Canada’s stock exchanges have long had the lead as the place for energy
infrastructure companies to list. This includes green energy, as well
as the fossil fueled sort. Because Canada’s reporting rules are
somewhat less stringent, and its markets less liquid than those in the
US, the large number of offerings trade at lower valuations and higher
yields than do their (few) US-listed equivalents.
In fact, it was the promise of a higher valuation which led Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (NYSE:BEP, TSX:BEP-UN) to obtain its US listing on June 11th. Brookfield had planned a secondary stock offering, which it delayed on
June 20th because of “current capital market conditions.” Although
the stock has risen as high as $31 in anticipation of the US listing,
rising interest rates had lowered its stock price to the $26 range
shortly after the stock began trading in New York.
Even with the decline, however, Brookfield still offers at a dividend yield lower than its Canadian-listed peers.
US Stocks
Despite the higher yields on offer in Canada, many US investors
prefer investing at home. Part of that is undoubtedly because they find
recovering Canada’s foreign tax withholding on dividends through the US
Federal tax credit onerous (or impossible, if they are investing
through a retirement account.) Note that BEP’s distributions are still
subject to this withholding, despite its US listing.
The reluctance to buy Canadian stocks also stems in part from
concerns over the lighter disclosure rules on Canadian exchanges, the
lack of liquidity, or simple unfamiliarity with trading foreign stocks.
Whatever the reasons, three recent IPOs and Brookfield’s listing have
created a new, if short list of US listed green income options. These
are:
Exchange/Ticker: NYSE:BEP
Portfolio: 3705 MW Hydropower, 777 MW Wind, 45 MW Hydro under construction.
Recent Stock Price & Declared Quarterly Dividend (Yield): $26.70, $0.3625 (5.4%)
Expected 2014 Dividend (Yield): $1.45 (5.4%) or more
Comments: Dividends are subject to Canadian tax withholding.
Exchange/Ticker: NYSE:HASI
Portfolio: Bond-like investment mostly in Energy
Efficient performance contracts, plus other sustainable infrastructure
including solar and geothermal.
Recent Stock Price & Declared Quarterly Dividend (Yield): $11.70, $0.06 (2.1%)
Expected 2014 Dividend (Yield): $0.93 (8%) – my estimate based on statements from management.
Comments: HASI is a REIT, and so does not pay corporate tax. Distributions are taxed to investors as ordinary income.
Exchange/Ticker: NASD:PEGI
Portfolio: 1041 MW wind in the US, Canada, and Chile. 270 MW Wind under construction in Ontario, CA.
Recent Stock Price & Declared Quarterly Dividend (Yield): $23.14, $0.3125 (5.4%)
Expected 2014 Dividend (Yield): $1.25 (5.4%).
Comments: I recently looked at PEGI in depth here.
Exchange/Ticker: NASD:NYLD
Portfolio: 101 MW Wind, 253 MW solar (60 MW more
under construction), 910 MW natural gas, 1098 MW (thermal) of heating or
cooling projects supplying thermal energy (and a little electricity)
directly to businesses.
Recent Stock Price & Declared Quarterly Dividend (Yield): $36.89, $0.23 (2.5%)
Expected Future Dividend (Yield): $1.44 (3.9%) – this is Goldman Sachs analysts’ estimate, and I’m not certain of their expected time frame.
Comments: I recently looked at NYLD in depth here.
Conclusion
For a US investor looking for income in green energy, Hannon
Armstrong seems a compelling addition to the portfolio. Brookfield and
Pattern also seem worth including for added diversification and income.
NRG Yield, is not nearly as green as the others, despite its the recent
headlines about its solar investments. Its expected dividends also
seem low to justify its current price, at least compared to the other
three options listed here.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomkonrad/2013/10/25/four-green-dividend-stocks-that-ipod-in-2013/2/?ss=businessenergy
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