Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Can I have your views on Fairborne Energy? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Fairborne Energy Ltd., $4.12, symbol FEL on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 102.5 million; Market cap: $422.3 million), explores for, develops and produces oil and gas in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The company’s production is 72% natural gas and 28% oil. In the second quarter of 2010, Fairborne’s cash flow was $0.27 a share. That’s down 34.1% from $0.41 a share a year earlier. Lower natural gas prices and higher royalty payments were the main reasons for the drop. The company’s production averaged 15,486 barrels per day equivalent in the latest quarter (this measure includes natural gas). A recent land purchase should push up its daily production to between 17,000 and 17,500 barrels per day equivalent by the end of 2010. Fairborne’s long-term debt of $220.6 million is a manageable 52.2% of its market cap. The company is spending $150 million on exploration and development this year. The shares trade at 3.1 times this year’s forecast cash flow of $1.33 a share. Fairborne is okay…