Pembina Pipeline CorpPPL.TOTOP PICKSep 03, 2025Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 30, 2026. Market Open.
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.
APO has pretty smart people, and they're seeing an opportunity here. Purchase was from KKR, so nothing much changes.
As for PPL itself, trading a bit expensive with growth catalysts of 5-7%. Nice, visible project backlog. Nice dividend. Wouldn't add here, but you'll do OK if you own it.
Still thinks KEY is the better buy.
PPL is more pure-play pipeline infrastructure. Better dividend yield. Contracted cashflow gives you earnings and revenue visibility. This would be his preference.
ALA gives you a mix of energy infrastructure (~45%) with regulated utilities (~55%). Utility component gives more stability, but lower dividend. He's not a huge fan of utilities unless they're tied to AI infrastructure buildout.
Head-scratcher as to why it hasn't moved along with TRP and ENB. Perhaps because those 2 names are the biggies where $$ flocks to in the sector. Unparalleled strategic positioning for nat gas and oil infrastructure in Canada. 80% of cashflows are contracted fee-for-service, and this funds the dividend. Good capital appreciation plus dividend growth.
(Analysts’ price target is $58.22)Cloud on new contracted price for Alliance Pipeline was overblown by analysts, impact is minimal going forward. Cedar LNG and other levers for growth. Yield is 5.50%, and growing ~3% a year.