Consider Canada’s top crude oil companies and what they can offer your portfolio in terms of income.
1. Canadian Natural Resources
With a large land base and an extensive network of infrastructure and facilities, Canadian Natural Resources (TSX: CNQ)(NYSE: CNQ) is one of the largest independent crude oil and natural gas producers globally. Its operations include North American crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as Horizon oil sands. It also has operations in the North Sea and Offshore Africa. Canadian Natural Resources also has marketing and midstream operations.
For Q1 2014, the company realized record production in primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil and North America light crude oil and NGLs. Pelican Lake is estimated to contain 4.1 billion barrels of original oil in place on Canadian Natural Resources land. A first-class company asset, Pelican Lake is a large, shallow crude oil pool in Canadian Natural’s Northern Plains core region.
Canadian Natural Resources’ current dividend yield is 1.90%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 1.20% and its dividend rate is $0.90.
2. Cenovus Energy
Cenovus Energy (TSX: CVE)(NYSE: CVE) is a major player in oil sands projects in northern Alberta and established natural gas and oil production in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It also has 50% ownership in two U.S. refineries.
For Q1 2014, Cenovus’ oil sands production averaged 120,444 bbls/d net. This represents an increase of 20% from Q1 2013. Its Christina Lake (Alberta) oil sands project production increased 48% from 2013. Christina Lake is one of its two industry-leading oil sands producing projects. The other is Foster Lake in Alberta.
This past March, Cenovus received approval from the Alberta Energy Regulator for its Grand Rapids thermal oil sands project (100% owned), within the company’s Greater Pelican Region in northern Alberta. The expectation is that Grand Rapids will have production capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. The project is predicted to have a life of 40 years.
Cenovus Energy’s current dividend yield is 3.20% and its five-year average dividend yield is 2.50%. Cenovus’ dividend rate is $1.06.
3. Suncor Energy
Suncor Energy (TSX: SU)(NYSE: SU) is an integrated energy company and the emphasis of its business is its oil sands operations. The company has one of the largest positions in the oil sands. Suncor’s Oil Sands unit is developing the Athabasca Oil Sands through mining and ‘in situ’ technologies.
In 2013, Suncor’s Fort Hills mining project was sanctioned. The Fort Hills project is in the Athabasca region. The project is recognized as one of the best undeveloped oil sands mining assets in the area. Suncor holds a 40.8% interest in the project, now in development with joint venture partners Total E&P Canada and Teck Resources. Suncor is the project operator.
For Q1 2014, Suncor achieved record-breaking financial results. This includes record operating earnings of $1.8 billion and record cash flow from operations of $2.9 billion, versus $1.4 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, in Q1 2013.
Suncor Energy’s current dividend yield is 2.08%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 1.50%. Suncor’s dividend rate is $0.92.
A crude oil element can be part of your portfolio via these top producers. Research the projects each is focusing on and reap the dividends to be had from investing in their operations.
