Birchcliff stock jumps as analyst hails 'win-win' scenario for natural gas prices
Toronto-listed Birchcliff shares closed 8.11 per cent higher at $5.73 on Thursday. The stock has been under pressure since cutting its quarterly dividend in half in January amid concerns about the company's debt load, and exposure to volatile commodity prices.
On Wednesday, Birchcliff raised its 2025 cash flow guidance and lowered its year-end debt target compared to estimates issued in late January.
'Our 2025 production and capital expenditures guidance is on target and, due to ongoing strengthening of natural gas prices, in particular at NYMEX [Henry Hub] and Dawn, where we have the majority of our natural gas sales exposure, our 2025 annual adjusted funds flow outlook has improved significantly,' president and CEO Chris Carlsen stated in a news release.
Birchcliff raised its 2025 estimate for adjusted funds flow to $580 million, compared to $445 million on Jan. 22. Total debt at year-end is now expected to be between $265 million and $305 million, versus a range of $410 million to $450 million previously.
CIBC Capital Markets analyst Chris Thompson upgraded his outlook on Birchcliff shares to 'outperform' on Wednesday, while raising his price target to $8 per share from $7.
'[The] macro picture for natural gas has improved with storage drawdowns and stronger NYMEX pricing,' Thompson wrote in a note to clients.
Natural gas prices have climbed to their highest levels in two years, driven in part by trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Futures contracts (NG=F) rose to $4.12 per million British thermal units on Thursday, a level last seen when Russia's invasion of Ukraine shocked global energy markets.
'While the current AECO basis to NYMEX is very wide, Birchcliff finds itself in somewhat of a win-win situation given its basis hedge position,' Thompson added.
'Should AECO strengthen as the startup timing of LNG Canada comes into focus, the increased value for the company's domestic netback will offset the softer hedging gains. If the basin remains oversupplied and AECO continues to trade at a discount, Birchcliff stands to generate substantial cash flow on its hedge book.'
Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.
Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AAPL Stock Price Prediction: Where Apple Could Be by 2025, 2026, and 2030
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Analysts are saying that Apple could hit $410 by 2030. Bullish on AAPL? Invest in Apple on SoFi with no commissions. If it's your first time signing up for SoFi, you'll receive up to $1,000 in stock when you first fund your account. Plus, get a 1% bonus if you transfer your investments and keep them there until December 31, 2025. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) remains one of the world's most influential and closely tracked tech stocks. Its massive installed base, iconic products, and fast-growing Services business make it a focal point for both growth and value investors. As of August 2025, Apple's share price is hovering near all-time highs as investors weigh the company's future earnings power in artificial intelligence (AI), wearables, and digital services. Below, we'll take a close look at how Apple stock is performing today, where its valuation stands, and what experts think could happen to its price in 2025, 2026, and 2030. You'll find projections from Wall Street analysts and independent models, along with an overview of the key trends, possible risks, and different opinions shaping Apple's future. Current Apple Stock Overview Market Cap: $3.25 trillion Trailing P/E Ratio: 32.36 Forward P/E Ratio: 26.95 1-Year Return: +1.86% 2025 Year to Date: Down roughly 15%, but rebounding strongly from earlier lows As of August 2025, Apple (AAPL) trades near $224 per share, recovering from a steep first-half drop of over 15% as investor sentiment improves. The stock's trailing P/E ratio of 32.36 sits well above its long-term average in the low-to-mid 20s, reflecting the market's continued premium on Apple's brand and earnings power. Over the past year, shares have inched up about 1.9%, showcasing the company's historical resilience and ability to rebound from downturns. This elevated valuation suggests investors expect steady profit growth despite competitive pressures and rapid tech sector changes. With high margins and recurring revenue, Apple's Services division (App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and more) is now the company's growth engine. iPhone demand, especially in China and India, remains a central driver, with an anticipated surge for the iPhone 17 launch in the third quarter of 2025. AI has been called an 'elephant in the room.' Apple's monetization strategy there has yet to emerge, with Wall Street still waiting for significant generative AI products. Competitive and regulatory headwinds are increasing, but Apple's pricing power and sticky ecosystem underpin optimism for the long-term. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market — and you can too at just $2.90/share. Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Here's how you can earn passive income with just $100. Wall Street sentiment toward Apple (AAPL) is broadly positive. According to Benzinga, 29 analysts cover the stock, with a consensus price target of $233.04, ranging from a high of $300 (Tigress Financial) to a low of $160 (HSBC). The three most recent ratings from Wedbush, B of A Securities, and DA Davidson average $256.67, implying about 12.7% upside from current levels. This reflects optimism about Apple's long-term growth despite ongoing debates over its innovation pace and competitive pressures. Quick Snapshot Table of PredictionsYear Lowest Prediction Average Prediction Maximum Prediction 2025 $170 $225 $300 2026 $218 $362 $411 2027 $245 $362 $420 2028 $290 $387 $470 2029 $320 $412 $495 2030 $287 $349 $410 The forecast range in this table is based on algorithmic projections provided by Coin Price Forecast, StockScan, CoinCodex, and Market Beat. These models use historical price trends, volatility patterns, and moving averages to estimate future stock prices over multiple time horizons. Bull & Bear Case Before making a decision on Apple stock, it's crucial to weigh both the optimistic arguments for continued growth and the potential headwinds that could limit future returns. Bull Case Growth from iPhone replacement cycle (iPhone 17 and beyond), surging Services segment, and potential upside from new AI features or augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) launches. High-margin services and