Reduced debt will spur their output

Article Excerpt

BELLATRIX EXPLORATION $0.97 (Toronto symbol BXE; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-266-8670; www.bellatrixexploration.com; Shares outstanding: 237.5 million; Market cap: $244.1 million; No dividends paid) produces natural gas (72% of output) and oil (28%) in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. In the three months ended December 31, 2016, Bellatrix’s cash flow per share fell sharply, to $0.03 from $0.15 a year earlier. The company produced 31,888 barrels of oil equivalent a day in the latest quarter. That was down 21.7% from 40,705 barrels. The decreases came mostly from lower daily output due to asset sales. In all, the company raised $320.4 million in 2016 through asset sales. They include its Harmattan and Pembina properties along with a 35% stake in the Alder Flats gas plant. Bellatrix used the proceeds to lower its debt to $381.3 million as of December 31, 2016. That’s down 43.3% from $672.8 million a year earlier. The company continues to sell assets to further pay down its debt. For 2017, Bellatrix plans to spend…