Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: What do you think of Genivar? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Genivar Inc., $30.18, symbol GNV on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 26.0 million; Market cap: $785.2 million; www.genivar.com), is one of Canada’s largest engineering-services firms by number of employees, with 4,500. The company provides consulting services for all stages of a project, including planning, design, construction and maintenance. It has clients in both the public and private sectors. Genivar first sold units to the public at $10 each and began trading on Toronto in May 2006. The company converted from an income trust to a corporation on January 1, 2011. In the three months ended December 31, 2010, Genivar’s revenue rose 21.4%, to $580.4 million from $477.9 million. About half of the rise was due to acquisitions. Cash flow per share rose 3.9%, to $2.66 from $2.56. The company continues to grow through acquisitions — it has bought about 50 related firms since 2006. That has helped Genivar cut its reliance on Quebec. In 2006 the province accounted for 90% of the company’s revenue…