Downsizing sets them up for a rebound

Article Excerpt

WAJAX CORP. $15.05 (Toronto symbol WJX; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (905-212-3300; www.wajax.ca; Shares outstanding:20.0 million; Market cap: $292.1 million; Dividend yield: 6.6%) sells and services cranes, forklifts and other heavy equipment. It also provides related parts and systems such as ball bearings, hoses, diesel engines and transmissions. The company’s customers are spread across the natural resources, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries. In the three months ended June 30, 2016, Wajax’s clients in oil and gas made fewer purchases. That was partly due to the wildfires at Fort McMurray. As a result, revenue fell 1.2%, to $336.6 million from $340.7 million a year earlier. The company made $4.3 million in the quarter, or $0.22 a share, compared to earnings of $10.5 million, or $0.60. Wajax completed restructuring earlier this year. The company expects this to save $6 million to $7 million in 2016, and $15 million annually starting in 2017. The plan includes reducing the company’s workforce by 10%. The cost savings from the restructuring should…