Enbridge spells DEFENCE
Posted: October 08, 2008, 1:01 PM by David Pett
Energy:
Enbridge Inc. is a good bet for those investors seeking refuge from beaten down markets of now.
At least, that's the conclusion set forth by two analysts, following Enbridge's Investor Day in Toronto on Tuesday.
"Enbridge made a strong case for its investment merits in today’s market, including a low risk profile, manageable capital requirements, and compelling earnings growth over the next 4-5 years," Grant Hofer of UBS said in a research note, reiterating his "buy" rating and $50 price target.
Mr. Hofer told clients that Enbridge, highly dependent on access to debt markets to fund its current business model, is well positioned with "ample credit facilities, an "A" credit rating, and the ability to flow through higher interest costs to its shippers."
The analyst did express some caution, however, about company plans post 2012, saying little clarity was provided on just what impact potential deferrals in the oil sands might have on Enbridge's Gateway project and othe mainline expansions.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Robert Kwan echoed Mr. Hofer's overall positive sentiment, saying Enbridge is the "right investment at the right time." He maintained his "outperform" rating and left his $50 price target unchanged.
"We believe that Enbridge should be a core holding for portfolios, and that investors should overweight the shares due to its strong defensive positioning coupled with attractive growth from below average risk greenfield and brownfield projects," he wrote in a note.
David Pett
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/2008/10/08/...
