4 Top Eagle Ford Shale Stocks to Buy With Huge Potential Upside

By Lee Jackson Updated Jul 2, 10:12AM EDT · Published Jul 2, 8:15AM EDT

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One of the keys to making money in the oil business in a lower pricing environment to have outstanding well returns. A new report from SunTrust Robinson Humphrey points out that although some Eagle Ford well economics are plagued by weak natural gas liquids pricing sub-optimal results, various parts of Karnes, Gonzalez and La Salle counties acreage continues to generate 50% or more returns at current commodity prices with a break-even oil price down to just around $30 per barrel.

With pricing expected to stay flat for the foreseeable future, the outstanding unconventional plays in the Eagle Ford may continue to be a solid place for investors looking to own energy stocks. With very reasonable oil services pricing and continued efficiencies by the better operators in the region, more oil production and revenues are a definite possibility.

Here are four top Eagle Ford shale stocks to buy now with massive SunTrust price targets.

Carrizo Oil & Gas

This is a top energy stock for value buyers to consider. Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (NASDAQ: CRZO) is a Houston-based energy company actively engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and gas from resource plays located in the United States. Carrizo’s current operations are principally focused in proven, producing oil and gas plays primarily in the Eagle Ford Shale, the Utica Shale in Ohio, the Niobrara Formation in Colorado and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania.

Many on Wall Street see the company as one of the best positioned due to the low breakeven costs, solid operating scale and a very good balance sheet with ample liquidity. The analysts also think they company may take advantage of difficult situations for others and make acquisitions, especially in the Eagle Ford.

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Some analysts sees as much as 13% oil growth next year, even if the company does not add a fourth rig in the Eagle Ford. Wall Street as a whole is also very positive that the firm’s capital expenditures will prove to be accretive.

The SunTrust price target on the stock is $65. The Thomson/First Call consensus target is $60.75. Shares closed Wednesday at $46.11.
Earthstone Energy

Earthstone Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT: ESTE) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company engaged in the development and acquisition of oil and gas reserves through an active and diversified program that includes the acquisition, drilling and development of undeveloped leases, and purchases of reserves and exploration activities, with its current primary assets located in the Eagle Ford trend and in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana.

This is another company the analysts feel could be looking to grow via acquisitions. They also point out the company has a very strong balance sheet, with over $100 million in cash and another $80 million available.

The SunTrust price target for the stock drops to $30 from $35, and the consensus target is $29.91. The stock closed on Wednesday at $19.20.

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Penn Virginia

This is a small-cap stock that could hold big promise, especially for more speculative accounts looking to add a higher number of shares. Penn Virginia Corp. (NYSE: PVA) is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas in various domestic onshore regions of the United States, with a primary focus in the Eagle Ford Shale.

With virtually no corporate chatter from the company this year, the analysts are anxious to hear the company’s strategic commentary for the future. While the analysts like the Eagle Ford acreage, with large operators nearby, the well economics may not be as favorable. Penn Virginia could be a company others look at as an acquisition possibility. In fact, the stock recently got hit on rumors that the company turned down an offer from BP, which both sides denied.

The SunTrust price target is $10. The consensus is set at $7.67. Shares closed trading Wednesday at $4.05.

Sanchez Energy

This stock is a favorite of top hedge fund manager Kyle Bass. Sanchez Energy Corp. (NYSE: SN) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional resources in the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, with a current focus on the Eagle Ford Shale, where it has assembled approximately 226,000 net acres, and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale.

This is another company that the analysts are very bullish on, and they cite similar very impressive traits like Carrizo. Again, very low break-even costs, good operating scales and a very solid and stable balance sheet with outstanding liquidity. The SunTrust team also expects very positive well results from Sanchez’ Catarina area.

The SunTrust price target is dropped to $20 from $22, but the consensus target is much lower at $16.50. The stock finished the day Wednesday at $9.33.

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All these companies appear to really have hunkered down and avoided getting totally engulfed in the oil price decline. With solid balance sheets and very good forward prospects, they make sense for aggressive growth accounts looking to add independent exploration and production companies. Any of these four could be on the radar screen of a bigger company looking to add production.

About the Author Lee Jackson →

Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.

Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.

Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.

Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.