Updates on CRESCENT POINT ENERGY CORP., TRANSCANADA CORP. and RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

Article Excerpt

CRESCENT POINT ENERGY CORP. $35.67 (Toronto symbol CPG; Shares outstanding: 159.3 million; Market cap: $5.7 billion; SI Rating: Extra Risk) has made a couple of big acquisitions in Saskatchewan. The company has bought privately held Wave Energy for about $665.3 million in stock. It has also purchased producing assets from Provident Energy Trust for $258.5 million in cash. Crescent Point plans to issue new shares, and put the $230-million proceeds toward paying for the Provident assets. In total, these acquisitions add about 16% to Crescent Point’s production. They should also raise its cash flow per share. Crescent Point is still a buy. TRANSCANADA CORP. $31.90 (Toronto symbol TRP; Shares outstanding: 681.4 million; Market cap: $22.7 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) owns 31.6% of Bruce Power LP, which operates the Bruce nuclear-power station in Ontario. This investment supplied about 13% of TransCanada’s 2008 profits. Cooler-than-usual summer weather in Ontario means that consumers are using less electricity to air condition their homes and businesses. The recession has…