Will Higher Natural Gas Prices Boost Enerplus Corp?

ByAlbert Alfonso:There is little doubt that Enerplus Corp (ERF) has benefited from the recent increases in energy prices. The company has seen its stock surge over 20% YTD, compared with mostly flat returns from its peers. Enerplus is unique among its peers in that it has greatly diversified its asset base away from Western Canada and into the US.

ByAlbert Alfonso:For Enerplus Corp (ERF), 2013 has been a successful transition year. The company has been able to shift assets and production towards the Bakken and Marcellus shale plays and away from its legacy assets in Canada.

ByIAEResearch:Enerplus corp. (ERF) is a Canadian energy producer. The company has control over vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas both in US and Canada. Company's portfolio consisted of 45% oil, 50% natural gas and 5% natural gas liquids in terms of production mix. Enerplus assets are split up, geographically, in the ratio of 60:40 in favor of Canadian territory.

In 1994, two marketers frustrated with limited capacity to export natural gas from Western Canada drew up plans for the 3,000-kilometre Alliance pipeline on a paper napkin. More than two decades later, the resulting project faces a shaky future. Alliance, now jointly owned by affiliates of Enbridge Inc. and Veresen Inc., carries gas rich in petroleum liquids such as butane, ethane and propane from northeastern British Columbia to the Chicago region. Its owners are currently negotiating with shippers to replace existing transportation contracts set to expire in December 2015.

ByAlbert Alfonso:Baytex Energy (BTE) is a Canadian oil and natural gas producer with assets located mostly in Western Canada. Baytex's production is heavily tilted towards heavy oil (also known as thermal oil). The stock has recently declined as the spread between heavy oil and WTI was at historic highs during Q1 2013. Baytex currently offers a monthly dividend of $0.22, or $2.64 per year.

ByAlbert Alfonso:Baytex Energy (BTE) is a Canadian oil and natural gas producer. Baytex' assets are primarily located in Western Canada, particularly the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Like other Canadian energy producers, Baytex has suffered due to low realized prices and transportation issues. The stock for Baytex currently offers a monthly dividend of $0.22, or $2.64 per year.

Robert Waters cheered as the mercury plummeted this winter and is hoping for an equally sweltering summer. The chief financial officer of Enerplus Corp. has seen natural gas prices soar to their highest levels in 19 months, providing some relief to producers like his company, which are heavily exposed to the beleaguered commodity.

ByAlbert Alfonso:Like many Canadian energy producers, Penn West Exploration (PWE) has suffered from lower realized energy prices and transportation bottlenecks. During the past year, Penn West saw its share price range from a high of $16 to a low of about $9.60. However, Penn West has recently seen its stock surge 15% due to the recent uptick in natural gas prices and optimism about future pipeline expansions.