wearables provide recurring revenue and ecosystem lock-in. Most analysts maintain "Buy" or "Moderate Buy" ratings for AAPL, citing balance sheet strength, buybacks, and innovation pipeline. Bear Case Regulatory and antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe could limit the percentage Apple collects from App Store sales or hamper new services. Margins pressured as hardware growth slows, especially given Chinese competition/risk of supply chain disruptions. Apple's current valuation remains rich unless earnings growth accelerates; any disappointment could prompt a sharp downside given macro risks. Despite Apple's massive resources, the company faces persistent criticism for lagging behind peers like Microsoft, Google, and even Meta in the rollout of advanced generative AI features. Apple Stock Price Prediction for 2025 Forecast Range: $170–$300 Analysts see moderate upside from today's price of around $224, with bulls eyeing further gains into late 2025 should the iPhone cycle and services outpace current estimates. A key risk is that valuation multiples could compress if revenue trends don't reaccelerate. Competitive gains from rivals and global regulation remain overhangs. Apple Stock Price Prediction for 2026 Forecast Range: $218–$411 2026 targets diverge, with some models projecting steady, earnings-driven creep, while others foresee strong upside from new platform adoption (AI, wearables). Bullish scenarios anticipate 60% to 80% upside if innovation cycles hit. Apple Stock Price Prediction for 2030 Forecast Range: $287–$478 A balanced CAGR model (8% to 12% annualized) from today suggests AAPL could close 2030 between $350 and $415. Structural upside exists if new categories (AR glasses) scale successfully. Downside risks are disruption to Apple's ecosystem, regulatory interventions, or margin erosion as competition heats up. Investment Considerations Apple remains a core blue chip, suitable for long-term growth investors, tech believers, and dividend reinvestors. Its record of buybacks, dividend hikes, and world-class brand equity keeps institutional and retail holders committed. As of mid-2025, hedge funds and pensions maintain overweight exposure, betting on Apple's proven playbook of ecosystem expansion and cash generation. Key risks: macroeconomic swings, intensified tech competition (especially in China), global regulatory action, and elevated earnings multiple. Upcoming catalysts to watch include Q3 earnings (iPhone 17 launch), Services segment margin growth, and the debut of new AI-powered features. Diversified investors should monitor Apple's valuation multiples and sector positioning. Significant drawdowns are possible if revenue growth disappoints or global tech sentiment sours. See Next: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share. This article AAPL Stock Price Prediction: Where Apple Could Be by 2025, 2026, and 2030 originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
8 minutes ago
- CBS News
Air Canada says it will resume flights after government forced arbitration with flight attendants
Air Canada said it plans to resume flights on Sunday after the Canadian government intervened, forcing the airline and its striking flight attendants back to work and into arbitration. The strike, which began on Saturday morning, stranded more than 100,000 travelers around the world during the peak summer travel season. The North American country's largest airline said in a release that the first flights will resume Sunday evening but that it will take several days before its operations return to normal. It said some flights will be canceled over the next seven to 10 days until the schedule is stabilized. However, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the 10,000 flight attendants, said the demonstrations will keep going around the country, despite the airline's statement. "We invite Air Canada back to the table to negotiate a fair deal, rather than relying on the federal government to do their dirty work for them when bargaining gets a little bit tough," the union said. "We remain on strike. We demand a fair, negotiated contract and to be compensated for all hours worked." Fewer than 12 hours after workers walked off the job, Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered the 10,000 flight attendants back to work, saying now is not the time to take risks with the economy and noting the unprecedented tariffs the U.S. has imposed on Canada. Hajdu referred the work stoppage to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The airline said Sunday the Canada Industrial Relations Board has extended the term of the existing collective agreement until a new one is determined by the arbitrator. The shutdown of Canada's largest airline early Saturday was impacting about 130,000 people a day. Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day. According to numbers from aviation analytics provider Cirium, Air Canada had canceled a total of 671 flights by Saturday afternoon, following 199 on Friday. And another 96 flights scheduled for Sunday were already suspended. The bitter contract fight escalated Friday as the union turned down Air Canada's prior request to enter into government-directed arbitration, which allows a third-party mediator to decide the terms of a new contract. Flight attendants walked off the job around 1 a.m. EDT on Saturday. Around the same time, Air Canada said it would begin locking flight attendants out of airports. Last year, the government forced the country's two major railroads into arbitration with their labor union during a work stoppage. The union for the rail workers is suing, arguing the government is removing a union's leverage in negotiations. The Business Council of Canada had urged the government to impose binding arbitration in this case, too. And the Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the intervention. Hajdu maintained that her Liberal government is not anti-union, saying it is clear the two sides are at an impasse. Passengers whose flights are impacted will be eligible to request a full refund on the airline's website or mobile app, according to Air Canada. The airline said it would also offer alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. Still, it warned that it could not guarantee immediate rebooking because flights on other airlines are already full "due to the summer travel peak." Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have been in contract talks for about eight months, but they have yet to reach a tentative deal. Both sides have said they remain far apart on the issue of pay and the unpaid work flight attendants do when planes aren't in the air. The airline's latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation, including benefits and pensions, over four years, that it said "would have made our flight attendants the best compensated in Canada." But the union pushed back, saying the proposed 8% raise in the first year didn't go far enough because of inflation.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett Is Selling Apple and Bank of America Stock and Piling Into an Embattled Healthcare Stock Down 46% This Year
