Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What are your thoughts on People Corporation? I ask because one of the major shareholders, Laurie Goldberg helped guide Assante to a successful takeover by CI Financial. I would appreciate your thoughts on the company. Thanks

Article Excerpt

People Corporation, $2.60, symbol PEO on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 39.5 million; Market cap: $102.7 million; www.peoplecorporation.com), provides group benefits, group retirement and human resource services from offices across Canada. People’s shares moved up at the end of March, after the company reported stronger results in the quarter ended February 28, 2014. Revenue rose 37.7%, to $11.2 million from $8.1 million a year earlier. Acquisitions—mostly Hamilton + Partners, which People bought in July 2013—accounted for about two-thirds of the gain. Earnings jumped to $1.4 million, or $0.043 a share, from $178,014, or $0.005. The company just raised $10.4 million by issuing new shares for $2.15 each. It will use some of these funds for more acquisitions. Laurie Goldberg, the former president of Assante Corporation, is People’s chairman and CEO. During his tenure with Assante, the company grew to become a major wealth management firm, administering $22 billion of client assets. It also owned a sports and entertainment services organization in the U.S. In 2003,…