Fording DRIP Could Spur Its Unit Price

Article Excerpt

FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST $27 (Toronto symbol FDG.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Units outstanding: 147.0 million; Market cap: $4.0 billion; SI Rating: Average) now plans to let eligible unitholders (mainly Canadian and U.S. residents) re-invest their distributions in new units at a 5% discount. Canadian investors who do not wish to buy new units can opt to receive 102% of the regular distribution. This plan will improve Fording’s long-term investment appeal. It may also spur its unit price if enough investors (in RRSPs, say) decide to devote their distributions to buying more units. Meanwhile, Fording cut its first-quarter cash distribution by 31.6%, to $0.65 a unit from $0.95 in the fourth quarter of 2006. The new implied annual rate of $2.60 yields 9.6%. The cut is due to poor winter weather and mudslides, which hurt transport of coal to West Coast ports. This cut Fording’s coal shipments and raised transportation costs. These are temporary setbacks, and distributions will probably rise again…