27
Oct
Wednesday Oil Preview + More Earnings
Market Sentiment Watch: Out of gas. Technicals are driving a push towards 1,200 on the S&P but there is strong sense of malaise hanging over trading as we approach 3Q GDP on Friday, the elections next week and the Fed's probably push for more easing in a flight from deflation move.
Ecodata Watch:
- Durable goods came in at 3.3% vs 2.5% expected.
- We get new home sales at 10 am EST, forecast is 300,000.
Conference Call Watch: (all times EST)
- PXD - 10 am - Will listen
- WLT - 10 am - Will listen to replay
- OII - 11 am - Will listen
In Today’s Post:
- Holdings Watch
- Commodity Watch
- Oil Inventory Preview
- Stuff We Care About Today –WHX, Earnings Watch: PXD, WLT, OII, SSN
- Odds & Ends
Holdings Watch:
ZCAT (Zman Catalyst portfolio):
- $5,200
- 100% Cash
- Yesterday’s Trades: None
ZIM (Zman Inefficient Markets portfolio)
- $3,000
- 5% Cash
- Positions: 3 MMR calls positions (Nov $17, $18, and Jan 22.50), HAL $36 calls, NFX $65 calls
- Yesterday’s Trades:
- NONE
ZLT (Zman Long Term portfolio)
- Sold 2,500 WHX for $23.10, up 20% to my average cost, before considering the distributions. My model shows a slight miss for their 3Q distribution relative to Street estimates. The name has run of late and I will buy it back if the three analysts who follow it beat it down again like they have in past quarters. See chart showing a $23 to $16 drop following the last distribution. My current forward yield expectation is 9.7% but I think analysts are overestimating 3Q production levels. If it doesn't miss, I've had a good run with it and can rebuy depending on the price. If it does miss (the press release for the announcement should be out late in the first week of November) I think it is likely we see a pullback.
- I'll have a revised ZLT list out later today.
Commodity Watch:
Crude oil ended up 3 pennies to close at $82.55 yesterday, in uneventful trading. After the close, the API released a bearish / odd looking report (see comment below on potential weakness inspired by today's inventory report). My continuing sense is that crude is "safer" in the mid $70s and that product demand data and economic data in the OEDC do not support a significant move higher for crude. This morning crude is trading $0.80.
Natural gas crept up 4 cents to close the day at $3.35 yesterday. This morning gas is trading off 1 penny.
- Tropics Watch: Richard disintegrated, nothing on the horizon at present.
Early Read On Natural Gas Storage: This has been a
Street is at 73 BCF for tomorrow’s report.
- Last Week: 93 Bcf Injection
- Last Year: 24 Bcf Injection
- 5 Year Average: 32 Bcf Injection
- 10 year Hi: 69 Bcf Injection
- 10 year Low: 9 Bcf Withdrawal
Oil Inventory Preview
API Watch: Odd numbers. One slightly bullish point would the continued linkage between Cushing according to API and Cushing according to EIA of late. Otherwise, an ugly set that should send crude on a quest for an $80 test should EIA reflect the the big build in crude and any build in distillates.
- Crude: UP 6.432 mm barrels
- Cushing down 351,000 barrels
- Gasoline: DOWN 1.805 mm barrels
- Distillates: UP 0.818 mm barrels
Stuff We Care About Today
WHX - Revised Model ... Street is looking for more here as per comments above. Ive made some tweaks to the model since the last iteration, especially in the area of natural gas prices (think lower in 4Q and 1Q11) and I've slightly bumped up 3Q production volumes from my original and probably overly conservative modeling of a return to trend from 1Q levels following a timing related increase in 2Q volumes. A portion of the 2Q effect here is season (trucking oil to market in the winter can be difficult and there have been freezeups as well). The model also now better reflects sales relative to pricing (there is a 1 quarter lag). All of this had the effect of bringing my 3Q number from the $0.58 up $0.63. The Street is still up at $0.71 and I will rebuy the name should they beat the shares of this inactively managed vehicle down over a quarter that simply was out of reach.
PXD Reports OK Financial Quarter, Good Results Tunisia, Strong Growth To Come U.S.
The 3Q Numbers:
- Production of 114.6 MBOEpd, on the mid of prior guidance of 113 to 116 MBOEpd
- Revenue of $616.6mm vs $501 mm expected (bloated by realized hedge gains and would have been light to the Street without them)
- EPS of $0.34 (ex items) vs $0.38 expected
- EBITDA of $300.7 mm vs $308 mm expected
Highlights:
- Good well results in Tunisia, company expected 8 to 9,000 BOEpd net by early 2011, nearly tripling current production in the region. To date the play has not gotten a lot of credit from analysts.
- Spraberry play at 25 rigs now (amazing for a company that was at a standstill 18 months ago) going to 30 by year end and 40 next year.
