Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: I would be interested in your opinion on New Flyer Industries. It seems to be flourishing and pays a good dividend. Your thoughts, please.

Article Excerpt

New Flyer Industries, $12.90, symbol NFI on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 55.5 million; Market cap: $716.0 million; www.newflyer.com), is the leading transit bus maker in the U.S. and Canada. It also provides parts and service. In the three months ended September 30, 2014, New Flyer’s revenue rose 17.7%, to $360.8 million from $306.5 million a year earlier. The gain was mainly due to a 7.6% increase in bus deliveries and a 40.7% rise in parts and service revenue. Earnings per share rose 28.6%, to $0.18 from $0.14. New Flyer’s long-term outlook is sound. Transit spending is steadily rebounding as vehicle fleets age and government finances improve. However, bus manufacturing and service remain highly competitive businesses, as competitors try to rebuild their backlogs. That could limit the company’s profit growth. However, New Flyer has said that it expects to maintain its current dividend rate. Its free cash flow (cash flow less capital expenditures needed for maintenance or expansion) payout ratio was 54.7% in the first…