TransCanada Focuses On New Growth

Article Excerpt

TRANSCANADA CORP. $37 (Toronto symbol TRP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 536.3 million; Market cap: $19.8 billion; SI Rating: Above average) operates a 59,000-km network of natural gas pipelines in Canada and the United States. This business supplies about two-thirds of its profit. The remaining third comes from its electrical power division. TransCanada’s revenue rose from $5.2 billion in 2002 to $7.5 billion in 2006, or 9.6% compounded annually. Profits from continuing operations rose from $1.55 a share (total $747 million) in 2002 to $2.47 a share ($1.2 billion) in 2005, but fell to $2.14 a share ($1.05 billion) in 2006. If you disregard gains on the sale of assets, per-share income would have grown from $1.72 in 2005 to $1.89 in 2006. Looking for the next Bruce In the past few years, the company has used acquisitions to cut its reliance on its traditional gas pipeline business. Its most profitable investment to date is its minority stakes in two partnerships…