Transalta Corp (TA.TO)

Preferred shares, Series D? Doesn’t find the common stock on this company particularly appealing. Had a nice little rebound lately but the power markets are a bit problematic. Have got a checkered history over the last couple of years. On the Preferred side, it is really an interest rate call. Preferreds got hit like all interest sensitive things but he thinks you can hold it, collect your dividend, and be perfectly fine.

Model $10, -31% differential. It is only trading here because of a yield they can’t afford. He calls it ‘lines of death’ on his blog.

(Market Call Minute.) He is not 100% convinced of the sustainability of the dividend. Have continually disappointed on the fundamentals until recently.

(Market Call Minute) Spinning off renewable power asset to create value that was not there before. Dividend is still questionable.

Have some very valuable assets. The biggest renewable energy company in Canada. Thinks power prices in Alberta will come back. Very compelling value down here. Doesn’t think dividend will be cut because of the drip program. Perhaps a bigger company will take them over if they stay down much longer.

Doesn’t look too good. In a downward trend, underperforming TSX and below its 20 day moving average so there is no reason to be a buyer. Seasonally these stocks do well from end of June until end of October.

Not so sure that the dividend is entirely safe here, so wouldn’t buy this for the dividend. The setback in the stock is indicative of some of the problems that this company has had.

You have to have a long term perspective with this one. He doesn`t evaluate the cash flow so can`t comment on the dividend sustainability. Technically the charts look terrible. It keeps inching lower. 8.3%

Likes this because it is so cheap but that hasn’t stopped it from slipping lower. There is obviously a lot of concern that they are going to have to cut the dividend and yet the cash flows are more than enough to keep it. CEO seems loath to cut.

Has moved a lot of his holdings out in favour of AltaGas (ALA-T). Problem with this company is that their legacy assets are in various states of condition, which has caused them some problems over the last few years. Dividend is barely sustainable but they need a pickup in some of their pricing in north-western US to save the company but he doesn’t see power prices moving significantly higher.

Never owned this because the dividend was always too high and there were concerns about its sustainability. Have a bunch of coal fired power plants, which need re-engineering.

Close to 8% on the dividend yield. Coal/gas fire utility. Doesn't think they need to cut the dividend anytime soon, but there's not a lot in the way of growth prospects for the company. They have some assets coming on later on this year, which will help maintain the dividend, but everything has to go right. Not a name that's attractive to him.

Utilities can do quite well this time of year. Pursue this stock. Moving averages are trending positive. July into September is the period of seasonal strength.

(A Top Pick Aug 2/12. Up 10.59%.) 6.4% bond, maturing Nov 18/19.

Keeps looking at this as it has a very attractive dividend yield but feels the business is quite challenged, particularly for the next couple of years in that it is not going to show a lot of growth. Also, its fleet of plants, particularly in Alberta, is quite old and there are questions as to how well maintained it is. Dividend is likely sustainable.