Diversification offsets commodity prices

Article Excerpt

TOROMONT INDUSTRIES LTD. $37.38 (Toronto symbol TIH; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-667- 5511; www.toromont.com; Shares outstanding: 78.0 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; Dividend yield: 1.9%) distributes a broad range of industrial equipment, including machinery made by Caterpillar Inc. It also makes refrigeration systems through its CIMCO division. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, Toromont’s revenue rose 11.0%, to $377.7 million from $340.2 million a year earlier. Earnings climbed 20.0%, to $24.2 million, or $0.31 a share, from $20.1 million, or $0.26. Two factors drove those increases: the company’s CIMCO unit sold more refrigeration systems; and Toromont boosted the sale of used equipment to customers in construction and mining. That offset continued weakness in the sale of new heavy machinery. 27th year of dividend increases The company’s financial position is strong: it holds cash of $60.4 million, or $0.77 a share, and its $151.3 million of debt represents just 5.2% of its market cap. Toromont has raised its dividend…