Transalta Corp (TA.TO)

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.

Owns a note which is due in 2029 and the face value is up 17%. What would you do with this? If you have other bonds with shorter maturities, he would have no trouble with this as part of a bond portfolio. If this 16 year maturity represents most of your bond portfolio, then that is far too long. Professional money manager, like himself, would sell it. If rates go up you are going to lose that gain.

Not sure that the dividend is safe but doesn’t see any reason for an imminent cut. Have a lot of coal plants and a lot of them are going to have to be shut, over the next decade. This is a high risk business model and they have to really execute well to maintain the dividend.

There are better dividend paying stocks around. Doesn’t know of any analyst that is looking for dividend growth in this company. There are some fears of a dividend cut but he doesn’t think it’s likely. They need power prices to recover in Alberta and the Centralia operation to be more profitable.

Has been a little disappointing operationally. Very exposed to Alberta and there is a lot going on there in the power space. There is a big plant coming on again which is going to have a negative affect on power prices which negatively affects this one. On the side, they have a lot of plants where operational issues pop up. These things hurt earnings. A lot of debt on the balance sheet.

Probably his least favourite Canadian utility and he would Sell if he owned. 7.9% dividend yield is so high because the market does not believe it is sustainable. A number of their operations are questionable as to what they are able to earn on them.

Continues to hold some. They had some issues related to Nat Gas pricing in NW US. They remain committed to the dividend, but the coverage is a bit slim. Tread carefully.

This is a real call on Alberta power prices. One of the issues with Alberta power is that they are overwhelmingly in a coal market and why use coal when you can get cheap natural gas. There are also issues with Centralia, their power plant in Washington state and he would wait until those issues are clarified and re-contracted.

Just reported and numbers were not great but he wasn’t expecting great numbers. Over the years, this company has shown itself to be quite capable of maintaining their dividends on a cash flow basis. Have some pretty good assets and pretty good market penetration in Western Canada.

Trimmed back on some of this. He still likes it. All the pipelines are becoming really strong monopolies because it is the only way to ship the oil out. Hasn’t been adding to his holdings. 7% yield.

Trouble with this company is that everybody believed the dividend was unsustainable, but believed that for an awful long time. These are older, coal fired plants mostly. Thinks that Canadian Utilities (CU-T) and Fortis (FTS-T) are better companies with better models.

Expect there will be pressure on Alberta power prices and they will remain in a range of $50-$55 longer-term because there is some capacity coming on stream. This company has some assets in north-eastern US which has come under significant pressure in terms of the rates they are going to be able to get in the renewal of their contracts. Doesn’t see much room for capital appreciation. The DRIP program is a bit disconcerting as well.

Has been a very disappointing company. Hasn’t owned this for a while. New CEO appears to be applying good discipline but there has been concern in the marketplace about the sustainability of the dividend. Stock is not cheap.

$11.73 model price. Negative 28% differential. Wouldn’t mind seeing some earnings. 7.2% yield that people are falling all over themselves for. $10.75 would be the book value and he would buy it there.

Had some rulings that have been costly however, this is a company that has shown itself willing and able to continue to pay their dividend even if they are not earning it. Thinks they will make the transition and be able to solve some of their problems in terms of meeting the government requirements and soldier on.