CGI Blamed By Obama...BUT CGI wasn't in charge of the integration work

National Bank’s Mr. Thompson, who said he spoke to the company about the issue recently, said the problems were related to “integration” work after CGI had finished the project and handed it off to a federal agency called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “I don’t think CGI should be taking the blame for this,” Mr. Thompson said. “They built the application to the spec. The spec was approved and they’ve been paid. And they weren’t in charge of the integration work.”

Obamacare woes threaten CGI's stature

Monday, October 21, 2013

IAIN MARLOW and BERTRAND MAROTTE

 

TORONTO and MONTREAL — The U.S. President is not happy with Canada’s largest technology company.

A U.S. unit of Montreal-based CGI Group Inc., a global technology services giant with annual revenues of $10-billion, is the main contractor behind the problem-plagued, Web-based insurance exchange that plays a key role in the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

The website, which is meant to help uninsured Americans search for medical coverage at decent rates, has lagged and crashed as millions of people try to search through and sign up for plans. The crisis, if it continues, could deliver a reputational hit to CGI, as well as illustrates the complicated nature of the large, complicated government contracts that make up a sizable share of the company’s business.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday there is “no excuse” for the technical problems that have plagued the site.

“The problem has been that the website that’s supposed to make it easy to apply for, and purchase, the insurance is not working the way it should for everybody,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference at the White House. “There’s no sugar-coating it. The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck during the application process ... Nobody’s more frustrated by that than I am, precisely because the product is good.”

CGI Group has so far managed to avoid much of the blame, but it could eventually suffer reputational damage if these high profile problems continue, Raymond James analyst Steven Li said in an interview. Another analyst, National Bank Financial’s Kris Thompson, said he thinks many in the technology services industry would be aware that CGI Group built the product to the proper “specs,” and that the current problems do not indicate broader problems within the Canadian company – which has grown sizably over the past couple of years through acquisitions.

Government contracts, such as the project for Mr. Obama’s health-insurance marketplace, constitute a large part of CGI’s business: As of July, 2013, CGI said on its website that it supported more than 2,000 government organizations and that it had worked with 95 federal government departments, agencies and crown corporations – and partnered with “most” of Canada’s provinces. A spokesman for CGI did not return multiple requests for comment.

Mr. Li, in an interview, said CGI has not suffered any serious damage since the system went live on Oct. 1, but added that public goodwill may not last. “The longer it drags on, the higher the risk that CGI will take a reputational hit,” he said. “But it would take a month or two for that to happen. If this is fixed in the next couple of weeks, there will be no issue for CGI.”

National Bank’s Mr. Thompson, who said he spoke to the company about the issue recently, said the problems were related to “integration” work after CGI had finished the project and handed it off to a federal agency called the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “I don’t think CGI should be taking the blame for this,” Mr. Thompson said. “They built the application to the spec. The spec was approved and they’ve been paid. And they weren’t in charge of the integration work.”

Mr. Obama said about half-a-million people so far have applied for heath care on federal and state exchanges. He did not mention by name CGI or any other service providers that worked on setting up the exchange. “No one is madder than me about the fact the website isn’t working as it should, which means it’s going to get fixed,” he joked.

CGI won the contract for designing and developing the technology architecture of the new marketplace. The platform, to which several other companies have also contributed, is managed by an arm of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services.

Bank of Canada is keeping its trendsetting interest rate at one per cent

OTTAWA—The Bank of Canada is keeping its trendsetting interest rate at one per cent and signalling it will likely stay low longer than previously anticipated.

The bank says in a new forecast that the Canadian economy will be considerably weaker over the next few years and take longer to return to full capacity.

Source

Repost For Education and Discussion analyst upgrades and downgrades

This blog is posted to share under the provisions of "Fair dealing" offers some exceptions to the Copyright Act's general prohibition on copying. Fair dealing allows limited and non-commercial copying for the purposes of research or private study, criticism, review, and news reporting. 

