Higher spending set to spur their production

Article Excerpt

ENCANA CORP. $14.89 (Toronto symbol ECA; Shares outstanding: 973.1 million; Market cap: $14.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 0.6%; www. encana.com) focuses its oil and natural gas production on four key projects: Montney (B.C.), Duvernay (Alberta), and Eagle Ford and Permian (both in Texas). Those fields also produce large amounts of natural gas liquids such as propane and butane. In the first quarter, ended March 31, 2017, the company produced an average of 317,900 barrels a day (65% gas, 35% oil and liquids). Due to asset sales, that production is down 17.1% from 383,400 barrels a year earlier. Cash flow per share in the quarter jumped sharply, to $0.28 from $0.12 (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Realized gas prices were up 14.7% and oil prices were up 31.3%. Costs were lower as well. Encana plans to spend between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion on exploration and other projects in 2017. That’s up from the $1.1 billion…