Birchcliff Energy offers investors a high 7.1% yield

Article Excerpt

Like all natural-gas-weighted producers, Birchcliff will need gas prices to move higher in order to report stronger cash flow. However, we still like the long-term prospects for investors. BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY, $5.54, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BIR; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (Shares outstanding: 269.3 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; Dividend yield: 7.2%) develops and produces oil and gas, mainly in the Peace River Arch area of both Alberta and B.C. Its average output of 78,358 barrels of oil equivalent per day is 83% natural gas and 17% oil. Birchcliff’s cash flow in the three months ended June 30, 2024, fell 23.1%, to $0.20 a share from $0.26 a year earlier. The drop mostly reflects lower natural gas prices. The company’s long-term debt now stands at just $481.2 million, or a manageable 32.1% of its market cap. Birchcliff pays a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 a share (for an exceptionally high yield of 7.2%). Birchcliff is a buy for aggressive investors. investors…