Topic: Dividend Stocks

CGI GROUP INC. $39 – Toronto symbol GIB.A

CGI GROUP INC. $39 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 311.7 million; Market cap: $12.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.cgi.com) is a leading provider of computer outsourcing services. It helps its clients automate certain routine functions, like accounting and buying supplies. That lets companies improve their efficiency and focus on their main businesses.

CGI continues to benefit from Logica plc, a U.K.-based computer-outsourcing firm it bought for $2.7 billion in 2012.

In its 2014 third quarter, which ended June 30, 2014, CGI’s earnings rose 14.7%, to $229.8 million, or $0.72 a share. A year earlier, it earned $200.4 million, or $0.63. Revenue gained 3.9%, to $2.7 billion from $2.6 billion.

New contracts in the U.S., U.K. and other parts of Europe are helping offset lower sales in Canada and Asia. The weaker Canadian dollar is also lifting the contribution of CGI’s overseas operations.

The company now expects to save $375 million a year by cutting overlapping functions with Logica, up from its original goal of $300 million.

These savings should increase CGI’s projected earnings from $2.83 a share in fiscal 2014 to $3.17 in 2015. The stock trades at just 12.3 times the 2015 forecast.

CGI Group is a buy.

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