A Yield to Caution

Article Excerpt

CAPITAL POWER CORP. $26 (Toronto symbol CPX; Shares outstanding: 96.1 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Dividend yield: 6.0%; www.capitalpower.com) is one of Canada’s largest independent electrical power producers, with a stake in 3,600 megawatts of generating capacity. Its holdings are mainly in Alberta. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.39. The yearly payout is $1.56 a share and results in a high 6.0% yield. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has mandated that coal power be phased out in the province by 2030. The aim is to replace one-third of that with renewable energy, while natural gas will replace the remaining two-thirds. To help with the transition, the Alberta government will give Capital Power $52.3 million a year until 2030. That’s under the terms of the recently announced Off-Coal Agreement. While the financial support removes some uncertainty for the company, it must still successfully use the funds to replace its coal generation. That’s either through acquisitions or building more natural gas-fired plants. It can also…