
TSE:CNQ
The energy sector, particularly the energy exploration and production industry, tends to have 2 periods of seasonal strength. The first one is from January all the way through to May. The next period is just approaching, basically the last half of summer all the way through to Labour Day. The average gain for August and mid-September is about 5%. Trends are still very much positive. 1.9% dividend yield.
Spinning off tons of cash. One of the largest senior producers in Western Canada, and produce about a million barrels of oil a day. Phase 2 expansion in Horizon as well as its thermal projects, gives it a really good line of sight for amping up its production with another 250 million barrels by 2017. This will mean an extra $2 billion per year of free cash flow available, which could be used for increasing dividends or further asset purchases. Also, have a nice handful of royalty assets that could be spun out. Yield of 1.89%.
Chart shows the trend has been upwards. This has a lot of positive technical things that you want to see in a Canadian energy stock. The 1st period of strength is late January right through until May. It then takes a break, and around the 3rd or 4th week of July it has another move on the upside. Look for this one to stabilize around current levels, but look for another opportunity to add as you get into late July.
We have had a huge run in the energy sector. Has been saying for a couple of months that it has been overbought, but has been wrong. However, looking forward 5-8 years, oil prices are trading in the low $80’s, not $100+. So the outlook down the road is for huge supply in North America. Looking at a longer-term chart on this company, we have to recognize that we are up against some pretty major highs from past rally cycles, so he doesn’t see much upside here. We should get a pullback, in the lower $40’s, before getting interested. This applies to all large-cap Canadian names that focus on the oil sands.
A very dominant producer in the western Canada space. International operations in the North Sea and West Africa. Extremely well managed. Have grown very well through solid management and corporate acquisitions. Very low cost production at $50 a barrel. Enormous stream of future expected cash flow. $5.5 billion to $6.5 billion. Dividend yield of 1.95%, which should grow by 10% a year over the next few years.