- Eagle Ford at 7 rigs, and this will likely grow, as results have been very strong with IPs averaging north of 2,000 BOEpd recently.
- Lower Wolfcamp horizontal tests to be at TD by year end.
- 4Q10 Guidance: 115 to 120 MBOEpd
- Long range Guidance - reiterating 15+% now through 2013.
Nutshell: Numbers post miss on costs but operational update is largely better than expected. I'm not in the name at present but watching
Conference Call: Today, 10 am EST.
WLT Reports A Slightly Light Quarter, Given The Recent Run I'd Expect A Pullback Which I May Use To Buy Back In.
The 3Q Numbers:
- Revenue of $464 mm vs $484 mm expected
- Sale volumes were 1.9 mm tons, flat with year ago levels as volumes were sold out of inventory in both periods
- Production was 1.8 mm tons in 3Q10 vs 1.5 mm tons a year ago. Higher due to a mine expansion.
- Operating margins were a very solid $108 per ton in 3Q
- Natural gas production was 3.5 Bcfe in the quarter vs 1.5 Bcfe a year ago. Higher production was largely due to an acquisition.
- EPS of $2.57 vs $2.59 expected vs $0.45 a year ago
Highlights:
- Pricing for their high quality met coal (premium harding coking coal) drove the quarter
- Guidance: guidance for 4Q volumes straddles 3Q levels at 1.7 to 2.0 mm tons. Operating margins may give the Street pause as they retreat to a range of $0.84 to $0.87 per ton which is probably not a function of management being overly conservative in this instance but more likely a function of lower average pricing.
- Guidance for 2011 remains unchanged at 8.5 to 9.0 mm tons.
Nutshell: I'll circle back and listen to the replay here. I like the name but am not in at the moment having sold my tester sized position a few weeks back. This is a very momentum trading name and I prefer to buy into on days when all looks doom and gloomish for the sector. Despite the recent run, the name remains cheap trading at 10.5x 2010 EPS and 8.4x 2011 EPS.
Conference Call: Today, 10 am EST
OII Reported Strong 3Q Numbers, Guided To A Stronger, Potential Record 2011.
The 3Q Numbers:
- Revenue of $5.16 vs $468 mm expected
- EPS of $1.09 vs $0.94 expected
Highlights:
- Guidance:
- 2010 -
- Raised...Again. New range is $3.57 to $3.62 vs a prior $3.20 to $3.40.
- The Street is currently at $3.39 ...
- 2011 -
-
- Initiated at $3.45 to $3.75;
- The Street is currently at $3.57
- They typically straddle the Street when they come out of the gate for a new year's guidance, either that or they come out with a number that is light of the Street. Confidence must be high.
- 2010 -
- Quarter's strength came from a combination of stronger than expected subsea products and subseas projects (all that TV time at Macondo working for BP)
- Big umbilical order will drive higher YoY backlog at year end
- No debt, increasing pile of cash, $300 mm in borrowing capacity and capital spending that stays easily within cash flow.
Nutshell: Blowout results, still a pristine balance sheet, ROV's still in high demand and still adding more to meet contracts. Importantly, not only did they beat but they raised the guidance this year by more than the beat. These are not over promising types and they started the year with a very conservative tone. Strong oil prices and continued high international offshore drilling rates are likely to propel them to record earnings years this year and next.
Conference Call: Today, 11 am EST.
SSN Reports 3Q Results, Updates Activity
- The report highlights the Goshen transaction and talks about future developments on the retained Niobrara prospective acreage (17,000 net acres) and addresses adding more Bakken acreage as they are well into developing their six section toehold in the Williston.
- North Stockyard Production (Williston Basin, primarily Bakken formation production)
- was 488 BOEpd in the quarter, the Gary well came on late in the quarter and as such volumes should track higher in 4Q as the well is performing "better than expected" without quantification.
- The Rodney is expected to frac next month
- The Earl well is now set for January, this is the second time this completion has been put back a month.
- Harstad #2 well (downspacing pilot well) will spud in 1Q11.
- Hawksprings Project (Goshen County, WY, Niobrara):
-
- 3D acquisition to commence on Nov 1, on time with previous comments
- Now talking 1, not 2 wells to drill in 1Q11
- Other Stuff:
- Lea County, NM - Bone Spring well to be competed in 1Q11.
- Diamondback Prospect (Jefferson County, TX), Gulf Coast, set to spud in November.
- Nutshell: Nothing to write home about, not even close to approaching cash flow driven status (probably another 2 years for that to happen) and there is some slippage as noted above in some of the comments above. Also note that they have Permian potential (Bone Spring) that they'll be testing along with another Gulf Coast prospect early next year and for which I have given them very little value in the current NAV model. I continue to hold the shares in the ZLT.
