AltaGas prospects remain bright

Article Excerpt

AltaGas took on a lot of risk with a huge U.S. acquisition in July 2018. The company nonetheless stuck to its promise of selling non-core assets to pay down the debt it took on. At the same time, its regulated cash flows expanded. We still believe in this leader’s strong prospects and its bright outlook. It’s a Power Buy. ALTAGAS LTD., $22.69, is a buy. The utility (Toronto symbol ALA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.altagas.ca; Shares outstanding: 281.5 million; Market cap: $6.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.9%) processes, transports, stores and markets natural gas for producers. It also operates natural gas utilities and is a power generator, with gas-fired, coal-fired, wind, biomass and hydroelectric plants. Almost all of AltaGas’ assets are now in the U.S. That in part reflects its July 2018 purchase of Washington, D.C.-based utility WGL Holdings Inc. for $4 billion. AltaGas also now owns 100% of Petrogas Energy Corp. That’s after it bought the 25.97% stake in Petrogas held by Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., in July…