Strong cash flow buoys their dividends

Article Excerpt

BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P. $39.91 (Toronto symbol BEP.UN; Units outstanding: 296.3 million; Market cap: $11.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 5.9%; www.brookfieldrenewable.com) has interest in 207 hydroelectric generating stations, 37 wind farms and five natural gas-fired plants. In all, it has over 10,663 megawatts of generating capacity. Roughly 24% of that power is in Canada, with another 53% in the U.S., 15% in Latin America and 8% in Europe. In the quarter ended June 30, 2016, Brookfield’s cash flow per share was unchangd at $0.56 U.S. New plants offset the effect of below-normal rainfall, which pushed down its hydroelectric output. The company is part of the group that is buying Isagen SA from the Colombian government. Isagen owns six hydroelectric plants and is Colombia’s third-largest power generator. Brookfield will end up with a 25% stake for $625 million U.S. Investing in Latin America entails above-average political and currency risk. But that lets the company buy high-quality assets at…