Timely expansions set the stage for gains

Article Excerpt

Encana took its present form on December 1, 2009, after the old EnCana Corp. split itself into two new companies: the new Encana, which focuses on natural gas, and Cenovus Energy, which specializes in oil sands. Lower gas prices have pushed Encana’s shares down by about 36% since the split. Oil prices have weakened lately, but Cenovus’s stock is still up about 12%. ENCANA CORP. $18.66 (Toronto symbol ECA; Shares outstanding: 736.3 million; Market cap: $13.7 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 4.4%; www.encana.com) is one of North America’s largest natural gas producers. Its proven reserves should last over 11 years. In the three months ended December 31, 2012, Encana’s cash flow per share fell 17.3%, to $1.10 from $1.33 a year earlier (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Natural gas accounts for 95% of Encana’s production. In response to lower gas prices, the company cut its output by 14.8% during the quarter, to 2.9…