Debt reduction shores up these oil producers

Article Excerpt

ENCANA CORP. $9.15 (Toronto symbol ECA; Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $14.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 1.1%; www.encana.com) operates four key properties: Montney (B.C.), Duvernay (Alberta), and Eagle Ford and Permian (both in Texas). In addition to natural gas, these fields produce large amounts of oil and natural gas liquids. In February 2019, the company completed its purchase of Newfield Exploration for $5.5 billion in Encana shares. That firm operates shale oil and natural gas wells in Oklahoma, the Bakken region of North Dakota and Utah. Encana produced 403,400 barrels a day (52% gas, 46% oil) in the quarter ended December 31, 2018. That’s up 20.3%, from 335,200 barrels a year earlier. Cash flow per share in the quarter rose 23.9%, to $0.57 from $0.46 (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). With the Newfield purchase, Encana now aims to lower its annual costs by $250 million. Half of that savings will come from cutting 15% of the…