Topic: How To Invest

Q: What do you think of Baytex Energy as an oil and gas stock? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Baytex Energy Corp., $5.30, symbol BTE on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 856.9 million; Market cap: $4.6 billion; www.baytexenergy.com), explores for, develops and produces oil and gas in Western Canada and the Eagle Ford region of Texas. The company’s output is 16% natural gas and 84% oil. On June 20, 2023, Baytex completed its acquisition of Ranger Oil Corp. (symbol ROCC on Nasdaq) for $3.4 billion. Baytex paid $13.31 U.S. in cash and issued 7.49 Baytex shares for each Ranger share. The combined company has annual production of 155,000 to 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent. Eagle Ford now accounts for about 61% of overall yearly production. Baytex doesn’t currently pay dividends. But it intends to start paying quarterly dividends of $0.0225 a share now that the Ranger Oil transaction is completed. Baytex expects to pay the first dividend in October 2023, at an annual rate of $0.09. At the current Baytex share price, that will provide a yield of 1.7%. In the quarter ended March…