Debt still too high after asset sales

Article Excerpt

PENGROWTH ENERGY CORP. $1.00 (Toronto symbol PGF; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 552.3 million; Market cap: $552.3 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend suspended in January 2016; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; www. pengrowth.com) has sold $984 million of its less-important properties since the start of 2017. It used the cash to pay down its debt, which totalled $989.5 million (as of September 30, 2017). That’s still a high 1.8 times its market cap. As a result of those sales, Pengrowth now focuses on two main properties: its Lindbergh oil sands project in Alberta and its Groundbirch natural gas property in northeastern B.C. Those projects have strong long-term potential. However, the company needs higher oil and gas prices—and lower operating costs—to keep cutting its debt. Pengrowth is a hold. hold…