Altagas Ltd

They got into trouble with a major US acquisition some years ago, but that was a buying opportunity to pick up their spin-out, Altagas Canada. Now, ALA is paying down debts by selling assets, so that checks off that box. They're a utility, mid-stream, a little of everything. That said, there are better opportunities elsewhere.

Starting to recover under new management. Dividend is safe, only because it was slashed earlier. Not much growth. Better ideas in energy. Lots of leverage. Valuation not compelling. What you're seeing is the dead cat bounce.

2020 sets up really well for this company. They sold a lot of assets and paid down a lot of debt. They have acquired a utility business in Washington in which they have not filed the rate cases yet. They will have lower interest payments and a propane export terminal that started in the middle of last year. (Analysts’ price target is $22.36)

They had become over leveraged in Canada. The fall from $30 has yet to recover. Permian production in the US could fall, but it is not enough to drive natural gas prices to drive back to $4 per mcf. This is a hold right here.

There has been a great run in defensive assets. He thinks the outlook forward for utilities is muddied. Investors will not look to this space when the economy accelerates. He would not be a buyer here.

It's now breaking a long-term downtrend and now starting an uptrend. He likes the chart. Good, strong dividend. As long as it doesn't break the recent low around $17, this will do well. He likes the chart.

Start selling it off gradually. ALA may go higher, but take profits a bit.

Good if you want yield, paying 5.2%. There's been a floor in place recently, and this sector does well in a low-interest rate environment--and rates will likely not rise. This is a decent play now.

(A Top Pick Oct 19/18, Down 6%) He is now out of it. There was doubt about their ability to sell assets and about their debt load. Longer term, their business is fine. They had to cut the dividend last year. He prefers the infrastructure space right now. This is still a fine company.

They have been on a roller coaster for the last few years. The dividend is still on ice for a while until they de-lever a bit more. He likes the name but is not in it now. He would buy on a significant pullback.

(A Top Pick Oct 31/18, Up 24%) He bought it for the dividend after a big pullback. He's holding on for that dividend. Energy will come alive at some point, and ALA will benefit. This is more of an electric generator (than oil), though tied to Alberta.

(A Top Pick Sep 26/18, Up 1%) It was up and back. It got completely misunderstood by the marketplace. They were forced by the market to cut the dividend because it was at 15% but they didn’t need to. They are investing in a utility at a great rate of return and you will see it start to seep into the company returns. You should see a dividend increase next year.

If you own this already, hold onto. The valuation is attractive to buy. They've pruned assets and paid down debt. Reasonably run. It's undervalued vs. its peers. In time, you will be rewarded for holding it.

(A Top Pick Oct 05/18, Down 3%) This was a theme of trying to catch a falling knife. He was surprised how it got wiped out and he got stopped out earlier. They spun out the Canadian utilities business, which was unexpected. This left the US acquisition in Washington. The market didn't like the debt level, when interest rates were going up.

It has had a stormy couple of years. It is now coming back. They are in the energy business where there have been no money flows for 4 years. There is a turnaround in place. It will be a slow and steady stock.