Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your view on Baytex Energy?

Article Excerpt

Baytex Energy, $50.55, symbol BTE on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 117.7 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; www.baytex.ab.ca), produces and explores for oil and natural gas in western Canada. The company converted from an income trust to a corporation at the start of 2011. In the three months ended March 31, 2011, Baytex’s cash flow per share was unchanged at $0.96 from a year earlier. Revenue rose 10.9%, to $290.3 million from $261.8 million. Baytex’s average daily production rose 8.0%, to 46,902 barrels of oil equivalent (including natural gas) from 43,425 barrels. The company’s production is weighted 82% to oil (68% heavy oil from the Alberta oil sands and 14% light oil) and 18% to natural gas. The company’s $591.4 million of long-term debt is a low 10.2% of its market cap. Baytex trades at 11.0 times its forecast annual 2011 cash flow of $4.58 a share. The shares yield 4.8%. In February 2011, Baytex paid $155 million for heavy-oil assets in the Seal area…