Pembina Pipeline CorpPPL.TOBUY ON WEAKNESSNov 06, 2024Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Aug 12, 2026. Market Open.
A name for a good dividend and safety. Pipelines are not quite as good as utilities, because they're perceived as being commodity-sensitive (even though they're really not).
You'll get your dividend, and the safety means you can sleep at night (and that's worth something). You can get diversification via funds and ETFs.
Both benefit from AI centre demand. Pembina is building a 1.8 gigawatt natural gas plant in Alberta. Half of ALA's business is in the US, regulated utilities, in Virginia--the world capital of data centre traffic. ALA also has activity in Western Canada. ALA's growth rate is higher than Pembina. ALA gets the slight edge.
EPS of 60c did miss estimates of 75c; revenue of $1.84B also missed estimates ($2.11B). EBITDA of $1.01B missed estimates by 4%. Pembina's 4Q Ebitda may expand by high-single digits, assuming it reaches the midpoint of narrowed guidance of C4.23-$4.33 billion. Contributions from increased stakes in Alliance Pipeline and Aux Sable will likely be the primary drivers, outweighing pressure on lower re-contracted tolls on the Cochin pipeline system. The narrower differential between US Gulf Coast and western Canadian condensate could continue to limit interruptible volume on Cochin. The Marketing segment may be little changed again as the fully consolidated Aux Sable asset and improved NGL margin -- partly due to weak natural gas prices -- buoy Ebitda. Capital spending in 4Q could be similar to 3Q's $262 million, supporting free-cash-flow generation to cover the dividend. It is up 24% this year, but could continue to benefit from lower interest rates. The quarter was clearly not perfect, but with its valuation and 4.9% dividend we would not necessarily see it as a sell if one wants sector exposure.
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