Topic: Dividend Stocks

IGM Financial Inc. $42 – Toronto symbol IGM

IGM FINANCIAL INC. $42 (Toronto symbol IGM; Conservative Growth Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 264.4 million; Market cap: $11.1 billion; SI Rating: Above average) is Canada’s largest mutual fund company, with $117.6 billion in assets under management. Power Corp. controls 56% of IGM.

The company has three main divisions. Investors Group sells funds through its own network of over 4,000 financial advisors. Mackenzie Financial sells its funds through independent brokers. IGM also owns 74.5% of IPC Financial, whose 540 advisors provide wealth management services. Unlike Great- West, IGM has few operations outside of Canada.

IGM’s revenue rose from $1.9 billion in 2002 to $2.6 billion in 2006. Revenue probably reached $2.9 billion in 2007. Earnings before unusual items grew from $1.85 a share (total $491.1 million) in 2002 to $2.85 a share ($763.0 million) in 2006. Earnings in 2007 likely grew to $3.17 a share.

The recent turmoil in stock markets has spurred fund redemptions, particularly at Mackenzie. Redemptions hurt IGM’s earnings, since its fees rise and fall with the value of the securities in its funds.

Expansion pays off

However, sales at the Investors Group division continue to rise, mainly due to a 27% jump in the number of advisors in the past four years. Productivity is also improving as these new employees gain more experience.

The rising Canadian dollar has also hurt the value of IGM’s U.S. and international funds. But higher sales of foreign funds have helped offset this.

IGM is steadily expanding its institutional wealth management business, which cuts its reliance on sales to individuals. Institutions and high net worth investors currently account for about 13% of IGM’s assets under management.

The stock has moved down with the overall market in the past three months. IGM now trades at 12.7 times the $3.30 a share it will probably earn in 2008. The $1.84 dividend yields 4.4%.

IGM Financial is a buy.

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