Emera Seeks Growth Beyond Nova Scotia

Article Excerpt

EMERA INC. $22 (Toronto symbol EMA; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 112.1 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; SI Rating: Average) generates and distributes electricity to roughly 600,000 customers in Nova Scotia and Bangor, Maine. In the past few years, Emera has steadily expanded into new areas to cut its reliance on Nova Scotia. It owns 12.9% of the Maritimes and Northeast natural gas pipeline, and 50% of a hydroelectric facility in Massachusetts. Emera has also targeted the Caribbean region for new investments, and now owns 19% of the main power utility in St. Lucia and 25% of Grand Bahama Power Co. New strategy spurred growth Emera’s revenue fell from $1.15 billion in 2003 to $1.13 billion in 2004. But thanks in part to its new businesses, revenue grew to $1.34 billion in 2007. Coal and oil account for about 80% of Emera’s fuel needs, and higher prices cut earnings from $1.20 a share (total $128.2 million) in 2003 to…