tcook052

https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...668952733.html

MONTREAL, Jan. 12, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada shares outperformed those of all its North American network carrier peers for the second consecutive year in 2017. During a year in which it celebrated its 80th anniversary, the airline set a number of company financial records and won major awards for customer service and employee engagement.

"Air Canada performed very strongly in 2017, fulfilling its commitments to investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders. Such achievements speak to the success of the ongoing transformation of our company and its power to deliver value to shareholders. The results also reflect the loyalty of our customers and I thank them on behalf of all of our 30,000 employees for choosing to fly with Air Canada," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.

"In the third quarter of 2017 alone we set nine financial records for Air Canada, including EBITDAR, liquidity and passengers carried. We were named the Best Airline in North America by Skytrax, and for the fifth consecutive year we were ranked among Canada's Top 100 Employers. Moreover, we expanded our global network with 29 new routes and continued to renew our fleet with the delivery of nine new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the first of our new narrow body Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and we unveiled a stunning new aircraft livery to signal our transformation."

Highlights of 2017 included:

• The launch of 30 new routes, 15 of which were new international city pairings, including Montreal-Shanghai, Toronto-Mumbai, and Vancouver-Melbourne;
• Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge hired more than 6,000 new employees in 2017, providing high quality jobs with pensions and benefits;
• The company produced record EBITDAR financial results for the first nine months on which it has reported (2017 fourth quarter and year end results will be reported February 16, 2018);
• Air Canada generated greater customer engagement, serving more than 48 million people on its expanded network;
• Skytrax, the globally recognized industry rating company, named Air Canada the Best Airline in North America and maintained its 4 Star Rating, making Air Canada the only four star network carrier in North America. Air Canada was also named the Best Long Haul Airline in the Americas for 2018 by AirlineRatings.com, an airline safety and product rating agency. AirlineRatings.com gives Air Canada its top seven-star rating for both safety and product;
• Other notable awards included being named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for the fifth consecutive year and one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2017 for the second consecutive year by Mediacorp Canada Inc.; winner in Airline Strategy Awards Finance Category by the established air transport industry news and analysis provider Flight Airline Business; and one of the 50 Most Engaged Workplaces in North America for second consecutive year by Achievers, an employee social recognition company.

"Shareholders were also big winners in 2017. Our common shares appreciated nearly 90 per cent over the year, outperforming all of our North American network carrier peers, the Dow Jones U.S. Airlines Index and the S&P/TSX Composite Index," said Mr. Rovinescu. "As well, I would also like to thank our employees and recognize their dedication and hard work that made 2017 such a successful year for Air Canada."

jerryhung

AC's stock price has been volatile lately, $26 to $23 and failed $25 today
Today -3% (no news) while US market closed
Same for WJA
Whie US airlines like DAL/UAL/AAL are all making record highs, despite oil at 3-year high... I don't get it

Even AIM acts better

YYC009

I don't understand either... stock has slid into the $22 range and is now marked as a 'hold' instead of buy. There doesn't seem to be any change to the fundamentals. Trying to figure out if people who have been for the ride are finally taking profits or if there is something we are missing here. I expect AC to continue to do well in the future...

JustSomeGuy1978

My opinion is that the run in 2017 was simply a return to "typical" valuation (note that AC's only public competitor, westjet, has sat in the $23 - $25 range) following AC's financial struggles.

lacking any additional "good news" i can see pricing slip slightly due to profit taking. Q4 2017 and Q1 2018 results and market reaction will be the next bellwether IMO.

longtimeflyin

I wonder if the 1% drop in stock price today was caused by the WestJet 787 announcement.

If I worked for Air Canada, I'd be pretty nervous about my margins right about now.

jerryhung

WJA dropped -10% yesterday and -5% today
AC naturally got dragged with it yesterday -3% and recovered a bit

TD notes that it's actually beneficial for AC with WJA's mess
AC beat ER and dropped -10% since then.. TD thinks it's unfair

It'd take so long for WJA to ramp up and compete with AC's product

I think drop today is also related to oil's +3% pop = higher cost for airlines

Jumper Jack

Do you actually refer to those analysts with your investments? Their public analysis is often not worth the paper its printed on.

MorkieMoose

Hah!

jerryhung

AC has been on an inverse downtrend with oil since ER
Today broke below $23 to $22.x

jerryhung

apparently HIGH or LOW oil price don't matter
AC is just down and down, back to $22.9x again after reaching near $25
so we're back to 1 month ago

Stranger

You seriously expected it would keep going up forever? Good times have to end sooner or later. Was good while it lasted.

SparseFlyer

It's going to go to $1/share soon better sell now.

tcook052

https://www.cantechletter.com/2018/0...gregorio-says/

Buy Air Canada stock over WestJet’s, Steve DiGregorio says

Stranger

More to the point, I would say, sell WS over AC.

Fiordland

So does that indicate AC has pricing power and is able to pass on fuel charges?