Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat: I would like to get your views on Spectra Energy. Thanks in advance!

Article Excerpt

Spectra Energy Corp., $34.77, symbol SE on New York (Shares outstanding: 671.0 million; Market cap: $22.9 billion; www.spectraenergy.com), is one of North America’s largest pipeline companies, with more than 22,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquid and crude oil lines in the U.S. and Canada. It also owns Union Gas, Canada’s second-largest gas utility. Through its 43,000-mile pipeline network, Union Gas delivers gas to over 1.4 million homes and businesses in more than 400 Ontario communities. In addition, Spectra owns DCP Midstream, which collects gas from wells in 18 U.S. states through 60,000 miles of gathering pipe. It then processes the gas at 60 plants before feeding it into large pipelines. The company also has storage facilities for 305 billion cubic feet of gas and 4.8 million barrels of crude. In the quarter ended September 30, 2014, Spectra’s revenue rose 5.5%, to $1.20 billion from $1.14 billion a year earlier. But earnings per share (excluding one-time items) fell 26.1%, to $0.31 from…