16 June 2017 Americas/Canada Equity Research Infrastructure Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP.N) Rating (from NEUTRAL) OUTPERFORM Price (14-Jun-17, US$) 39.43 UPGRADE RATING Target price (US$) (from 40.00) 44.00 52-week price range (US$) 40.91 - 27.91 Market cap (US$ m) 9,606.72 A Tactical Trade; Upgrade to Outperform on Target price is for 12 months. Index Inclusion Potential and Organic Re-Rate Research Analysts Andrew M. Kuske ■ A Timing Trade: We upgrade Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, LP (BIP) to 416 352 4561
[email protected] Outperform from the previous Neutral and increase our target price to US$44 Paul Tan from the prior US$40 in light of some tactical issues. In addition, we believe a 416 352 4593 solid fundamental organic growth story is underappreciated which is poised
[email protected] to deliver value. Simply, the near-term issues revolve around two factors: (a) potential index inclusion; and, (b) NTS economics. We do not believe the full extent of these issues is appreciated by the market (albeit index potential may be creeping in). Longer-term, we continue to believe the fundamental organic growth story is not appreciated versus BIP's historical M&A bias. ■ Index inclusion: With the S&P/TSX undergoing a consultation process for selected index criteria, the potential inclusion of BIP in the Composite is likely to have a meaningful impact on unit demand around the Q3 index revision. At that time, BIP would look to join the other Brookfield siblings (namely Brookfield Renewable and Brookfield Properties) in the Composite as a top 40 float weighted name which creates a tactical trade.