50% off Premium Yearly
Peyto Exploration & Develop.PEY.TOPAST TOP PICKJul 24, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 19, 2026. Market Open.
PEY has a solid balance sheet and a long history of growth. It has seen many cycles already, and was one of the first companies to convert into an income trust way back (which did benefit shareholders). It trades at only 7X earnings and barely 4X cash flow. The dividend is attractive and was more than doubled late last year. It is not guaranteed of course but is well-covered by cash flow. Payout ratio is 21%. We like management and its leverage to gas prices is very high. Some fault it because of its hedge program on prices, but of course this does also reduce risk of price volatility.
Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free
If we stay at the current gas price for the next year, dividend is not sustainable. PEY has a good hedge position, and they're actually getting good gas pricing, so it has a buffer. He owns it in an income fund, making about 18% after selling calls. Not in his main fund, as all he wants to own is Canadian heavy oil.
LNG Canada is bringing a significant export opportunity for all Canadian nat gas companies towards the end of 2025. This will be transformational. He likes all Canadian nat gas producers on a volume basis. His preference is ARX, as it's diversified with undeveloped land. Prefers PEY to BIR; management is stronger, though its dividend will be subject to commodity prices, can grow production long-term.
(A Top Pick Aug 22/14. Down 19.93%.) Holding up better than similar companies and he still likes it for the long-term. A low cost producer in the gas space, using the cost deflation on the server side to ramp up their drilling and increase profit margin. Top-notch management team and good properties. When the sentiment turns back towards oil/gas, he would expect it to do very well.