Today's analyst upgrades and downgrades

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Darcy Keith and Eric Atkins

Inside the Market’s roundup of some of today’s key analyst actions. This file will be updated during the trading day. For breaking analyst actions prior to market open every day, read our Before the Bell morning report.
Desjardins Securities analyst Benoit Poirier upgraded Canadian National Railway Ltd. to "buy" from "hold," commenting that the company's "stellar" third-quarter results have given him confidence that there will be further stock gains.
Mr. Poirier, and at least four other analysts, also raised their price targets on the railway.
CN Rail's adjusted earnings per share of $1.72 (Canadian) sailed past Street expectations for $1.62, and revenues also beat forecasts.
"In light of the strong quarter, including excellent operating metrics and market share gains, as well as the positive longer-term outlook, we believe there is additional potential upside to CN’s share price at current levels," Mr. Poirier said in a research note.
"Overall, we are impressed with the company’s ability to grow volume and improve operating metrics in the current economic environment. In our view, the market should take a more constructive view on CN in light of the company’s notable growth opportunities and strong balance sheet," he added.
Raymond James analyst Steve Hansen was a little more cautious in his assessment, even while increasing his price target. "While we continue to view CN as a core, long-term holding backed by a solid growth prospects, we reiterate our market perform rating due to the stock's lofty current valuation," Mr. Hansen said.
Canaccord Genuity analyst David Tyerman echoed those thoughts in maintaining a "hold" rating: "CN is trading at a slight premium to its historic average on P/E and EV/EBITDAR bases and slightly above the sector and broader market valuations. None of this is dramatically out of line, but we think CN’s current valuation limits the share price upside potential," he said.
Targets: Desjardins Securities raised its price target to $119 (Canadian) from $102. Raymond James raised its price target to $118 from $115. Canaccord Genuity raised its target to $109 from $105. RBC Dominion Securities raised its target to $123 from $120 and maintained an "outperform" rating. Credit Suisse raised its price target to $105 (U.S.) from $100.
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Citing concerns about the stock's increasingly high valuations - as well as the negative sentiment that could arise over an upcoming U.S. House hearing on the botched Obamacare website - Desjardins Securities downgraded CGI Group Inc. to "hold" from "buy."
Desjardins analyst Maher Yaghi made no change to his price target, but noted that the stock's healthy gains over the past year have left "shrinking potential upside for investors."
"Although our view is that CGI’s fundamentals are solid, we note that share price appreciation has pushed valuations higher. The spread between CGI’s valuation relative to peers has narrowed over the past few months. CGI is  currently trading at 8.4x next year EV/EBITDA. Relative to high-growth companies like Accenture (8.7x next year EV/EBITDA), spreads are nearing historical lows," he said in a research note.
Meanwhile, CGI's U.S. unit, CGI Federal, will testify Thursday at a House of Representatives hearing on the bug-filled implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act website. So far, the Department of Health and Human Services has turned down the committee's invitation to participate in the hearing and will only answer the committee's questions next Wednesday.
"While we do not view CGI as the culprit behind the failure of the website, given that the company will be answering questions without the presence of CMS (content management system) representatives during the hearing, we expect the tone of the hearing to be accusatory and short on concrete reasons for the failure, which could increase the negative perception of the stock," Mr. Yaghi said.
Target: Mr. Yaghi maintained a $40 (Canadian) price target.
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The expected sale of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.’s “prized asset,” Canada Bread Co. Ltd., has prompted CIBC World Markets analyst Mark Petrie to upgrade the stock to "sector outperformer" and raise his price target.
Maple Leaf said on Monday it is considering selling its 90-per-cent stake in the bakery company, whose brands include Dempster’s. The Globe and Mail reported the same day that private equity companies are interested in Canada Bread, which has a steady cash flow and dominant market share but sales that have flattened. The Globe also reported food companies from China, Brazil and the United States are interested in buying the main meat business, which is in the middle of a five-year restructuring.
Maple Leaf shares have risen by about 15 per cent since the news was reported.
Maple Leaf chief executive officer Michael McCain said the meat business is not for sale, and sources told the Globe any deal would wait about 18 months for the restructuring to be completed.
In August, Maple Leaf sold its profitable animal parts and biofuel division, Rothsay, to pay down debt. Mr. Petrie said in a research note he was surprised Canada Bread is now on the auction block and believes it sets the stage for the sale of the prepared meats business.
Mr. Petrie said the sale of Canada Bread could bring Maple Leaf $1.6-billion. With the $1.8-billion value of the meat business, he says Maple Leaf’s implied share value is $20, with a $1 discount to reflect the risk a Canada Bread deal fails.
Target: Mr. Petrie raised his share price target to $19 from $14. The average share price outlook is $18, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
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RBC Dominion securities cut its price target on Brookfield Canada Office Properties to $30 (Canadian) from $33 and maintained a "sector perform" rating.
TD Securities initiated coverage on Potash Corp. with a "hold" rating and $32 (U.S.) price target.
M Partners downgraded Wajax to "hold" from "buy" and maintained a $39 price target.
UBS raised its price target on Whole Foods Markets to $71 (U.S.) from $60 and maintained a "buy" rating.
UBS downgraded United Natural Foods to "neutral" from "buy" but raised its price target to $73 (U.S.) from $67.
Wedbush downgraded Broadcom to "neutral" from "outperform" and cut its price target to $27 (U.S.) from $33.
JPMorgan upgraded DuPont to "overweight" from "neutral" and raised its price target to $67 (U.S.) from $60.
Credit Suisse downgraded Weight Watchers International to "neutral" from "outperform" and cut its price target to $44 (U.S.) from $45.
BMO Nesbitt Burns raised its price target on Freeport-McMoran to $35 (U.S.) from $30 and maintained a "market perform" rating.
BMO Nesbitt Burns raised its price target on Methanex to $63 (U.S.) from $57.50 and maintained an "outperform" rating. Raymond James raised its target to $63 from $58.
Merrill Lynch initiated coverage on AOL with a "buy" rating and $47 (U.S.) price target.
BMO Nesbitt Burns cut its price target on Coach to $65 (U.S.) from $70 and maintained an "outperform" rating.
BMO Nesbitt Burns raised its price target on Kimberly-Clark to $105 (U.S.) from $96 and maintained a "market perform" rating.
BMO Nesbitt Burns raised its price target on Polaris to $155 (U.S.) from $140 and maintained an "outperform" rating.
Canaccord Genuity upgraded The Finish Line to "buy" from "hold" and raised its price target to $28 (U.S.) from $23.
Canaccord Genuity downgraded Matador Resources to "hold" from "buy" and maintained a $21 (U.S.) price target.

