Devon aims to cut risk

Article Excerpt

DEVON ENERGY $67.59 (New York symbol DVN; SI Rating: Speculative) (405-235-3611; www.devonenergy.com; Shares outstanding: 446.8 million; Market cap: $30.2 billion; Dividend yield: 1.0%) has agreed to sell its shallow-water properties in the Gulf of Mexico to Apache Corp. for $1.05 billion. To put the purchase price in context, Devon earned $1.8 billion, or $4.03 a share, in 2009. Devon will now focus on its less risky onshore properties in North America. The company will also put some of the proceeds toward paying down its $5.8 billion of debt, which is already moderate at 19.2% of its market cap. Devon Energy is a buy. buy…