Topic: Growth Stocks

CHEMTRADE LOGISTICS INCOME FUND $16.73 – Toronto symbol CHE.UN

CHEMTRADE LOGISTICS INCOME FUND $16.73 (Toronto symbol CHE.UN; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-496-5856; www.chemtradelogistics.com; Units outstanding: 41.7 million; Market cap: $697.6 million; Dividend yield: 7.1%) is one of North America’s largest providers of removal services for resource firms, such as oil refineries and base-metal processors. These companies create sulphur, acid and other byproducts as part of their processing activities. Chemtrade converts these substances into useful chemicals, like sulphuric acid. The trust also makes other chemicals.

In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Chemtrade’s cash flow per unit jumped 52.5%, to $0.61 from $0.40 a year earlier. Revenue rose 63.4%, to $247.2 million from $151.3 million. That mostly reflects the contribution of Marsulex Inc., which Chemtrade bought for $419.5 million in June 2011.

Marsulex provides a range of environmental services, including improving air quality and treating and handling industrial by-products and hazardous waste. Revenue also rose due to rising industrial demand and higher market prices for sulphuric acid.

Chemtrade plans to continue operating as an income trust. That’s because it believes that it is structured in such a way that its earnings will be subject to a Canadian tax rate of no more than 10%. That will help it keep its distributions high. The trust has a high 7.2% yield. It pays out just 60% of its cash flow to unitholders.

The fund’s exposure to cyclical commodity and chemical prices adds risk. It also needs sustained economic growth to keep demand for its services high. However, sulphur and sulphuric acid prices are rising. As well, increasingly strict environmental regulations should keep spurring demand for Chemtrade’s removal services.

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund is a buy.

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