
TSE:CNQ
This is one of the companies that has been more conservative on their payouts to their investors. Have a huge resource potential. Catalyst for them is heavy oil pricing improving, which is why it has been weak over the last 1.5-2 years. If there is some positive news on Keystone, his view is that all heavy oil producer stocks will be up in mid-single digits. Doesn’t own it because of the lower dividend payout. Yield of 1.65%. (See Top Picks.)
They have been increasing their dividends, but historically have not given out large dividends because they've deployed it, with the oil sands product. He likes CNQ, it's trading at a discount, and when the keystone pipeline goes through the discount will narrow. CNQ also deals with natural gas which has been down for about 5 years now, and drilling has slowed in the US. Over time the prices will normalize which will also help.
Have owned for a few years. Is one of the highest costs producers of oil in the world. Can only be profitable if oil prices stay at the price they are now. Second problem is transportation, which has become much more prohibitive over the last 5 years. If we see natural gas replacing diesel, and shale oil being produced in the US, then CNQ is not in a good place.