TSX on pace for 10th straight day of gains, Sylogist, 5N Plus, Wildbrain lead the way

Innovation sector stocks are among the leaders again on the TSX Tuesday. Shares of Sylogist (Sylogist Stock Quote, Chart, News, Analysts, Financial TSX:SYZ) were up 10.3 per cent to $11.56. The software consolidator yesterday announced another acquisition, this time in the form of half-century old SaaS provider The Pavlik Group.

Sylogist will pay $11.5-million for Pavliks, just over one times the latter’s sales, which are expected to be $9.4-million this year.

“We are delighted to welcome Pavliks customers and team members to our growing Sylogist family, Sylogist CEO Bill Wood said. “This acquisition is immediately accretive, and brings to Sylogist near-term enhanced scale, organic growth, cash flows, and exciting strategic IP and value creation upside as our businesses are immediately stronger together. In the last seven months, Sylogist has acquired three highly strategic and growing businesses, driving 50 per cent run-rate revenue gains relative to FY 2020. The acquisition of Pavliks is another example of our ability to source and close attractive deals, execute our M&A growth strategy, and is indicative of increasing momentum across the business. I am pleased with the organic and inorganic value creation traction we’re seeing and the exciting growth path we are on,” Wood added.

Also making headway Tuesday was materials player 5N Plus (5N Plus Stock Quote, Chart, News, Analysts, Financials TSX:VNP) which today inked a deal with Samsung to supply engineered substrates based on II-VI semiconductor materials for the detector core of its next generation of medical imaging devices.

“We are very pleased by the outcome of this project and believe 5N Plus is uniquely positioned to become the leading global supplier of engineered substrates for PCD-based medical imaging applications,” said Arjang Roshan, President and Chief Executive Officer of 5N Plus. “We would like to thank Samsung and NeuroLogica for cultivating a collaborative ecosystem which not only fostered innovation but enabled its expedient implementation.”

At press time, shares of 5N Plus were up 10.3 per cent to $3.11.

Posting smaller gains today is Halifax-based children’s programming provider WildBrain (WildBrain Stock Quote, Chart, News, Analysts, Financials TSX:WILD). Scotia Capital analyst Jeff Fan recently upped his target price on the stock by 70 cents to $3.60. The analyst explained his reasoning.

“We think management did a good job walking investors through the roadmap for brand launches using Strawberry Shortcake as an example, which was relaunched in recent weeks,” Fan argued. “First, WildBrain has launched Strawberry Shortcake video games and short-form content on YouTube. In the coming months, Strawberry Shortcake will be featured in a new animated television series, and finally a toy and merchandise launch will follow in late 2022. We currently estimate 10-per-cent multiyear revenue growth for consumer products, which has potential upside as various brands are launched in the coming years.”

At press time, the TSX was up 79.9 points to 21,065.34 and had posted gains in each of the previous nine days.