Crescent Point Energy Trust

Oil now trades at around $110 U.S. a barrel. That’s up over 29% from $85 U.S. a year ago, and 175% higher than its low of $40 U.S. in February 2009.

We think oil prices could rise even further if the global economy continues to rebound, as we expect. Even so, we continue to advise against overindulging in Canadian oil stocks. …read more »

CRESCENT POINT ENERGY CORP. $35.67 (Toronto symbol CPG; Shares outstanding: 159.3 million; Market cap: $5.7 billion; SI Rating: Extra Risk) has made a couple of big acquisitions in Saskatchewan.

The company has bought privately held Wave Energy for about $665.3 million in stock. It has also purchased producing assets from Provident Energy Trust for $258.5 million in cash. Crescent Point plans …read more »

CRESCENT POINT ENERGY TRUST $24.32 (Toronto symbol CPG.UN; Shares outstanding: 125.2 million; Market cap: $3.0 billion; SI Rating: Speculative) produces oil and gas in western Canada. Production is currently weighted 87% toward oil and 13% to natural gas.

Crescent Point’s debt of $723.6 million is low, at around 22% of market cap. The trust’s monthly distribution of $0.23 gives the units …read more »

Our oil and gas trust recommendations hit record highs in 2007 and 2008, mainly in line with soaring oil and gas prices. In mid-2008, oil hit a record peak of $147 U.S. a barrel. Natural gas prices reached as high as $14 U.S. per thousand cubic feet.

Oil and gas stocks have fallen since those highs. Oil is currently trading at …read more »

TD CANADIAN EQUITY FUND $19.01 (CWA Rating: Conservative) (TD Asset Management, P.O. Box 7500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario. M5W 1P9. 1-866-222-3456; Web site: www.tdcanadatrust.ca. No load — deal directly with the bank) uses a “bottom-up” approach (using fundamentals such as earnings, cash flow and low debt) to identify undervalued companies with strong growth potential.

TD Canadian Equity Fund’s 10 largest holdings …read more »

The performance of these five large funds — one from each of Canada’s big-five banks — has suffered over the last year. That’s because they held high weightings in Financial services and Resources stocks. Financial services have dropped due to turmoil in credit markets. Resources have fallen along with commodity prices on fears that an economic slowdown will cut demand …read more »

GUARDIAN MONTHLY HIGH INCOME II FUND $12.83 (CWA Rating: Income) (GGOF Guardian Group of Funds, Commerce Court West, Suite 4100, P.O. Box 201, Toronto, Ontario M5L 1E8. 1-800-668-5613; Web site: www.ggof.com. Available from brokers) continues to emphasize more stable real estate investment trusts (REITs), and high-quality, long-lived resource trusts.

We still think you should diversify carefully with trusts. Emphasize those with …read more »

CRESCENT POINT ENERGY TRUST $35 (Toronto symbol CPG.UN; SI Rating: Speculative) continues to use its strong cash flow to boost production, increase exploration and development activities and raise distributions.

Crescent Point has announced an 89% increase in its 2008 exploration and development budget, to $425 million from $225 million. The trust will focus the higher spending on its light oil Bakken …read more »

GUARDIAN MONTHLY HIGH INCOME II FUND $15 (CWA Rating: Income) (GGOF Guardian Group of Funds, Commerce Court West, Suite 4100, P.O. Box 201, Toronto, Ontario M5L 1E8. 1-800-668-5613; Web site: www.ggof.com. Available from brokers) continues to emphasize more stable real estate investment trusts (REITs), and high-quality, long-lived resource trusts.

We still think you should diversify carefully with trusts. Emphasize those with …read more »

CRESCENT POINT ENERGY TRUST $36.75 (Toronto symbol CPG.UN; SI Rating: Speculative) produces oil and gas in western Canada.

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, Crescent Point’s revenue rose 114.1%, to $276 million from $128.9 million. Cash flow per unit rose 52.4%, to $1.28 from $0.84.

The rise in revenue and cash flow came largely from increased production and higher oil …read more »