Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Could you give me your recommendation on Calpine Corp., the U.S. power generator? Many thanks.

Article Excerpt

Calpine Corp., $13.87, symbol CPN on New York (Shares outstanding: 444.2 million; Market cap: $6.2 billion), is a major U.S. power company. Calpine sells its power to individuals, towns and cities in Canada and 21 U.S. states. The company can generate nearly 29,000 megawatts of electricity from its 93 power plants, and is the largest generator of natural-gas-fuelled electricity in the U.S. The recession and high unemployment drove down power demand and prices in the U.S. That hurt electricity producers like Calpine. The company does benefit from its hedging strategy, which has let it lock in prices for most of the gas its plants will use this year. Lower natural-gas prices have also helped Calpine. That’s because lower gas prices, combined with its efficient plants, let it earn higher profit margins on the power it sells. Calpine needs a continued economic recovery to post higher revenue and earnings. As well, the stock is expensive in relation to earnings: it trades at…