Here’s our Pick of the Month-January 2013

Article Excerpt

WESTJET AIRLINES $20.05 (Toronto symbol WJA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-877-493-7853; www.westjet.com; Shares outstanding: 133.8 million; Market cap: $2.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%) serves 81 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Its fleet of 100 modern Boeing 737s are 30% more fuel efficient than older jets. WestJet is scheduled to receive 35 more 737s through 2018. In the three months ended September 30, 2012, the company’s revenue rose 11.8%, to $866.5 million from $775.3 million a year earlier. Demand for its flights remains high, and it has entered into new partnerships with other airlines. Earnings per share jumped 89.3%, to $0.53 from $0.28. WestJet has a hidden asset in its non-union workforce, which helps keep its costs down. Many flyers also find that its service is friendlier than unionized airlines. As well, most of its workers are shareholders. The company is now extending its low-cost, non-union model into its new short-haul Canadian regional airline, which it aims to start up…