Here’s our Pick of the Month – December 2011

Article Excerpt

STANTEC INC. $24.89 (Toronto symbol STN; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (780-917-7288; www.stantec.com; Shares outstanding: 45.7 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) sells a range of consulting, project delivery, design/build and technology services. The company’s clients operate in a wide variety of markets, including industry, environment, transportation and construction. Stantec has over 11,000 employees in 170 locations throughout North America. It also has four international offices. In the three months ended September 30, 2011, the company’s revenue rose 11.3%, to $430.4 million from $386.7 million a year earlier. That partly reflects contributions from companies Stantec recently bought. In addition, the company is working on a number of new projects for customers in a range of industries, including mining and oil and gas. Before one-time items, earnings rose 13.8%, to $28.9 million, or $0.63 a share, from $25.4 million, or $0.55 a share. Stantec continues to grow by acquisition. For example, in October 2011 it bought Entran Inc., a Lexington, Kentucky-based consulting…