Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: May I have your opinion on Gaz Metro LP please? Thank you

Article Excerpt

Gaz Metro LP, $14.22, symbol GZM.UN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 120.5 million: Market cap: $1.7 billion), mainly distributes natural gas in Quebec and Vermont. Gaz Metro is the largest gas distributor in Quebec, where it has 1,300 employees and serves 179,600 customers through an underground pipeline network of almost 10,000 kilometres. Gaz Metro sells 90% of its gas to commercial customers, and the rest is used by homeowners. It also owns interests in pipelines and underground storage sites in the province. Gaz Metro is the only natural-gas distributor in Vermont. It has nearly 300 employees in the state, and also owns Green Mountain Power Corp., Vermont’s second-largest electricity distributor. In the three months ended December 31, 2008, Gaz Metro’s revenues rose 15.9%, to $715.8 million from $617.8 million. Excluding one-time items, Gaz Metro’s profits rose 5.6%, to $71.2 million, or $0.59 a unit, from $67.4 million, or $0.56 a unit. Cash flow per unit rose 20.6%, to $1.29 from $1.07 a year…