Topic: How To Invest

Hello Pat: I have a stock that I would like your opinion on: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc., $21.60, symbol RBA on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 106.6 million; Market cap: $2.3 billion; www.rbauction.com), is the world’s largest industrial auctioneer. The Vancouver-based company has over 110 locations, including 44 auction sites, in more than 25 countries. Ritchie Bros. holds roughly 325 unreserved auctions each year. (Unreserved means that there are no minimum or reserve prices. Each item goes to the highest bidder, regardless of price.) It sells used and new equipment and other assets for the construction, transportation, material-handling, mining, forestry, petroleum, marine, real-estate and agriculture industries. The company’s auctions include both on-site and online bidders. About 80% of Ritchie Bros.’ customers use the equipment they buy. However, equipment makers, dealers, brokers and finance companies also participate in the company’s auctions. Ritchie Bros. typically takes a 10% commission from each auctioned item’s selling price. In the three months ended September 30, 2012, the company’s revenue rose 15.8%, to $92.3 million from $79.7 million a year earlier. (All…