Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has been established for 30 years, but it has only operated as a listed company since November 2007. Southern Cross has been quick to make a favourable impression, with its net profit for 2007-08 of $14.3 million about 18 per cent ahead of prospectus forecasts.

Southern Cross management is expecting a 43 per cent increase in revenue to $120 million in 2008-09. Analysts have increased earnings per share forecasts for 2008-09 from 13.6¢ to 14.7¢, reflecting growth of 40 per cent. This suggests the company's forward price-earnings ratio of approximately 9 is conservative.