Suncor’s oil sands focus will benefit investors

Article Excerpt

Following a strategic review—driven by pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management—Suncor has decided to hang onto its Petro-Canada chain of gas stations. It’s also shifting its focus to its core oil sands projects in Alberta and to improving its efficiency. These moves should boost Suncor’s profits and let it return more cash to shareholders. SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $39 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol SU; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares o/s: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $50.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.9: Dividend yield: 5.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil firm, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. Suncor’s reserves should last 26 years. The company also operates four refineries (three in Canada and one in Colorado). Suncor’s revenue fell 35.7%, from $38.99 billion in 2018 to $25.05 billion in 2020 as the COVID-19 lockdowns cut oil demand and prices. However, revenue rebounded 56.1% to $39.10 billion in 2021, and gained a further 49.5% to $58.47 billion in 2022. Overall…