This one showed up today on the list and I purchased some for my trading account already.
Affiliated Computer Services is currently trading at $49.18, up $2.84 or 6.13% on the day.
According to CNN.Money site, "ACS provides a full range of information technology services including business process outsourcing, technology outsourcing, and professional services to the commercial sector and federal government.
The company is doing quite well--on April 22, 2003, according to Yahoo online site (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030422/nytu095_1.html), ACS reported earnings per share of $.57 for the third quarter ended March 31, 2003. This was an increase of 24% compared to $.46 per share for the prior year. In addition, this EXCEEDED analysts expectations by $.01.
Revenues for the third quarter increased 26% to a record $1.01 billion compared to $801 million for the prior year.
Looking at Morningstar.com for 5 year financials, we find that ACS has grown from $1.2 billion in 1998 to $1.6 billion in 1999, $2.0 billion in 2000, $2.1 billion in 2001 and up to $3.1 billion in 2002. If we extrapolate the current $1.01 billion for the quarter in revenue, we get a $4 billion estimate for 2003. Very nice indeed!
Looking at the four prior quarters to one just reported we revenues growing from 24 to 50% each of the quarters and earnings per share growing by 26 to 43% each quarter as well.
Free cash flow has been improving recently...although down from $86 million in 2000 to $43 million in 2001, it jumped to $228 million in 2002 and shows as $299 million for the trailing twelve months.
A check on assets/liabilities shows a slight edge for liabilities....but overall this is a very PRETTY picture we have just painted.
In order to pay for this purchase of 150 shares this morning, I sold 50 shares of Cooper, 100 shares of Synovus, and 50 shares of NCEN in my trading account...all with significant 30% + gains...except NCEN with a 70% gain.
These represented 1/4 positions in my holdings as I have suggested on this website.
Good luck with ACS and all your investments today. Things are moving pretty strong....can it hold up?
Bob