Comments on Tim McPartland's articles RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/tim-mcpartland/articles http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-410184 410184 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:17:02 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-333566 333566 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:52:30 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-328259 328259 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:08:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-319278 319278 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:33:48 -0500 Great article. My thanks to everyone who posted comments.

They are lucid, reassuring, and useful.

People who like the Canroys come across as a decent bunch.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-313154 313154 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:13:59 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-312084 312084 elec. utilities are voracious consumers of borrowed money for construction > of facilities (generation, xmission, distribution, whatever, in today's > environment of no credit available some plans will have to be shelved. > > > much coal is bought on long-term contracts. in the present environment > of collapsing coal prices, some of these long-term contracts my be > under-water. > > safety during recessions is nice but if we ever return to a sensibly > functioning economy utilities are not growth stocks. they do belong > in a balanced portfolio along with high-quality corporate bonds.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:47:28 -0500
On Nov 20 10:16 AM john s. gordon wrote:

> elec. utilities are voracious consumers of borrowed money for construction
> of facilities (generation, xmission, distribution, whatever, in today's
> environment of no credit available some plans will have to be shelved.
>
>
> much coal is bought on long-term contracts. in the present environment
> of collapsing coal prices, some of these long-term contracts my be
> under-water.
>
> safety during recessions is nice but if we ever return to a sensibly
> functioning economy utilities are not growth stocks. they do belong
> in a balanced portfolio along with high-quality corporate bonds.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-312048 312048 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:12:19 -0500
Among other metrics, pay attention to a very fine print item labeled "regulatory environment" or the equivalent found in some analysts reports. Ability to raise rates for whatever reason is paramount.

Also, make note of pension liability verses assets. Since many utilities run at negative current ratios, cash is king. The need to funnel monies into an under funded pension plan compromises facilities improvements which in turn affect operating efficiencies.

Finally, how much of the debt interest is covered by earnings. For troubled companies, it may be less than 1.0. Again, cash is king whether you have it or merely need to raise some.

For disclosure, I own XEL, D, DUK, EP, POM, SO, and PGN in that order of weighting in addition to OKE (gas as opposed to electric and not a pure utility play)

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-311139 311139 One must ask whether these utilities will continue to operate when > they can no longer afford, or find the credit for that matter, to > purchase the coal, gas or oil they need to generate electricity? > > > This guy is a real estate appraiser. Can you say sub-prime?]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:36:22 -0500

On Nov 20 07:53 AM bosun.j wrote:

> One must ask whether these utilities will continue to operate when
> they can no longer afford, or find the credit for that matter, to
> purchase the coal, gas or oil they need to generate electricity?
>
>
> This guy is a real estate appraiser. Can you say sub-prime?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-310771 310771 jack]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:16:54 -0500
much coal is bought on long-term contracts. in the present environment of collapsing coal prices, some of these long-term contracts my be under-water.

safety during recessions is nice but if we ever return to a sensibly functioning economy utilities are not growth stocks. they do belong in a balanced portfolio along with high-quality corporate bonds.
> jack]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-310631 310631 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:53:12 -0500
This guy is a real estate appraiser. Can you say sub-prime? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106983-electric-utilities-thus-far-a-relative-safe-haven?source=feed#comment-310627 310627 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:48:50 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299891 299891 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:38:07 -0500
They have been hampered in recent years by the strong Canadian dollar which many times created problems because Oil is priced in dollars.

Granted that the effects of the strong dollar will reduce the payout to US holders, but it will also allow for higher payouts in the future. Hopefully the economic slowdown which is currently affecting Canada will force a reevaluation of the governments implementation date of its controversial Law.

PVX is the safest, IMHO.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299871 299871 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:01:15 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299747 299747 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:17:51 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299664 299664 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:59:40 -0500 Oilsands are certainly going to take an environmental hit..they are also largely unprofitable at today's spot....but the US MLPs (LINN and LGCY) and the Canadians discussed present superb value and returns that wait out the down cycle.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299486 299486 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:15:37 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299428 299428 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:21:03 -0500
Will continue to use PVX for monthly income,at present levels it looks interesting.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299420 299420 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:12:57 -0500 tomatden is spot on re the future of the US dollar and its effects re these Canadian energy trusts. I have owned Canadian royalty trusts for some years including all you have mentioned. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299367 299367 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:33:40 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299309 299309 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:49:43 -0500
www.providentenergy.co...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299276 299276 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:25:46 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299226 299226 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:38:27 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/104383-provident-energy-trust-income-for-today-and-tomorrow?source=feed#comment-299189 299189 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:06:06 -0500