Our updates keep you on top of your stocks: Imperial Oil Ltd., Loblaw Companies and Metro Inc.

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IMPERIAL OIL LTD., $22.74, is a buy for safety-conscious investors. The company (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares o/s: 734.1 million; Market cap: $16. billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 3.9%; www.imperialoil.ca) cut this year’s spending on exploration and upgrades by 45% to $900 million. The reduction was due to lower prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Imperial plans to spend $1.2 billion on capital upgrades. About 70% of that spending will go toward its oil sands properties in Alberta. Those improvements will increase its production by 5.1%, to 415,000 barrels a day (including natural gas) in 2021 from 395,000 barrels in 2020. The company is also making better use of technology, such as self-driving trucks, to cut its operating costs and add value for investors. It now expects these actions will save it $1 billion in 2020. The lower spending and operating costs will let Imperial maintain its current dividend rate. In fact, the company’s cash flow can cover its capital spending and dividend…