Green energy firms aim to cut their debt

Article Excerpt

These two renewable energy producers are selling some of their less-important assets and using the proceeds to pay down their debt. That will cut their future interest costs, and let them maintain their current dividend payments. ALGONQUIN POWER & UTILITIES CORP. $7.90 is a buy for long-term gains. The company (Toronto symbol AQN; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 689.1 million; Market cap: $5.4 billion; Dividend yield: 7.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.algonquinpower.com) has two main businesses: the Regulated Services Group provides regulated electricity, gas, water distribution and wastewater collection services in Canada, the U.S., Chile and Bermuda; and the Renewable Power Group produces electricity from about 40 clean-energy plants in North America. Algonquin cut your quarterly dividend by 40.0% with the April 2023 payment to $0.1085 U.S. from $0.1808 U.S. The new annual rate of $0.434 U.S. yields a high 7.4%. The company originally announced the dividend cut to conserve cash needed for its acquisition of Kentucky Power Company. However, it terminated that deal…