk-free introductory subscription to Stock Pickers Digest. Click here to begin your no-risk subscription right away.


Tech stocks: Fewer defense orders cut into Calian revenues in latest quarter

CALIAN TECHNOLOGIES (Toronto symbol CTY; www.calian.com) operates in two areas: the business and technology services division (which supplies 70% of Calian’s revenue) provides engineers, health care workers and other skilled professionals to clients on a contract basis. The systems engineering division (30% of revenue) sells hardware and software for testing, operating and managing satellite and other communication systems.

In the three months ended March 31, 2014, the company earned $2.4 million, or $0.32 a share. That’s down 29.5% from $3.4 million, or $0.44 a share, a year ago. Revenue declined 13.1%, to $51.2 million from $58.9 million.

The business and technology services division continues to benefit from recurring orders from Canadian federal government departments, including the Department of National Defence. However, these clients placed fewer orders in the latest quarter, cutting the division’s revenue by 9.5%. Meanwhile, revenue at the systems engineering division fell 22.8%.

The company holds cash of $23.1 million, or $3.12 a share, and has no debt. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.28 a share. That gives the stock a high 6.0% yield.

In the latest edition of Stock Pickers Digest, we look at whether Computer Modelling Group can match its success in oil sands simulation with other unconventional energy sources like shale gas and stranded gas. We also consider Calian’s earnings prospects in light of lower spending by the Canadian defense department and U.S. military contractors. We conclude with our clear buy-hold-sell advice on these two stocks.

(Note: If you are a current subscriber to Stock Pickers Digest, please click here to view Pat’s recommendation. Be sure to log in first.)

If you’re a member of Pat’s Inner Circle and you’d like to ask a question about today’s article, please go to the question page reserved for you (be sure you’re logged in first). Click here to ask your question.

COMMENTS PLEASE—Share your investment knowledge and opinions with fellow TSINetwork.ca members

Do you think stocks that depend heavily on military spending are likely to be more profitable over the next few decades, or less?

Comments

Tell Us What YOU Think

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please be respectful with your comments and help us keep this an area that everyone can enjoy. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Terms of Use, please click here to report it to the administrator.