Topic: Value Stocks

Big acquisitions, guaranteed contracts power this high-yielding stock

Acquisitions add risk, but this Canadian stock cuts that risk with its strategic purchases.

The company buys profitable utilities that add immediately to its cash flow, like the Missouri-based utility it bought last year and a more recent deal in Spain. It also sells clean energy through long-term guaranteed government contracts. The shares trade at a moderate 11 times projected cash flow for 2018 and yield a high 5.2%.


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ALGONQUIN POWER & UTILITIES (Toronto symbol AQN; www.algonquinpower.com) operates through two main businesses: The Generation Group produces and sells electricity from 35 clean energy facilities across North America; and the Distribution Group provides regulated electricity, natural gas, water distribution and wastewater collection services.

In the past few years, the company has successfully moved into markets across North America as well as overseas.

In January 2017, Algonquin completed its biggest acquisition to date: the $3.4 billion purchase of Missouri-based Empire District Electric. The firm serves over 218,000 customers through eight power plants. Together, they produce 1,326 megawatts of generating capacity.

That acquisition has boosted Algonquin’s revenue: it jumped 192.9%, from $675.3 million in 2013 to $2.0 billion in 2017.

In March 2018, Algonquin paid Spain’s Abengoa SA $608 million U.S. for a 25% stake in Atlantica Yield plc. It has now agreed to purchase an additional 16.5% of Atlantica for $345 million U.S. That will raise its stake to 41.5%.

Atlantica owns and operates a portfolio of 22 facilities; they comprise 1.4 gigawatts of renewable power generation, 300 megawatts of natural gas generation, 1,770 kilometres of electric transmission lines and two water desalination plants. They’re also spread across Europe, North and South America, and Africa.

All of those facilities sell their power under guaranteed contracts. On average, each has 19 years remaining on its agreements. What’s more, the investment in Atlantica will add immediately to Algonquin’s cash flow per share.

Value Stocks: Company raising dividend by 10.0% with July 2018 payment

In the quarter ended March 31, 2018, overall revenue rose 17.3%, to $494.8 million from $421.7 million a year earlier. (Algonquin recently changed its reporting currency; all figures are in U.S. dollars effective January 1, 2018.)

Cash flow improved 14.8%, to $179.9 million from $156.7 million. However, on more shares outstanding as a result of the Empire purchase, cash flow per share declined 8.7%, to $0.42 from $0.46.

The company increases its quarterly dividend by 10.0% with the July 2018 payment. Investors receive $0.1282 U.S. a share instead of $0.1165 U.S. The new annual rate of $0.5128 U.S. yields a high 5.2%. The company’s dividend has increased an average of 13.5% annually over the last 5 years.

Algonquin trades at a very reasonable 11.4 times its forecast 2018 cash flow of $1.12 U.S. a share.

Recommendation in Canadian Wealth Advisor: Algonquin Power & Utilities is a buy.

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