Ovintiv’s outlook is bright

Article Excerpt

OVINTIV INC., $73.62, is a buy. The energy producer (Toronto symbol OVV; Shares outstanding: 258.1 million; Market cap: $18.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 1.4%) operates three core properties: Montney (B.C.), Anadarko (Oklahoma) and Permian (Texas). In addition to natural gas, these fields produce large amounts of oil and natural gas liquids. The company’s production in the first quarter of 2022 fell 7.1% to 499,900 barrels a day. That was due to higher Canadian royalty rates and bad weather. However, its realized price per barrel for oil and gas (combined) soared 57.1%. As a result, revenue in the quarter rose 7.0%, to $1.97 billion from $1.84 billion. Cash flow per share improved 20.9%, to $4.05 from $3.35. The company is using its improving cash flow to reward investors. With the June 2022 payment, it raised your quarterly dividend by 25.0%. The stock now yields 1.4%. The shares are also attractive at just 3.4 times the 2022 projected cash flow of $21.50 a share. Ovintiv Inc. is…