Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: I would like to ask you and your team your opinion on Cemig in Brazil, as well as your view on the Brazilian government’s power rate policies.

Article Excerpt

Companhia Energetica De Minas Gerais (Cemig) (ADR), $11.25, symbol CIG on New York (ADRs outstanding: 480.2 million; Market cap: $5.4 billion; www.cemig.com.br), is one of Brazil’s largest electrical utilities. It has more than 6,716 megawatts of generation capacity, 97% of which comes from hydroelectric projects. Cemig’s shares took a big drop from around $18 in September 2012. That’s when Brazil’s government announced a major cut in electricity prices for both residential and industrial consumers. The reductions should take effect shortly. The new prices could be as much as 16% lower for residential consumers. Industrial consumers could see their rates fall by up to 28%. The government is forcing utilities like Cemig to make the price cuts. That will sharply lower their profits. We see a number of risks for Cemig beyond the federal government’s interference. The company faces competition from rivals like Companhia Paranaense de Energia, EDP-Energias de Portugal and privately-held Eletropaulo Metropolitana Eletricidade de São Paulo SA. It could also face…