Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: I am wondering why you don’t recommend Talisman Energy, and why you believe Encana is better stock. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Talisman Energy, $20.26, symbol TLM on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 1.0 billion; Market cap: $20.8 billion; www.talisman-energy.com), has sold about $2 billion of its Canadian natural-gas properties to Sasol (ADR symbol SSL on New York), a recommendation of our Stock Pickers Digest newsletter. Talisman now aims to expand its international presence in Latin America and southeast Asia. The company already has interests in the North Sea and northern Africa. Encana, $31.59, symbol ECA on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 735.4 million; Market cap: $23.2 billion; www.encana.com), is cheaper than Talisman in terms of cash flow. But more than that, we think its properties have more potential than Talisman’s, and Encana exposes investors to less political risk, due to its concentration in North America. Talisman is okay to hold only for investors willing to accept those risks. Encana is a buy. buy. …