Updates on Our Oil & Gas Royalty Trusts

Article Excerpt

ARC ENERGY TRUST $32.88 (Toronto symbol AET.UN; SI Rating: Speculative) produces oil and gas in western Canada. In the three months ended March 31, 2008, ARC’s revenue rose 32.5%, to $407.9 million from $307.8 million. Cash flow per unit rose 18.1%, to $0.98 from $0.83. The rise in cash flow came largely from higher oil prices. ARC’s average daily production of 66,976 barrels of oil per day equivalent is weighted 49% toward oil and 51% natural gas. In the latest quarter, its average realized price for oil was $89.72 U.S., up 47.6% from $60.79 a year earlier. Natural gas was $7.80 U.S., up slightly from $7.75. ARC’s debt remains low, at approximately 10% of market cap or under one year’s annual cash flow. ARC has just increased its monthly distribution by 16.7%, to $0.28 from $0.24. The units now yield 10.2%. It distributed just 60% of its cash flow as distributions in the latest quarter. ARC Energy Trust is still a buy. PENGROWTH ENERGY TRUST…