Can Shares of Minnows Premier Oil Plc & EnQuest Plc Catch Supermajor BP Plc?

Will nimble producers EnQuest Plc (LON: ENQ) and Premier Oil Plc (LON: PMO) outperform slow moving dinosaurs like BP Plc (LON:BP)?

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

As oil industry insiders begin to confront the spectre of a new normal for crude prices well below $100/bbl, is the era of globe trotting super-majors at an end? And if so, will small, nimble producers be able to take their place as investor darlings?

Quest for cost cuts

The trials and tribulations of North Sea producer EnQuest (LSE: ENQ) help explain why the outlook for this high-cost region is becoming increasingly bleak. While the company has had success in cutting spending, operating expenditure (opex) was still a very high $29.7/bbl in 2015. These high costs help explain why the company’s pre-tax loss was $1.3bn despite receiving an average of $70.2/bbl sold.  

As if plummeting crude prices weren’t enough of an anchor on EnQuest, its staggering $1.5bn mountain of debt is also constraining growth even as crude prices rise. This level of debt means gearing (total assets/total debt) is an unhealthy 53%, which will inhibit growth going forward. This high debt load and high-cost-of-production assets are the reasons I don’t foresee EnQuest share prices catching the super-majors anytime soon.

Not quite Premier division

Like EnQuest, Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) is saddled with high debt levels from massive capex projects initiated when crude was above $120/bbl. In Premier’s case, net debt at the end of 2015 was a full $2.2bn. Despite this, shares have more than doubled from January lows as the company has announced a series of bolt-on acquisitions of relatively low-cost assets.

In this regard, the company is well positioned going forward as opex per barrel are only $16. This low cost base created operating cash flow of $800m in 2015, which will continue to increase as new production comes online. This leads me to view Premier more favourably than EnQuest, but I still believe staggering leverage will constrain shareholder returns unless crude prices return to astronomical levels.

Super-solid

Super-major BP (LSE: BP) suffered its worst year ever in 2015 as the company’s losses totalled $6.5bn. However bad this loss, it still may be too early to claim it as evidence of the end of the era of the super-major as $9.8bn went out of the door for Gulf of Mexico oil spill-related charges.

These fines aside, the underlying business model for BP remains very solid. Operations brought in $19bn of cash thanks largely to downstream refining assets, whose profits are normally negatively correlated with the price of crude. Great downstream assets and five years of selling high-cost-of-production assets to pay spill-related fines have allowed the company to target around $50/bbl as the company’s new break-even price target.

BP’s gearing at the end of 2015 was also a relatively low 21.6%, giving the company room to manoeuvre as it attempts to simultaneously maintain dividends and reset its cost basis. Earnings don’t cover this 7.8% yielding dividend, but management appears determined to not slash dividends for the time being, whether or not this is a wise move. With a healthy balance sheet, wide-ranging low-cost assets and its incredibly profitable refining arm, I believe BP will continue to reward long-term shareholders more than either EnQuest or Premier Oil.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Ian Pierce has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Google office headquarters
Investing Articles

1 reason I like buying S&P 500 shares – and 1 reason I don’t

Will this investor try to improve his potential returns by focusing more on S&P 500 shares instead of British ones?…

Read more »

Young woman holding up three fingers
Investing Articles

3 SIPP mistakes to avoid

Our writer explains a trio of potentially costly errors he tries to avoid making when investing his SIPP, on an…

Read more »

Smiling white woman holding iPhone with Airpods in ear
Investing Articles

Here’s how (and why) I’d start buying shares with £25 a week

Our writer uses his investment experience and current approach to explain how he would start buying shares on a limited…

Read more »

Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Here’s my 5-step approach to earning passive income of £500 a month

Christopher Ruane explains the handful of steps he uses to target hundreds of pounds in passive income each month.

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 UK shares I’ve been buying this week

From a value perspective, UK shares look attractive. But two in particular have been attracting Stephen Wright’s attention over the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

A lifelong second income for just £10 a week? Here’s how!

With a simple, structured approach to buying blue-chip dividend shares at attractive prices, our writer's building a second income for…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d use a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA to help build generational wealth

Discover how our writer would aim to turn a £20k Stocks and Shares ISA into a sizeable nest egg by…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Billionaire Warren Buffett just bought shares of Domino’s Pizza. Should I grab a slice?

Our writer takes a look at a few reasons why Domino's Pizza stock might have appealed to Warren Buffett's Berkshire…

Read more »