Topic: Growth Stocks

Value stocks: Enerflex equipped for a rebound when oil and gas recover

Enerflex

Today, we look at a value stock that has the potential for a strong rebound when oil and gas prices recover. Enerflex, an independent company since it was spun off by Toromont Industries (Toronto symbol TIH) in 2011, is a major supplier of equipment to the natural gas industry. A timely U.S. acquisition in 2014 has helped Enerflex generate positive earnings despite a decline in orders, and also enhances the company’s international growth prospects. And the dividend, which yields 3.2%, appears safe.

ENERFLEX LTD. (Toronto symbol EFX; www.enerflex.com) rents and sells equipment and services for natural gas production, including compression and processing plants, refrigeration gear and power generators.

On June 30, 2014, the company closed its $431- million U.S. acquisition of two businesses owned by privately held Axip Energy Services: an international contract compression and processing subsidiary and a division that provides aftermarket services.

In the three months ended June 30, 2015, Enerflex’s revenue fell 8.3%, to $389.7 million from $424.9 million a year earlier. But earnings per share more than doubled, to $0.34 from $0.15. International contributions from the Axip businesses pushed up earnings and almost offset weaker revenue in the U.S. and Canada. However, falling oil and gas prices are now hurting the company’s orders.


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Value stocks:  International growth from Axip operations expected to spur higher earnings per share

Enerflex booked just $86.5 million of orders in the latest quarter, down 79.1% from $414.3 million a year earlier. Its backlog now stands at $532.7 million, down 38.6% from $867.9 million a year ago.

In response to the lower bookings, the company has reduced costs, including laying off 600 of its 3,400 employees since the start of this year. These measures, plus the Axip operations’ international growth prospects (especially in the Middle East) should still let Enerflex earn $1.04 a share in 2015. The stock trades at 10.8 times that estimate. It yields 3.2%.

Recommendation in Stock Pickers Digest: BUY

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