Savvy acquisitions fuel these two juniors

Article Excerpt

The shares of oil and gas stocks remain high as energy demand stays strong. It bears repeating that most investors should maintain some exposure to the oil and gas industry as part of a balanced portfolio. But, to cut risk, you should stick with producers that have positive cash flow even in times of low energy prices. Here are two that should meet that requirement. Moreover, they pay solid dividends. VEREN INC., $9.04, is a buy for aggressive investors. The company (Toronto symbol VRN; Shares o/s: 617.8 million; Market cap: $5.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 5.1%; www.vrn.com) is the new name of Crescent Point Energy Corp. It has rebranded to highlight its new focus on two key Alberta oil and gas plays. That’s after the sale of its assets in Utah and Saskatchewan, and acquisitions from Shell PLC and Paramount Resources to build a presence in Alberta’s Kaybob Duvernay region. More recently, the company established itself as a significant producer in the province’s…