Pengrowth conserves cash

Article Excerpt

PENGROWTH ENERGY TRUST $6.82 (Toronto symbol PGF.UN; Shares outstanding: 256.5 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; SI Rating: Average) has cut its monthly distribution by 41.2%, to $0.10 a unit from $0.17. The cut will let it conserve cash until oil and natural gas prices rebound. Despite the reduction, the new annual rate of $1.20 still yields a high 17.6%. The lower payout will also free up cash, which Pengrowth may use to buy new oil and gas properties, possibly at bargain prices. It will also let Pengrowth finance this year’s drilling and exploration, and fund ongoing maintenance, without increasing its $1.3-billion long-term debt, which is a high, but still manageable, 72% of Pengrowth’s market cap. Pengrowth is a buy. buy…