THANKFULLY, THE DAYS OF SHOVELING coal into the kitchen stove are over. But investors might want to think about fueling their portfolios with shares of coal producer Consol Energy.
Consol is unusual among large U.S. coal companies for its natural-gas production business. And its already-strong operating margins should get a boost as utilities continue to add emissions equipment that encourages consumption of Consol’s sulfur-laden but more energy-efficient coal.
After unseasonable weather in 2006, prices for coal and natural gas fell. With projections for production cuts this year, sentiment for the sector has waned.
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