Canadian oil trusts got nailed pretty hard today following the announcement that the Finance Ministry wants to start to taxing dividends for the first time. Even though many investors have long worried about the high costs of oil sands exploration, Canadian oil companies such as Pengrowth Energy Trust (NYSE: PGH) and Penn West Energy Trust (NYE: PWE) have been used as a dividend plays for their rather large dividend yields. Today's announcement rocked both of these stocks. The Finance Ministry is looking to institute a 10% dividend on income trusts that would negatively impact non-residents by about 26.5%.
According to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the planned changes would result in existing trusts paying taxes in four years' time, but companies that convert to the trust structure after today would start being taxed in 2007.
PGH, which boasts an 11.1% dividend yield fell 13.2% today to $17.01 falling $2.59 and PWE who has a 9.8% yield gave back 15.0% in today's market falling $5.62 to $31.90.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-01-2006 @ 8:33PM
Elliot Lewis said...
It would seem that the Canadian Finance Minister chose a very strange day to announce his future plans especially as the majority of those affected would not be so affected for at least 4 years.
For the stocks to go down so much seems a complete over-reaction,and somewhat typical.Investors have 4 years to decided whether they wish to hold their stocks,and the Canadian Govt may not even enact the proposal at all!!!.In polotics things happen and he may not even be the Minister of Finance in 4 years time.
11-01-2006 @ 10:23PM
Jimmie Tutor said...
I'm very disappointed to see my little nest egg melt like it seems to be doing. I feel somewhat like I am being "Enroned".
11-01-2006 @ 10:32PM
Mr. noitall said...
Well, the markets sent these moron politicians a message today. Too bad they won't get the message. Why? Because they are moron politicians, that's why.
11-02-2006 @ 12:37AM
marjorie hamlin said...
Is thisnew tax a maybe, or a yes it is defininitely going to happen?
11-02-2006 @ 3:29AM
Doug Wofford said...
Can Politics influence business?
Try this;
Announce the imposition of a 26% tax overnight.
Criple Canadian energy in one foul move. Turn gas an oil production from a favorable investment and into a bad one. Forget about gradual transitions as good business would,--- just act! And watch your country,the electorate, Loose 26 billion in foreign capital investment overnight.
Therby proving, common sense is the rarest of all commodities.
11-02-2006 @ 12:25PM
Leonard Crump said...
Seems theytalk about raising this tax before and decided that it would not work so it was dropped. they hold 15% divs tax already before they give me my divs....
11-02-2006 @ 12:39PM
Roger Skovly said...
This idiotic proposal/announcement by Flanery has adversily affected the lives of millions of people and the economy of Canada. What drives this - - -greed of course. He and his friends probably sold short.
11-02-2006 @ 11:35AM
brad said...
4 years is a long time,alot can change in that time frame.I dont understand the panic as its not 4 WEEKS from now.I will continue to collect the divs even though the price was battered in an unwarranted panic sell off.The way I view it is, I have 4 years to move out of them,and this bozo may reverse his decision.Politicians seem to ruin every country.
11-02-2006 @ 4:08PM
Charles Walter said...
I am encouraged by these comments which mainly wonder why owner's are panicking at this early date about something that may never happen. Maybe this is a good buying opportunity to get an even higher yield over the next four years, by purchasing at the lower current prices now. The point that this politician may not even be around in four years is well taken. The short sale speculation is intriguing. I wonder if there is a way to check it out.
11-14-2006 @ 7:20PM
Jim said...
Interesting discussions I'll tune in again..