Key Points Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway's team of investors continued a recent trend in trimming down their positions in Apple and Bank of America. Apple is Berkshire's top holding, while Bank of America is the large conglomerate's third-largest holding. Berkshire's biggest buy in the quarter involved a beaten-down health insurance stock. 10 stocks we like better than UnitedHealth Group › Each quarter, investors anxiously await Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway filing its 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, divulging what stocks Berkshire held at the end of the quarter, and, therefore, what stocks the company bought and sold in any given quarter. Investors are always looking for a glimpse into the genius of Buffett and his team of investors, especially with Buffett set to step down as CEO of the company at the end of the year. While Berkshire has been quiet in recent quarters, the large conglomerate made some notable moves in the second quarter. Berkshire recently sold some shares in two of its largest positions, while piling into an embattled healthcare stock that has struggled immensely this year. Trimming Apple and Bank of America In the second quarter, Berkshire continued to trim its largest position, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and its third-largest holding, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). In the quarter, Berkshire sold 7% of its stake in Apple and 4% of its stake in Bank of America. Over the past year, Berkshire has reduced its stake in Apple by 30% and Bank of America by 41%. While the bull market has raged for more than 2.5 years, Berkshire has plodded along conservatively, hoarding hundreds of billions of dollars in cash and cash equivalents, selling more stocks than it buys, and even turning away from share repurchases more recently. Given stretched valuations and the stock market's big run, many investors simply think Buffett and his team are not seeing compelling opportunities. There's also talk that Berkshire is staying conservative to prepare for the big transition that will see Buffett step down as CEO but retain his role as chairman of the board of directors. Longtime Berkshire veteran Greg Abel is set to step into Buffett's big shoes. Berkshire's stock got off to a terrific start this year but has floundered since the transition was announced. Apple has been dealing with tariff-related issues all year. Buffett and Berkshire may have foreseen this once President Donald Trump won the election, leading them to pare back their position. If Berkshire is concerned about the economy, perhaps paring back some of their bank holdings makes sense as well, as banks are typically cyclical. Playing contrarian on this healthcare giant In the second quarter, Berkshire initiated a $1.57 billion position in the nation's largest healthcare insurer, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). UnitedHealth's stock has been crushed this year and is down about 46%. However, after the news came out about Berkshire buying the stock, shares increased close to 9.5% in after-hours trading. UnitedHealth has dealt with a flurry of issues this year, including higher medical insurance costs, which is a common trend across the sector. In the second quarter, management at UnitedHealth revised its prior full-year outlook down to $16 adjusted earnings per share, significantly below Wall Street's consensus estimates coming into the year. The main culprit is medical costs, which management thinks will come in $6.5 billion higher than previously expected. The sector has struggled in the face of an aging population, higher utilization of and more expensive services, higher drug prices, and inflation. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is probing UnitedHealth in a criminal investigation over the way it charges customers in its Medicare Advantage program. The Wall Street Journal has previously reported on suspicious billing practices that allegedly increase payouts to the company. In a statement in late July, UnitedHealth said it is cooperating with the DOJ but has "full confidence in its practices and is committed to working cooperatively with the Department throughout this process." At their core, Buffett and his team are value investors, meaning they look for stocks with a market value below a company's perceived intrinsic value. While UnitedHealth has struggled and is forecasting a significant earnings decline this year, management is still projecting double-digit revenue growth in 2025. Furthermore, the company's balance sheet seems to be on solid footing. Sure, the company has high debt, but through the first six months of the year, earnings from operations of about $14.3 billion are still more than 7 times debt interest expense. Additionally, UnitedHealth's dividend yield is now roughly 3.25%, while the company's trailing free-cash-flow yield is above 10%, showing the company can easily cover the dividend for the foreseeable future. In fact, UnitedHealth recently increased its quarterly dividend by 5%. Ultimately, UnitedHealth trades at a lower-than-usual forward price-to-earnings ratio, despite expectations of much lower earnings this year, and at less than 1 times revenue. Buffett and his team value strong moats, so with UnitedHealth still controlling market share in the healthcare insurance industry, they likely see an attractive risk-reward proposition. Should you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group right now? Before you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and UnitedHealth Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $668,155!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,106,071!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,070% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bram Berkowitz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Warren Buffett Is Selling Apple and Bank of America Stock and Piling Into an Embattled Healthcare Stock Down 46% This Year was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
