Topic: Energy Stocks

Big acquisition spurs record output for Canadian energy stock

The 2016 purchase of natural gas fields in B.C, doubled this stock’s overall production and led to record levels of output by the end of 2017.

While trimming its exploration and development spending for 2018, the company still expects to achieve high levels of output this year thanks to ongoing drilling success. And a year ago, the company began paying a dividend, which yields 2.4%.


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BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY (Toronto symbol BIR; www.birchcliffenergy.com) explores for, develops and produces oil and gas, mainly in the Peace River Arch area of both Alberta and B.C. About 80% of its output is gas. The remaining 20% is oil.

In July 2016, the company bought Encana Corp.’s Gordondale natural gas fields in B.C. for $612.3 million in cash. The deal was big for Birchcliff: Gordondale expanded its overall production by more than 50%.

Last week, Birchcliff enhanced its operations in the region. It announced a long-term agreement with AltaGas (Toronto symbol ALA) to process natural gas at AltaGas’ deep-cut sour gas facility in Gordondale, Alberta. Good for at least 15 years, the agreement replaces a short-term arrangement between the two companies.

The agreement with AltaGas provides an added benefit: Birchcliff will not have to allocate significant capital to build its own deep-cut gas facility.

Energy stocks: Company trades at less than 4 times projected cash flow

In the three months ended December 31, 2017, Birchcliff’s cash flow per share jumped 33.3%, to $0.36 from $0.27 a year earlier. The increase came from higher oil prices and higher daily production.

Output rose to a record average of 80,103 barrels of oil per day in the latest quarter. That was up 31.9% from 60,750 barrels a year earlier.

Birchcliff spent 276.1 million on exploration and development in 2017. It has budgeted less for 2018 ($255 million), but based on its ongoing drilling success the company expects this year’s average output to be as high as 78,000 barrels per day.

Birchcliff is likely to report cash flow per share of $1.12 for 2018. The stock trades at just 3.7 times that forecast.

In March 2017, the company also began paying dividends of $0.025 per quarter for a yield of 2.4%.

Recommendation in Stock Pickers Digest: Birchcliff Energy is a buy for aggressive investors.

For our specific advice on buying natural gas stocks, read Natural Gas Stocks are impacted by volatility but can have long-term value.

For our recent report on a leading Canadian clean energy stock, read Smart acquisitions power this stock’s high yield.

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