Westport’s results, not so bad after all

It was a relatively benign quarter for this innovator.

| More on:
The Motley Fool

Even though financial results were below expectations, this isn’t a company that investors own because of current earnings, or lack thereof.  Westport is owned because of the future its innovative technology offers.

One financial metric however that investors should be keeping tabs on is the company’s cash position.  At the end of the quarter this stood at $174 million, down from $216 million at the end of the last quarter.  If we treat this cash-burn of $42 million as typical, Westport is going to run out of cash in 4 quarters or so.  Not good, as this could lead to the threat of an equity issue and create an overhang for the stock.

Business update

With a cash-crunch staring him in the face, CEO David Demers remained positive.

“We are expecting a step change in growth over the course of this year and remain confident the market for natural gas as a fuel in trucking is here and now—not five or ten years down the road.”

Demers went on to indicate that the most interesting news in the quarter was the extent of interest in using liquid natural gas (LNG) in the rail industry.  The company is working alongside Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) to try and develop locomotives and mining applications that utilize Westport products.

Full-year revenue guidance was maintained in the $180-$200 million range.

Foolish Takeaway

Although it’s burning cash, Westport appears well-positioned from a technological standpoint.  However, it needs to begin monetizing the first mover advantage it has.  The longer it takes for a reliable market to develop, the more time competitors have to catch-up.

Westport is a leader in an unproven industry.  Many of today’s best companies started out the same way and have gone on to make their shareholders billions (and billions, and billions) of dollars richer.  3 such companies are profiled in our special FREE report “3 U.S. Stocks Every Canadian Should Own”.  Simply click here and we’ll send you this report – absolutely FREE!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest in Foolish investing.

Fool contributor Iain Butler does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this report at this time.  The Motley Fool owns shares in Westport Innovations. 

***Editor’s Note:  An earlier version of this post contained erroneous information about Westport’s earnings release date/time.  We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. 

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

More on Investing

Handwriting text writing Are You Ready For Tomorrow question. Concept meaning Preparation to the future Motivation Stand blackboard with white words behind blurry blue paper lobs woody floor.
Dividend Stocks

Secure Your Future: Invest in These TFSA Stocks for Retirement

Top dividend stocks like Suncor Energy Inc. are the perfect candidates to stash in a TFSA and secure a safe…

Read more »

falling red arrow and lifting
Stocks for Beginners

3 Oversold Stocks to Buy Before They Bounce Back

Sure, stocks drop. But once they're oversold stocks, companies like these are due to rebound quickly. So, consider these while…

Read more »

funds, money, nest egg
Investing

Want $1 Million in Retirement? Invest $50,000 in These 3 Stocks and Wait a Decade

Hyper-growth stocks like Constellation Software could turn $50,000 into a million by 2033.

Read more »

Red siren flashing
Dividend Stocks

Income Investors, Take Note: These Canadian Dividend Stocks Are on Fire

Here are two rallying Canadian dividend stocks you can buy now, despite broader market uncertainties.

Read more »

A close up image of Canadian $20 Dollar bills
Dividend Stocks

3 Oversold Dividend Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income

Top Canadian dividend stocks are on sale!

Read more »

Shopping card with boxes labelled REITs, ETFs, Bonds, Stocks
Investing

Diversify Your Portfolio With these 3 Canadian ETFs for June 2023

Index funds like the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund can be good long-term investments.

Read more »

bulb idea thinking
Tech Stocks

2 Aerospace and Defence Stocks to Watch as the Sector Gains Altitude

Investors looking for a long-term play on a recovering industry should definitely consider these two aerospace and defence stocks today!

Read more »

Bank sign on traditional europe building facade
Bank Stocks

The 2 Cheapest Bank Stocks to Buy in June 2023

Canadian investors navigating a volatile market should snatch up undervalued bank stocks like Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS).

Read more »