P/e Still High For This Risky Cyclical

Article Excerpt

SNC-LAVALIN INC. $58 (Toronto symbol SNC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 151.0 million; Market cap: $8.8 billion; SI Rating: Average) earned $0.47 a share (total $70.9 million) in the first quarter of 2008, compared to a loss of $0.69 a share ($103.9 million) a year earlier. However, the year-earlier quarter included a pre-tax loss of $179.0 million stemming from the bankruptcy of a key supplier to SNC’s electrical power business. Revenue grew 38.5%, to $1.8 billion from $1.3 billion. The stock has gained 50% since January, and now trades at 36.7 times the $1.58 a share it will likely earn in 2008. That’s high considering SNC relies on public works projects, often in politically unstable areas of Africa and Asia, for much of its growth. Our high dollar also hurts the value of some of its overseas earnings. SNC-Lavalin is a hold. …