This utility is investing for growth

Article Excerpt

Stocks in the Utilities sector usually appeal mainly to conservative and income-seeking investors. That’s because these firms’ operations (such as power plants and pipelines) generate steady cash flows that help them pay above-average dividends. However, some utilities also offer opportunities for growth. Emera is good example. In the past few years, the company has aggressively expanded outside its home province of Nova Scotia. These investments should pay off for years to come. EMERA INC. $31 (Toronto symbol EMA; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 114.7 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 4.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.emera.com) gets 75% of its revenue and 65% of its earnings from Nova Scotia Power Inc., which is Nova Scotia’s main electricity supplier. To cut its reliance on this business and spur its long-term growth, Emera is investing in other, related projects. For example, it recently agreed to pay $600 million for a 29% stake in a new regulated transmission utility. This joint venture…