Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Can I have your opinion on Ram Power, a geothermal stock?

Article Excerpt

Ram Power Corp., $0.64, symbol RPG on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 157.3 million; Market cap: $100.7 million; www.ram-power.com), owns and operates the 10-megawatt San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power plant in Nicaragua. The company is now spending $175 million to expand the San Jacinto-Tizate plant. The phase II project aims to add a further 72 megawatts of power capacity. Ram Power continues to lose money, and has negative cash flow. The San Jacinto-Tizate phase II project has also encountered significant construction delays. As well, the company’s $68 million of long-term debt is a high 68% of market cap, although it does hold cash of $29.5 million. Operating in Nicaragua entails above-average political risk. The company’s shares have fallen steadily from $3 a year ago, and could go lower. We don’t recommend Ram Power. Power. …