ENCANA $14.14 - Toronto symbol ECA

ENCANA $14.14 (Toronto symbol ECA; Shares outstanding: 741.1 million; Market cap: $10.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Div. yield: 2.5%; www.encana.com) has sold 98.5 million shares for $14.60 each to raise $1.44 billion.

The company will use these funds to redeem $1.6 billion worth of notes. As of December 31, 2014, Encana’s long-term debt was $7.3 billion U.S., or a high 90% of its $10.3-billion (Canadian) market cap.

The stock sale has increased Encana’s total shares outstanding by roughly 13%. However, paying down debt will cut the company’s interest costs and help it conserve cash until oil and gas prices rebound. It could also use the savings to make acquisitions at bargain prices.

Encana is still a buy.

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.