Gulf Keystone Petroleum
With the oil price having collapsed during the course of 2014, it’s perhaps unsurprising that oil stocks such as Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE: GKP) (NASDAQOTH: GFKSY.US) have fallen heavily this year. However, Gulf Keystone has also been subject to a deterioration in investor sentiment as a result of continued uncertainty in Iraq, which has also been a contributing factor to shares in the company falling by as much as 75% this year.
Of course, Gulf Keystone is making encouraging progress. For example, it is on target to reach production capacity of 40,000 bopd by the end of the year and recently received its first payment from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) – with more to apparently follow during the course of 2015.
Clearly, the direction of the oil price and the level of uncertainty in Iraq during 2015 are both known unknowns. So, while Gulf Keystone is making encouraging progress, next year could be another tough year for investors in the company, although its long term potential remains significant.
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Monitise
2014 has been a hugely disappointing year for investors in mobile payment solutions provider, Monitise (LSE: MONI) (NASDAQOTH: MONIF.US). That’s because its shares have fallen by as much as 60% during the course of the year, with a major reason for this being the decision of key shareholder and customer, Visa, to reduce its stake in the business.
Clearly, this created a considerable amount of uncertainty and led to investor sentiment declining by a vast amount. However, Monitise seems to be doing everything right in terms of how it has reacted to Visa’s decision. For example, it has attracted new, blue-chip shareholders such as Telefonica, Mastercard and Santander, and has also enjoyed some positive news flow, with a new deal with IBM being a prime example.
With Monitise forecast to post its first profit in 2016, next year could see sentiment in the stock improve to a degree. However, with the market seemingly cautious regarding prospects for Monitise’s bottom line, investors in the company may not see significant gains until the company delivers on its promise of moving into the black.
Xcite Energy
Shares in Xcite Energy (LSE: XEL) have fallen by almost two-thirds during the course of 2014, with the North Sea oil operator recently reporting a loss for its third quarter and suffering from a lower oil price.
However, news flow for the company has also been upbeat, too. For example, Xcite recently signed a memorandum of understanding with China Oilfield Services to provide equipment for Xcite’s Bentley field. Despite this, shares in Xcite have steadily fallen throughout the course of the year.
Clearly, Xcite has considerable long term potential. Its Bentley field, for instance, is expected to have a 30+ year life span and has considerable reserves. As a result, the company’s long term future appears to be much brighter than its share price performance in 2014 suggests. However, with the oil price set to remain weak during 2015, it may take some time for Xcite’s share price to head northwards at a rapid rate.
