The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that National Bank's Dan Payne has reaffirmed his "sector perform" recommendation for Paramount Resources. The Globe's David Leeder writes that Mr. Payne gave his share target a $2.50 boost to $27.50. Analysts on average target the shares at $25.44. On Monday, Paramount announced it has sold 18.5 million common shares of NuVista Energy through a private agreement for total cash consideration of $296-million. Paramount now owns a 6.55-per-cent interest in the company. Mr. Payne says in a note: "That incremental funding comes in support of a program that continues to advance multiple high-impact and outperforming projects, with it noting that volumes through the summer tracked ahead of already increased guidance (up 10 per cent vs. guided Q3/25) to reflect 5- to 10-per-cent quarter-over-quarter growth, the product of which is being generated through the efficiency and impact of execution at its Willesden Green Duvernay project that is trending 25 per cent higher quarter-over-quarter. ... Paramount remains one of the most uniquely positioned vehicles in the group, focused on high-impact growth across a large and diversified asset portfolio to support long-term returns."