Oil has had a hard time fighting back through the $50 a barrel level, and many of the bears on Wall Street continue to point to the possibility that crude could plunge to $40, or even farther. The fact of the matter is that worldwide demand is expected to increase, and although domestic shale companies are still pumping away, the OPEC production cuts have been extended and, when that takes full effect, we could see a surge in pricing.
Five top energy stocks that are well liked at many Wall Street firms are either at, or just bounced off 52 week lows, and could be providing investors incredible entry points and big upside potential. All of these companies make good sense for investors looking for value in the energy sector, and all are rated Buy at firms we cover on Wall Street.
Anadarko Petroleum
This top company is still down a stunning 30% since January and is an outstanding Buy at current levels. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC) operates through three segments. The Oil and Gas Exploration and Production segment explores for and produces natural gas, oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs).
The Midstream segment provides gathering, processing, treating and transportation services to Anadarko and third-party oil, natural gas and NGLs producers, as well as owns and operates gathering, processing, treating and transportation systems in the United States.
The Marketing segment markets oil, natural gas and NGLs in the United States; oil and NGLs internationally; and anticipated liquefied natural gas production from Mozambique.
Shareholders are paid a small 0.41% dividend. RBC rates the stock Outperform and has an $81 price target. The Wall Street consensus price objective is at $76.67. The shares closed most recently at $48.30 apiece.
[nativounit]
Cimarex Energy
This is a top play for investors looking to the Permian Basin. Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) is an independent exploration and production company. Its primary activities are in the Mid-Continent and Permian Basin areas of the United States. The company is focused on increasing shareholder value through strategies linked to generating attractive economic returns on capital employed and profitable growth in per-share reserves, production and cash flow. It intends to profitably grow reserves and production through a balanced mix of exploration, exploitation and acquisitions.
Cimarex has a diversified base of high-quality production and attractive drilling opportunities. It should be noted that hedge funds have initiated sizable new positions in the company over the past year, and like its brethren in the Permian, many consider the company a very solid takeover target.
Investors in Cimarex are paid a small 0.32% dividend. The Stifel price target for the stock, which is rated Buy, is a whopping $183. The consensus target is $158, and the shares closed on Monday at $100.18.
Continental Resources
This company has a very large exposure to crude oil. Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR) is primarily a producer of onshore oil in the United States. The company has positioned itself in two growing hydrocarbon discoveries: the Bakken oil play in Montana and North Dakota and the Woodford shale in Oklahoma. That gives the company good growth opportunities for the next few years.
The company reported solid numbers last month that were mostly in line with estimates. Management noted during the presentation that production is tracking at the top end or better than current projections, and while guidance was unchanged for this year, it looks as though 2018 to 2020 numbers could be moved higher.
The SunTrust analysts have a Buy rating and a $60 price target, while the consensus price objective is $56.44. The shares ended trading on Monday at $35.12.
Hess
This top mid/large cap pick is also down a stunning 30% this year and actually could be a takeover target. Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES) is an exploration and production company that develops, produces, purchases, transports and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas. It primarily operates in the United States, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, the Joint Development Area of Malaysia/Thailand, Malaysia and Norway.
Merrill Lynch rates the stock a Buy and the analysts have cited the big short interest in the stock, which the Wall Street Journal pegs at 26.2 million shares or 9.3% of the float. They also point to the 60 million barrels oil equivalent per day growth in the second half of 2017, which should drive free-cash-flow from 2018. This was noted in a research report posted after earnings were released:
Solid quarter, Hess meets or exceeds all guidance items. Production of 307,000 boepd beats by 12,000 boepd. Cash flow is strong on lower deferred tax charge; net debt essentially flat sequentially. Inflection point pending in the second half of 2017. We believe the inflection point for the investment case is around the corner. Hess remains our top sector pick.
Hess shareholders are paid a solid 2.2% dividend. Merrill Lynch has a whopping $80 price target, and the consensus target is down at $61.58. The shares closed Monday at $45.38.
Noble Energy
Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids worldwide. Its principal projects are located in DJ Basin, Marcellus Shale, Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin of the United States, as well as in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean and offshore West Africa. As of December 31, 2015, the company had approximately 1,421 million barrels oil equivalent of total proved reserves.
Noble sanctioned in February the phase 1 development of its giant natural gas discovery in Israel for a gross development cost of $3.75 billion with first sales expected in late 2019. The project will include the development of 9.4 trillion cubic feet gross from four producing wells, each capable of producing in excess of 300 million cubic feet per day.
The company posted a solid earnings beat in May, and the Stifel team, which rates the stock a Buy, cites the solid performance in the Delaware and the Denver-Julesburg basins.
Noble Energy shareholders are paid a 1.21% dividend. The $52 Stifel price target compares with the posted consensus target of $46.50. The stock closed Monday at $29.68 a share.
[wallst_email_signup]
These are five of the top energy stocks that have hit and remain near 52-week lows but may be offering long-term and value investors the best entry points since the lows of 2016. While the energy sector could remain volatile, buying at these levels certainly takes some of the risk premium out.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks