Canadian Hydro Developers a high-powered stock

Scotia Capital's Ben Isaacson is gushing over the earnings potential of Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., predicting a 300% jump in EBITDA by 2011 and a one-year target price of $7 per share for the sustainable-energy producer.

The company generates about 364 megawatts through run-of-river, wind and biomass plants in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. It also has several hydroelectric and wind projects in the pipeline.

However, permitting holdups have forced delays on some of those projects, introducing cost overruns. But for Mr. Isaacson, the company is worth the risk. “We believe the company is undervalued,” he said.

Mr. Isaacson expects Canadian Hydro Developers to add about 400 MW of capacity in the short to mid-term. The company's proposed Dunvegan hydro project in Alberta, which may be confirmed by the first quarter of 2009, will also be critical, he said.

“If commissioned on-time and within budget, this project could add up to $1.50 per share to (Canadian Hydro's) stock price,” he said.

Other selling points for Scotia Capital include a strong 19-year management track record and plenty of stock catalysts in the next 12 to 18 months as Canadian Hydro Developers continues to bid for new projects in British Columbia and Ontario.

Mr. Isaacson based his valuation on a 75%-weighted discounted cash flow approach using a 9.5% discount rate. He also used a 25% net asset value calculation.

Related News

globe

Is The Global Energy Transition On Track?

LONDON - Are we doing enough to save the planet? Silly question. The latest prognosis from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made for gloomy reading. Fundamental to the Paris Agreement is the target of keeping global average temperatures from rising beyond 2°C. The UN argues that radical measures are needed to meet that target.

Renewable power and electrification of transport are the pillars of decarbonization. It’s well underway in renewables - the collapse in costs make wind and solar generation competitive with new build coal and gas.

Renewables’ share of the global power market will triple by 2040 from…

READ MORE
aps logo

APS asks customers to conserve energy after recent blackouts in California

READ MORE

Nova Scotia Power says it now generates 30 per cent of its power from renewables

READ MORE

Hydro meters

Metering Pilot projects may be good example for Ontario utilities

READ MORE

BOE Says UK Energy Price Guarantee is Key for Next Rates Call

READ MORE