Source

Markets Still Moving Higher TSX ends up 61.53 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,248.06 * Gold miners and banks lead charge to two-year high

* TSX ends up 61.53 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,248.06
    * Gold miners and banks lead charge to two-year high

    By Alastair Sharp
    TORONTO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index gained
for a sixth straight session  on Tuesday, led by banks and
mining stocks after weak U.S. jobs data bolstered expectations
that the U.S. Federal Reserve will stick with its monetary
stimulus program for a while longer.

    Optimism about the economic outlook in China, a major buyer
of many of Canada's raw materials, also lifted mining companies.
Among them, Teck Resources Ltd jumped 4.1 percent to
C$29.72.

    "The numbers out of China seem to be better now and that
seems to be having an impact especially on the materials area,"
said John Kinsey, portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities.

    He pointed to signs that Australian iron ore and coal
companies are ramping up production and to improving data out of
Europe, a key market for Chinese exports, as further reason to
believe the massive Chinese economy might be stabilizing.
    Two of the world's biggest gold miners gave the index the
biggest boost, with Goldcorp Inc adding 4.9 percent to
C$26.99, and Barrick Gold Corp gaining 4.8 percent to
hit a one-month high of C$20.47.

    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
 ended up 61.53 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,248.06.
It has gained almost 3 percent since Oct. 11, and is at its
highest level since July 2011.

    U.S. employers added 148,000 positions last month, the Labor
Department said, below expectations of 180,000. While the job
count for August was revised higher and the unemployment rate
ticked down to 7.2 percent from 7.3 percent, employment gains in
July were revised lower and were the weakest since June 2012.

    While the soft jobs number suggests demand in Canada's
largest export market will remain weak, the prospect of a
looser-for-longer U.S. monetary policy has encouraged Canadian
investors.

    "There is a fair amount of stability in the Canadian market
and people seem to be quite comfortable," said Fred Ketchen,
director of equity trading at ScotiaMcLeod.

    "Our market is still considerably behind the gains they've
had in the U.S. market year to date, so maybe we've still got
room to outperform the U.S. market for November and December."
    Banks also featured heavily in the list of gainers with Bank
of Nova Scotia up 0.9 percent at C$62.54, Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce rising 1.2 percent to C$86.41,
and Bank of Montreal adding 0.7 percent to C$72.63.

    ScotiaMcLeod's Ketchen said he expects investors will
cautiously return to the market given the low-interest-rate
environment, with banks, pipelines, utilities and telecoms
likely to benefit.