The top 5 ASX 100 gainers over the past week

A resurgence in engineering companies took the lead

Darryl Daté-Shappard

I started investing after finding a copy of Peter Lynch's "Beating the Street" in the English book section of a library in Japan, where I was living at the time in 1997. Seeing that regular people can find investment ideas just as easily as professionals, I used the philosophy of that book to invest in stocks in Japan, and later in Australia after moving in 2001. I also have experience in property investing, and went on to complete my masters degree in Applied Finance at QUT in Brisbane. I follow the investment style of Peter Lynch, Phillip Fisher and Warren Buffett-- knowing what you invest in, doing your homework to keep up with a stock's story and holding a healthy skepticism of what the stock market calls "value".

Published May 10, 2014 1:31 pm AEST

The S&P ASX 100 Index (ASX: ^XTO) closed flat at 4, 543 over the past week. Domestic government budget cut concerns and slight U.S. market weakness led the index nowhere. The Aussie dollar was 93.73 cents to the US$ on Friday, up from 92.74 cents at the start of the week.

Here are the five top ASX 100 gainers for the past week.

UGL Limited (ASX: UGL) price: $7.64 (+9.45%)

The engineering and property services company surged 2.4% on Friday as it prepared to close the bidding for its DTZ property services division on 16 May. From there it will decide to either proceed with a trade sale or possibly move to spin off the business. DTZ generated $1.93 billion in revenue in FY2013.

Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) price: $5.28 (+6.23%)

The infrastructure management and engineering company reaffirmed its FY2014 full-year guidance for about $215 million in net profit. This is only slightly up from FY2013 reported net profit of $196.3 million. At a time when mining related work has pulled back from previously high levels, the market is relieved that a much lower profit will be avoided.

Echo Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: EGP) price: $2.89 (+4.71%)

After a down interim revenue result, its third quarter normalised gross group revenue was up 5.7%, driven by growth in gaming. Cost cutting initiatives were said by the company to be showing some progress. FY2014 full-year guidance was not given in a 9 May investor presentation.

Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX: LEI) price: $20.05 (+4.64%)

The engineering and infrastructure developer jumped 6.88% on Friday. Earlier in the week, it announced its third quarter net profit of $152 million, up 24% on the previous corresponding period. Revenue for the period was up 7%, showing higher earnings margins were achieved.

Recall Holdings Ltd (ASX: REC) price: $4.81 (+4.11%)

The information management solutions provider and recent spin-off from logistics operator Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB) has 308 facilities in 23 countries. It announced the US$47.2 million acquisition of CitiStorage LLC, a leading records management company based in New York City. This is the third bolt-on acquisition since demerging in December 2013.

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