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Shares in focus: Build some income into your portfolio
Carillion's growth days may be over, but its shares pack an attractive yield. So, should you buy this support services giant? Phil Oakley investigates.
Carillion is one of the UK's biggest support services companies. It looks after thousands of buildings for customers such as the Ministry of Defence and BT. It is also plays a significant role in the maintenance of road, railway and utility infrastructures, as well as providing heating and renewable energy for businesses and domestic customers.
Carillion has been a major participant in private finance initiatives (PFIs) in the UK and Canada and in working with governments via public private partnerships (PPPs) to build public- sector infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and roads. It also has a significant presence in the UK construction sector and is focused on growing its construction business in Canada and the Middle East.
The history
Carillion was created from the spin-off of the construction and business services unit of Tarmac plc in 1999. As an independent company, it set about trying to create a more resilient and predictable business, not based solely on construction activities. There were some setbacks when it lost its position in rail maintenance after Network Rail decided to do the work itself.
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Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
However, it stuck to a strategy of investing heavily in PPPs during the early 2000s while growing its support services business. Buying other construction and support services companies significantly boosted profits. In 2006, for example, it bought Mowlem, followed by Alfred McAlpine in 2008.
These businesses made Carillion one of the biggest UK support services companies. They also allowed it to make very large cost savings and post successive years of strong profits growth. Since becoming an independent company, profits available to shareholders have more than tripled and dividends have increased fourfold.
The management
Richard Howson has been chief executive since January 2012. Having worked for Carillion for over 16 years, he was previously head of the group's Middle East business and group chief operating officer. He was paid £902,000 in 2011.
Another key figure is Richard Adam, Carillion's finance director. He has an impressive track record in managing company finances, most notably at Associated British Ports. There, between 1999 and 2006, along with the chief executive, he played a major part in restoring the fortunes of the company.
Should you buy the shares?
The more predictable profits from support services provide much more reassurance for an investor than those from construction. But can this business grow? Support services makes up half of Carillion's profits, but have hardly moved since 2008. What growth there has been has mostly come from cost savings. It looks like 2012 will see this theme repeated, with cost savings from the purchase of Eaga plc being the main profit driver.
The outlook for outsourcing is difficult to call given the weak UK economy and tough competition. Carillion has work to do here. On the positive side, it should still be able to realise value from its PPP portfolio and the outlook for its Canadian and Middle East construction businesses is good.
At 315p, Carillion shares look very cheap, trading on 7.2 times 2012 forecast earnings. But be careful. A large chunk of profits still come from construction, where poor profit margins and earnings visibility quite rightly command a low stockmarket rating.
Another point to consider is Carillion's low tax charge of 15%. This is mainly down to the fact that Middle East profits are subject to little, or no, tax. This cannot last forever.
That said, Carillion's dividend yield (at 5.6%) is attractive, looks safe and will probably grow. This is the main reason to buy or hold the shares just don't expect the share price to rocket from here.
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