Government of Canada investment at Hamilton Airport meaningful positive for CJT
TSX: CJT | CAD 115.06 | Outperform | Price Target CAD 247.00
Sentiment: Positive
Our view. Today, the Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, announced an investment of up to $23.5MM under the National Trade Corridors Fund for an expansion and sustainability project at Hamilton Airport. We view this as a meaningful positive for CJT and as providing a platform for current and future growth at the company's major hub. We had a chance to catch up with management following the announcement who highlighted the "tremendously positive" investment in airport infrastructure will allow CJT to safely operate B777F aircraft as well as expand apron parking/handling areas, improve aircraft de-icing operations and increase access. Overall, CJT remains a top investment idea despite near-term macro headwinds that we expect to negatively affect volume in H1/23 - we continue to view the long-term FCF generation potential of the company as underappreciated by the market at current share price levels. See our Q4 preview note here.
What happened? Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, announced an investment of up to nearly $23.5MM under the National Trade Corridors Fund for an expansion and sustainability project at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
This project, which will cost close to $47MM, will allow the Hamilton International Airport to:
• handle increased cargo operations by improving and expanding airfield capacity;
• increase de-icing capacity; and
• build a new independent road to reduce congestion.