High energy prices will drive their gains

Article Excerpt

Oil and gas stocks have moved up as the U.S. and other economies recover. The war in Ukraine has also spurred prices. We recommend that most investors maintain exposure to the oil and gas industry as part of a balanced portfolio. But to cut risk, you should focus on producers with positive cash flow even at low energy prices. Here are two stocks that meet that requirement—and pay a dividend. ARC RESOURCES, $18.13, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol ARX; Shares outstanding: 659.2 million; Market cap: $12.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; Dividend yield: 2.7%; www.arcresources.com) produces natural gas as well as oil. Its average output of 336,112 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including its Seven Generations Energy acquisition, see below) is 60% natural gas and 40% oil. Cash flow per share in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, jumped 102.7%, to $1.52 from $0.75 a year earlier. Both output and oil and gas prices rose. Long-term debt stands at $1.2 billion, or a low 9.9% of…