Imperial’s diversification is a big plus

Article Excerpt

Imperial Oil has 25 years worth of oil and gas reserves. But it also owns four refineries, which convert crude oil into gasoline and other fuels. These operations profit when oil prices fall because they pay less for the crude they refine. Imperial also operates 1,900 Esso gas stations. This diversification helps shield the company from volatile oil and gas prices. It also makes Imperial Oil an ideal resource stock for safety-conscious investors. IMPERIAL OIL $40.75 (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares outstanding: 847.6 million; Market cap: $34.5 billion; SI Rating: Average) is Canada’s largest integrated oil company. Imperial earned $0.25 a share in the three months ended June 30, 2009. That was down 80.5% from $1.28 a share a year earlier. Falling oil and natural-gas prices were the main reason for the drop. As well, Imperial’s Cold Lake and 25%-owned Syncrude oil-sands projects were closed for maintenance during the quarter. Revenue fell 40.1%, to $5.3 billion from $8.6 billion. The company’s production is set…