TransAlta Corporation (TSX:TA)(NYSE:TAC), one of the largest power generators and wholesale marketers of electricity in North America and Australia, announced mixed first-quarter earnings results on the morning of April 28, and its stock has responded by making a slight move to the upside. Let’s take a thorough look at the results to determine if we should consider establishing long-term positions today, or if we should wait for a better entry point in the trading sessions ahead.
The mixed first-quarter results
Here’s a summary of TransAlta’s first-quarter earnings results compared with what analysts had anticipated and its results in the same period a year ago.
| Metric | Reported | Expected | Year-Ago |
| Earnings Per Share | $0.09 | $0.07 | $0.17 |
| Revenue | $593 million | $655 million | $775 million |
Source: Financial Times
TransAlta’s comparable earnings per share decreased 47.1% and its revenue decreased 23.5% compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The company noted that these weak results could be attributed to its total production decreasing 18% to 9,900 gigawatt hours and the average spot price of power decreasing in all three of its markets, including a 52.5% decline to $29 per megawatt hour in the Alberta market, a 52.8% decline to $34 per megawatt hour in the Ontario market, and a 59.1% decline to US$18 per megawatt hour in the Mid-Columbia market.
Here’s a quick breakdown of 12 other notable statistics from the report compared with the year-ago period:
- Comparable net income decreased 44.7% to $26 million
- Revenue decreased 3.1% to $246 million in its Canadian Coal segment
- Revenue decreased 22.6% to $82 million in its U.S. Coal segment
- Revenue decreased 26.1% to $181 million in its Gas segment
- Revenue decreased 8.8% to $73 million in its Wind segment
- Revenue decreased 19.4% to $25 million in its Hydro segment
- Revenue decreased 52.3% to $31 million in its Energy Marketing segment
- Comparable earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) decreased 11.3% to $275 million
- Comparable funds from operations decreased 11.3% to $211 million
- Comparable cash flow from operating activities decreased 45.2% to $153 million
- Comparable free cash flow decreased 20.9% to $110 million
- Ended the quarter with $61 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of 41.9% from the beginning of the quarter
Also, on April 27 TransAlta announced that it would be maintaining its quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, and the next payment will come on July 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1.
Is TransAlta’s stock a buy today?
Even though TransAlta’s first-quarter earnings were far from impressive, I do think its stock represents an attractive long-term investment opportunity because it trades at favourable valuations and has a very high dividend yield.
First, TransAlta’s stock trades at 43.9 times fiscal 2015’s estimated earnings per share of $0.28, which may seem a bit high, but it trades at just 37.3 times fiscal 2016’s estimated earnings per share of $0.33, which is inexpensive given its long-term growth potential.
Second, TransAlta pays a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, or $0.72 per share annually, giving its stock a very high 5.85% yield at current levels, and I think this makes it one of the top dividend plays in the industry today.
With all of the information provided above in mind, I think TransAlta represents one of the best long-term investment opportunities in the energy sector today. Foolish investors should take a closer look and strongly consider establishing long-term positions.
