CAE continues to profit from niche markets

Article Excerpt

CAE INC. $28 (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 267.6 million; Market cap: $7.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.7; Dividend yield: 1.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.cae.com) is the world’s largest maker of flight simulators for commercial airlines and military clients. It also trains pilots. Civilian airlines accounted for 58% of the company’s fiscal 2018 revenue, while military clients supplied 38%. In the past few years, CAE has applied its simulator expertise to new areas. Those include mannequins for teaching paramedics, nurses and medical students. This business supplied the remaining 4% of overall revenue. Steady revenue and earnings gains The company’s revenue rose 36.2%, from $2.1 billion in 2014 to a record $2.8 billion in 2018 (fiscal years end March 31). CAE’s overall earnings jumped 84.3%, from $188.3 million in 2014 to $347.0 million in 2018. Due to more shares outstanding, earnings per share rose at a slightly slower rate of 79.2%, from $0.72 to $1.29. New cuts to U.S. tax rates (sales to…