
TSE:BTE
Oil is down, which doesn't help. The budget shows a slight decline in production from year end exit rates, so investors may be worried that all the spending ($1.2B) is not going to boost actual average production rates. BTE also updated its five-year plan, which looks OK to us with a planned reduction in debt. But the sector remains out of favour overall right now.
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Huge disappointment, not operationally but on the share price. Typifies an out-of-favour stock: Canadian mid-cap with hair on it. Last quarter had no hair, beat expectations, paid down debt, generated lots of free cash, bought back stock. Deep value, mispriced, too cheap to sell. He's waiting, but patience is being tested.
BTE mentioned that it allocate 50% of free cash flow to its balance sheet and the other 50% to allocating capital to shareholders through buybacks and dividends. Net debt reduced 5% in the quarter but remained high at $2.28B. Earnings were solid as production and net income were up for the quarter. The current capital allocation strategy is quite shareholder friendly but we would like to see debt come down more in the future. The call seemed generally positive.
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Frustrating. A 10% weight for his fund. Good inventory depth, probably 12-15 years. Respects the CEO. Investors are getting 50% of free cashflow. 23-26% free cashflow yield next year and 2026. He targets $9.30 in 1 year, $11.20 in 2 years, so roughly 90-100% upside.
Meaningfully buying back shares means an inevitable, eventual rerating in the stock.
Disappointing laggard. But sees profound value disconnect between where stock's trading and where it should be. The Q1 heavy spend is done. Now buying back shares aggressively with half of free cashflow, and this should set it up to outperform; rest of free cashflow is being used to pay down debt. Yield is 2%.
(Analysts’ price target is $6.47)
Likes the energy space, so he'd be OK with buying this name. Pipelines to the West Coast have opened up. His play is through CVE.