20 February 2026 | 3:15PM EST Equity Research Energy, Utilities & Mining Pulse: Investors Asking: What Are Takeaways from the Road or Recent Management Meetings? While the Natural Resources complex has performed well this year, there has been significant dispersion under the hood. One of the key drivers of relative performance has been corporate governance and management changes. With that in mind, our analysts have spent much of February on the road, at conferences and on earnings calls engaging with manag ...

Tokenized Financial Infrastructure - The index provides exposure to companies involved in tokenized financial infrastructure, including stablecoin issuers and tokenization platforms, with top holdings such as Nu Holdings Ltd. and Coinbase Global, Inc. [1] - Tokenized U.S. Treasuries have grown into a multi-billion-dollar market, with nearly US$10 billion issued on-chain, indicating significant potential for long-term growth [2] Regulatory Developments - The Canadian government is introducing new legislation to regulate fiat-backed stablecoins, requiring issuers to maintain adequate reserves and implement risk management frameworks [3] - Stablecorp Digital Currencies Inc. announced that its QCAD digital token is the first Canadian dollar-linked stablecoin to receive regulatory approval, highlighting the shift towards tokenization in financial technology [4] ETF Market Expansion - Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. has expanded its U.S. single-stock ETF lineup with six new funds, employing an active covered call writing strategy and leveraging around 25%, bringing its total to 25 U.S. single-stock ETFs [6][7] - Hamilton Capital Partners Inc. launched two new ETFs, including the HAMILTON CHAMPIONS U.S. Technology Index ETF, which aims to replicate the performance of a specific technology index with top holdings like Alphabet Inc. and Apple Inc. [8] Fund Closures - RPIA is closing its RP Target 2026 Discount Bond Fund, with liquidation expected to occur in an orderly fashion by March 24 [11] - Existing unitholders have the option to switch to another RPIA mutual fund or redeem their units until March 20, with waived short-term trading fees [12]

Core Insights - Analysts at the Bank of Nova Scotia have expanded their list of stock recommendations following the announcement of six new major infrastructure projects by Prime Minister Mark Carney, adding to an initial five projects [1] Group 1: New Infrastructure Projects - The new projects include an electricity transmission corridor, a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in northern British Columbia, a critical mineral mine in New Brunswick, a nickel mine in Ontario, a graphite mine in Quebec, and a hydro line to the Arctic [1] Group 2: Beneficiary Companies - Snowline Gold Corp. (TSX:SGD) may benefit from lower energy costs due to the B.C. electricity project [1] - Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) is expected to play a role in the LNG terminal, potentially assisting in building a pipeline for the project [1] - Alberta gas companies such as AltaGas Ltd. (TSX:ALA), Keyera Corp. (TSX:KEY), and Pembina Pipeline Corp. (TSX:PPL) could also benefit from the LNG terminal [1] - TC Energy Corp. (TSX:TCL) may be involved in further large-scale pipeline investments in the region [1] Group 3: Engineering and Construction Stocks - Several engineering and construction companies have been highlighted, including AtkinsRealis Group Inc. (TSX:ATRL), Stantec Inc. (TSX:STN), and WSP Global Inc. (TSX:WSP) [1] - Equipment dealers such as Finning International Inc. (TSX:FTT) and Toromont Industries Ltd. (TSX:TIH) are also noted as potential beneficiaries [1] Group 4: Transportation Companies - Transportation companies like Canadian National Railway Co. (TSX:CNR) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (TSX:CP) may see upside from these infrastructure developments [1]

Core Viewpoint - South Bow Corp. reports strong financial and operational results for 2024, highlighting its successful spinoff from TC Energy and providing an optimistic outlook for 2025, despite anticipated challenges in the market. Spinoff Transaction - South Bow launched as an independent company on October 1, 2024, completing its separation from TC Energy Corp. [5] - The company raised approximately $5.8 billion through an initial notes offering on August 28, 2024, and repaid outstanding long-term debt to TC Energy affiliates on the spinoff date [5]. Safety and Operational Performance - South Bow achieved record occupational and process safety performance in 2024 [5]. - The Keystone Pipeline recorded an annual System Operating Factor (SOF) of 95%, with average throughput of approximately 626,000 barrels per day (bbl/d), a 5% increase from 2023 [5]. - The U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System averaged approximately 795,000 bbl/d, increasing by 15% relative to 2023 [5]. Financial Performance - South Bow generated revenue of $488 million and $2,120 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively [11]. - The company recognized net income of $55 million ($0.26/share) and $316 million ($1.52/share) for the same periods [11]. - Normalized EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $1,091 million, a 2% increase from 2023 [11]. - Distributable cash flow was $183 million and $608 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively [11]. Capital Expenditures and Debt - South Bow exited 2024 with total long-term debt of $5.7 billion and net debt of $4.9 billion, with a net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio of 4.5 times [11]. - The company expects its net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio to increase modestly in 2025 due to investments in the Blackrod Connection Project and one-time spinoff costs [6]. Returns to Shareholders - South Bow declared its inaugural quarterly dividend of $104 million ($0.50/share) on November 7, 2024, and plans to pay a similar dividend on April 15, 2025 [12]. 2025 Guidance - The company projects normalized EBITDA of approximately $1.01 billion for 2025, with about 90% secured through committed arrangements [20]. - Distributable cash flow is expected to be approximately $535 million, which will fund the anticipated annual dividend of $416 million ($2.00/share) [20]. - Capital expenditures for growth are estimated at $110 million for the Blackrod Connection Project in 2025 [20].