BHP plans big natural gas expansion

Article Excerpt

BHP BILLITON LTD. ADRs $92 (New York symbol BHP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.8 billion; Market cap: $257.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.9; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.bhpbilliton.com) makes most of its money from mining iron ore, coal and aluminum. The company now wants to raise its oil and natural gas output by 40% over the next five years. To that end, BHP is buying natural-gas properties in Arkansas from Chesapeake Energy Corp. (New York symbol CHK) for $4.75 billion. The deal should close in sometime in mid-2011. BHP held cash of $16.6 billion, or $5.98 per ADR, on December 31, 2010, so it can easily afford this purchase. Still, low gas prices will probably hurt its profits from these new properties over the next few years. BHP Billiton is a hold. hold…