Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What are your thoughts on Parkland Income Fund? What are its plans for its distributions in 2011? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Parkland Income Fund, $11.43, symbol PKI.UN on Toronto (Units outstanding: 48.1 million; Market cap: $549.8 million), owns and operates 620 rural gas stations and convenience stores, mostly in western Canada and Ontario. The company also sells fuel wholesale to independent gas stations and commercial customers. As well, the company transports fuel and other products, and operates the Bowden refinery near Red Deer, Alberta, where it processes and stores specialty petroleum products. Parkland’s brands include Fas Gas stations, Fas Gas Plus, Race Trac Fuels and Short Stop convenience stores. Many stations sell propane in addition to gasoline and diesel fuel. Parkland has gas stations in Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. These outlets operate under the Sunoco brand in Ontario, and under the Esso banner in the other provinces. In the three months ended June 30, 2010, Parkland’s revenue rose 26.3%, to $605.8 million from $479.5 million a year earlier. The gain was the result of two distribution companies that Parkland recently purchased…