Chinese Stock to Follow

The more and more I look at Chinese companies that trade on U.S. markets, the more I like what I’m seeing. Everyone knows that China is the globe’s big growth story, but I’m seeing companies out there that really are well managed, generating outstanding numbers.

The good news is that they are listing on U.S. stock exchanges, where they have to meet our reporting standards.

One company that stands out is called New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE/EDU. This company is the business of selling education in China. This pure play (high risk) Chinese company sells a range of educational services, targeting youngsters and adults with full primary and middle school education, as well as English language training and a variety of other courses. The company publishes all kinds of educational material, provides online courses of study, and operates private schools throughout the country.

Founded in 1993, this company now boasts over three million student enrollments. Over 800,000 new student enrollments occurred in 2005. Currently, the company operates a network of 25 schools, 110 learning centers, 13 New Oriental bookstores, employing some 1,700 teachers in 24 cities. The company’s online network also boasts some two million registered users.

The company reports its numbers in the Chinese currency, the Renminbi, then converts them to U.S. dollars.

In its first fiscal quarter of 2007, ended August 31, 2006, New Oriental Education generated revenues of $54.0 million, representing growth of 31% over the comparable quarter of the previous year.

Net income for the quarter was impressive coming in at $20.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. This was about double the net income generated in the comparable quarter last year.

New Oriental Education is a new listing on the stock market and you may want to follow this stock for a while. Although it is a high-risk investment prospect, I do think this company’s business plan will be very successful over the next several years.