The Successful Investor Hotline – Friday, January 30, 2009

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD., $37.22, Toronto symbol CP, earned $631.5 million in 2008, down 6.1% from $672.8 million in 2007. Per-share earnings fell 6.0%, to $4.06 from $4.32. These figures exclude foreign-exchange losses and other one-time items. The drop was largely caused by higher fuel and labour costs. Revenue, however, rose 4.8%, to $4.9 billion from $4.7 billion as higher rates offset lower freight volumes. CP’s operating ratio rose to 78.6% from 75.3% a year earlier. (Operating ratio is calculated by dividing a company’s regular operating costs by its revenue. The lower the ratio, the better.) Falling oil prices and temporary layoffs should help lower CP’s costs in 2009. The company plans to issue up to 13.9 million new common shares at $36.75 each. The gross proceeds of $510.8 million will help CP cover its pension costs, which will rise from $95 million in 2008 to between $150 million and $195 million in 2009. In 2010, CP estimates its pension obligations…