Their regulated operations offset Alberta risk

Article Excerpt

Alberta’s high COVID-19 infection rates and Ottawa’s plans to cut emissions at the province’s oil producers could hurt electricity sales at Canadian Utilities and its parent company ATCO. However, recent investments in renewable power projects help cut that risk. Moreover, as regulated utilities, their dividends remain secure. CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. (class A non-voting) is a buy. The company (Toronto symbols CU [class A non-voting] $35 and CU.X [class B voting] $35; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares o/s: 269.3 million; Market cap: $9.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.9; Dividend yield: 5.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadianutilities.com) distributes electricity and natural gas in Alberta and Australia. It also owns or invests in 7 non-regulated power plants—1 in Canada, 2 in Mexico, 3 in Australia and 1 in Chile. ATCO (see below) owns 53.0% of the company. Canadian Utilities continues to expand its solar power operations. The company recently paid an undisclosed amount for the rights to build two solar installations in Calgary. It expects to begin construction in…