AltaGas offers growth and income

Article Excerpt

AltaGas took on a lot of risk with a huge U.S. acquisition in July 2018. But it stuck to its promise of selling non-core assets to pay down the debt it took on. At the same time, its regulated cash flows expanded. We still believe in this leader’s strong prospects and its outlook. It’s a Power Buy. ALTAGAS LTD., $24.41, is a buy. The utility (Toronto symbol ALA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.altagas.ca; Shares o/s: 281.5 million; Market cap: $7.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%) processes, transports, stores and markets natural gas for producers. It also operates natural gas utilities and is a power generator, with gas-fired, coal-fired, wind, biomass and hydroelectric plants. Almost all of AltaGas’ assets are now in the U.S. That in part reflects its July 2018 purchase of Washington, D.C.-based utility WGL Holdings Inc. for $4 billion. In December 2020, AltaGas paid $715 million in cash to more than double its ownership share of Petrogas Energy Corp. to 74%. At the time, the remaining interests were…