Smart growth fuels TransCanada

Article Excerpt

Dear client, TransCanada recently completed a major acquisition in the U.S. The purchase increased its natural gas pipeline assets by 40%. That will help the company profit as more American power plants switch from coal to now-affordable natural gas. Using acquisitions to expand tends to add risk. However, TransCanada’s new operations are mainly rate-regulated pipelines and other projects backed by long-term contracts. Thanks to the steady cash flows from these new businesses, the company has a multi-year plan to keep raising its dividend. TRANSCANADA CORP. $64 (Toronto symbol TRP; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 867.0 million; Market cap: $55.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.1; Dividend yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www. transcanada.com) operates 91,500 kilometres of natural gas pipelines in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. This system carries 25% of North America’s natural gas needs. In 2016, gas pipelines provided 53% of TransCanada’s revenue and 61% of its earnings. The company also owns or invests in 17 power plants in…