Its low debt is a big plus

Article Excerpt

ENERPLUS CORP. $11.89 (Toronto symbol ERF; Shares outstanding: 243.8 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; Dividend yield: 1.0%) produces oil and gas from properties in Western Canada—Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.—as well as North Dakota and Montana. The company also has properties in the Marcellus Shale. That rock formation runs through Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. Output rose 10.5% in the quater ended December 31, 2018, to an average 97,860 barrels of oil equivalent per day (44% gas and 56% oil) from 88,590 a year earlier. Cash flow per share rose 7.3%, to $0.88 from $0.82. On December 31, 2018, the company’s long-term debt was $636.8 million, or a low 22% of its market cap. It holds cash of $363.3 million. Enerplus trades at just 3.3 times its forecast 2019 cash flow of $3.60 per share. The shares yield 1.0%. Enerplus Corp. is a buy. buy…