STOCKCHASE

About a year ago there was a takeover fight. He fought it as an activist investor. The premium was less than one year’s dividend. Big in Canada, just reported blowout earnings. Less than 11x, 4% dividend. Well run company. Still cheap at its all time high.

2012-03-20

Comment

24.110

Michael Decter

Has had a good run, but the whole oil service sector has. Wouldn't be intimidated by the current price, but would prefer being a little patient and waiting for it to come off 10%-15% but this would not be a terrible entry point. There are others he prefers.

2012-02-09

TOP PICK

22.300

Use high-pressure water to move earth where you can’t use a shovel. Pipelines and Utilities use them. Headquartered in Alberta where they are dominant but growth is in US. Huge growth ahead of them and good dividend. Management almost sold the company last year but an investor group stopped it because they were undervaluing it.

2012-01-19

TOP PICK

17.260

Canadian company expanding into the US in the high-pressure water/earth moving business. High-pressure water moving earth helps with pipelines underground. There was a take-over offer that they fought off because the company is worth more down the road. Big, safe dividends.

2011-09-23

TOP PICK

19.800

Use high pressure water to move earth. Customers are mainly energy companies and utilities. Expanding big in the US. Lots of upside. Good management. Nice yield of 5.4%.

2011-05-20

BUY

18.760

Jason Donville

Clean out holes in everything from telecommunications to oil and gas. Great company. Expects there will be some absolutely blow out numbers for the oil/gas sector in Q4 and some really strong numbers in 2011. Other names that also look great are Phoenix (PHX.UN-T), Cathedral (CET-T) and Canadian Energy Services (CEU-T). (Also see Top Picks.)

2010-12-06

BUY

14.500

Holes and trenches for utilities and around the oil sands. Have corporate and franchisee trucks. Last quarter indicated things were turning around and was more positive. Cheap at 5X on a Price to Cash Flow basis. Conservative management.

2010-09-10

TOP PICK

12.000

Hydro/vacuum trucks that dig holes. High-pressure water with vacuum that exposes pipes, etc. that companies want to excavate or check. Generated very high returns on equity through the years. Will benefit from infrastructure spending in Canada and US. Very cheap at 3.7X cash flow.

2009-07-06

BUY

21.480

Sandy McIntyre

(Market Call Minute.)

2008-02-26

BUY

16.850

Chris Rankin, MBA, CFA

A beautiful business. Glorified vacuum trucks, which are used for non-invasive servicing. Does have some oil field services. Feels this is a very strong steady stock. "Hold forever, then wake up one day and cash out"

2007-06-08

BUY

14.610

Has become really cheap. Building about 4 hydrovac trucks. 60% payout ratio. Virtually no long-term debt on the balance sheet. Good growth prospects.

2006-11-03

BUY

16.550

Chris Rankin, MBA, CFA

This is an excellent company. They have no debt. It is a good time to pick it up.

2006-09-25

BUY

17.700

Does trench work for oil/gas in industrial and utilities sectors. No long-term debt. They're paying for their growth expansion through internal generated cash flow. Good management. Like their growth prospects.

2006-03-31

BUY

17.300

Ravi Sood

Likes the energy service sector. Not that well owned institutionally yet because of its small market cap.

2005-12-09

BUY

17.750

In the Hydrovac business, so their business is quite strong. They also service industrial pipes and utilities. Low debt. Have raised their distributions.

2005-10-07

BUY on WEAKNESS

19.400

Payout is quite low. The opportunity for growth continues to be pretty good. Just out of the top 25 in his model. Expects about a 6% earnings growth. High correlation to oil prices (he's not sure why) and if oil pulls back like expected, he would buy more.

2005-09-15

BUY

15.750

Glenn MacNeill, P.Eng.

Has grown dramatically. Has about 212 units. Very profitable business. Unique technologies.

2005-04-29

BUY on WEAKNESS

15.000

Robert Lauzon

Essentially it digs into the ground to access pipeline for expansion. There will be a lot more of this work both in Canada and the US, so it should continue to grow. Taking a hard look at this one. If it pulls back a little more, they may take a position.

2005-04-08

TOP PICK

15.700

Jean-Francois Tardif

Good price. Made about $1.20 a share in earnings and should grow to $1.50 in '05. High quality, good growth, good yield.

2005-03-18

HOLD

15.880

Sandy McIntyre

Liked for long term. Hold.

2005-03-04

BUY

17.150

Has a 65% payout which allows them enough money to expand their business and provide growth.

2005-02-11

BUY

15.160

Ben Cheng

Has done a remarkable turn around. Has put up very good earnings and they are only paying out about half their cash flow in order to re-invest in their operations.

2004-11-12

DON'T BUY

12.650

Peter Brieger

Not followed on the street. Chart looks pretty good. Tax flow has been volatile.

2004-10-28

PAST TOP PICK

10.950

(Past top pick Jan 15/04. Up 44%.) Thinks there is still great opportunity for this. Can afford to increase their distribution.

2004-08-20

BUY

9.400

Glenn MacNeill, P.Eng.

Expecting record earnings for this company, especially for the 2nd quarter of this year. Should do very well.

2004-06-25

PAST TOP PICK

8.950