Suncor narrows its focus

Article Excerpt

SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $47 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol SU; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.44 billion; Market cap: $67.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 4.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil firm, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. It also operates four refineries (three in Canada and one in Colorado). Suncor is now shifting its production focus to its main oil sands properties in Alberta. As part of that plan, it’s selling its stakes in two North Sea offshore projects—29.9% of the Buzzard field and 40% of the Rosebank development—for $1.2 billion. It expects to complete the sale later this year. The company will use the cash to help pay for its recent acquisition of an additional stake in the Forth Hills oil sands project from Teck Resources Ltd (Toronto symbol TECK.B). The purchase increased its interest, from 54.11% to 68.77%. That additional stake cost $688 million and will make it easier for Suncor…