Brazil Energy Cos Make Merrill's Best, And Worst, Stock List

Two of Brazil's biggest electric power companies made Merrill Lynch's list of most, and least, preferred stocks in Latin America Wednesday.

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, or Cemig (CIG) was chosen as one of Latin America's best stocks due to a strong cash position and its current stock price trading well below its peers.

Cemig is also expected to benefit from falling interest rates in Brazil, seen hitting around 10.75% by year's end, because 72% of its debt is linked to the Selic interest rate benchmark.

Cemig's price to earnings estimate for 2009 was put at 9.2 with earnings growth expected to decline by 9.2%, beating it's nearest competitor in market capitalization, CPFL Energia (CPL). CPFL's 2009 estimated earnings are 9.5% negative, with a price to earnings ratio of 12.8.

Cemig shares have underperformed other Brazilian utilities by 15% over the last three months.

Cemig was underperforming the local stock market index, Ibovespa, on Wednesday, up 0.09% to 32.78 Brazilian reals ($14.44) per share.

CPFL was trading 1.8% higher at BRL30.55.

The Ibovespa was up nearly 1% at 1434 GMT.

Federally owned utility holding giant, Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras, or Eletrobras (EBR), made the least favorite list due to its high price per earnings.

Eletrobras is also tied in more closely to Brazil's regulated market, meaning it will likely sell energy slightly cheaper than its peers.

Other companies, like Cemig, often sell a portion of their energy in the free market where rates can be higher for on-demand customers.

The regulated market is subject to long term government defined price caps.

Eletrobras is roughly twice the size of Cemig in terms of its market cap, which is $13.7 billion.

Merrill equity analysts estimated 2009 earnings growth to decline by 58.9%, with 2009 estimated price to earnings ratio of 12.3.

Merrill Lynch is owned by Bank of America Corp. (BAC).

-By Kenneth Rapoza, Dow Jones Newswires, 5511-8812-5961, [e-mail]