Other Stuff
- CLB since earnings: still watching the pull back, starting to look a bit overdone.
- Reporting the rest of this week: click here. LINE should be on the table for Thursday but was omitted.
- NBL should have interesting things to say about the Niobrara play that may prove helpful to names from SM to EOG to tiny SSN.
Odds & Ends
Analyst Watch:
- KOG - Cut to Hold at Stifel on valuation.
- and on KOG - Morgan Keegan cuts to Market Perform
- PXD - Outperform reiterated at FBR
As of 8:41 EST AOL finance shows last OII $57.75
October 27th, 2010 at 7:58 amFront and Center Watch:
KOG down 4% on a pair of downgrades, valuation I'm sure on both, may do a trading shares add if it gets out of hand. Earnings around the corner should have a big # on the top line, and more commentary as per the Cat List.
OII – Over $58 now, watching for an initial pull back after the open, great quarter and guidance
PXD – EFS comments should help HK today
WLT for a potential pullback due comments listed in the post (operating margins)
October 27th, 2010 at 8:14 amOII shooting to $60 per market, just about everything else should be weak with the market at the open.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:29 amDebt Markets — any CFO of a cash-flow-generating-organization worthy of the title should be adding (or at least giving heavy thought) to their debt here. Not sure it gets any better than this. And strategic use of debt enhances common equity holders… either through direct leverage (can own bigger or more assets) or through shareholder-friendly moves (issue debt, buyback shares). The Demand is there.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:30 amPoster Child = Goldman Sachs went to the market to issue $250mm of 50-year notes (yes… FIFTY years!). Instead of what they wanted, they came away with $1.3 BILLION of 50-yr notes placed and priced at 6.125%. People want yield… and they are willing to pay up and term out, to get it.
This is a precursor to higher highs in equities in the following years.
re 4 – best yield idea I have at present remains LINE on the MLP/equity side. Second one is the WHX on a sharp pullback in the next 2 weeks.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:32 amToo little too late watch:
ConocoPhillips also curtailed about 180 million cubic feet equivalent a day of natural-gas production in North America in response to low natural-gas prices.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:33 amOII – completely broken out, JB, when you get a chance would like your thoughts, not willing to chase pre call, 12% seems a bit too much.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:35 amFTI probably getting a little bit of a pull from the OII comments on business environment in the deep and on the umbilicals strength.
EXXI/ MMR largely shrugging off early weakness today and EXXI's 1 time cost issues yesterday don't seem to be yielding much in the way of negative analyst commentary today. Expecting further news on Blackbeard East in November and initial news on Davy Jones around then through end of year as well. Lafitte will likely be at TD by end of year so we could have three ultra-deep Shelf sources of news by New Year's Day.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:39 amJB — KOG trading shares… you were thinking 4.10, is that right?
October 27th, 2010 at 8:47 amAnyone having slow site issues?
October 27th, 2010 at 8:48 amYes.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:50 amrefresh very slow
October 27th, 2010 at 8:50 amVery slow.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:50 amAnalyst Watch:
OAS – RBC initiates at Perform. Seems like the analyst crowd is out of steam for the Bakkens at the moment. Granted they have had a good run, but the production growth for a basket of names is leading to rapid multiple contraction on a CFPS basis. Sentiment could be getting a bit constrained on the simpler metric of $/acre in some cases but I really don’t see a change in sentiment from “we like oil” to “we like dry gas” in the near future. Doesn’t mean I don’t see opportunities to scoop up some cheap natural gas names as the shoulder season and then a mild winter due their worst to the gassier names, especially the unhedged, but it does mean that I think the core positions in energy traders portfolios will remain oil, then liquids rich centric.
New home sales in 10 minutes,
October 27th, 2010 at 8:53 amPXD call in 10 minutes.
Oil inventories in 40 minutes.
OK, thinking I know where the problem lies, will disable something.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:54 amHow about now?
October 27th, 2010 at 8:55 amOII eying pre Macondo levels, again, I’ll likely play on a pullback but don’t want to chase pre oil #s and pre OII CC.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:57 amit’s faster now
October 27th, 2010 at 9:00 amWest – saw your Niobrara/ SM comments last night, thanks. I think NBL could reinvigorate the names involved there. In addition to SM, SSN, EOG, I should have mentioned PETD and REXX as potential movers on positive NBL results.
BOP – MMR trading rather zealously of a sudden, don’t see a broker note.
Getting on the PXD call now.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:00 amA-OK
October 27th, 2010 at 9:01 amMMR = like kicking back at the drive-in movie. Lots of news in the pipeline over the next 2 months. Just grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:03 amNew homes sales at 307,000 vs 300K expected, S&P ticked down on that, guessing market gives in line numbers a shoulder shrug until claims tomorrow and GDP and Friday.
PXD call about to start:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=90959&p=irol-eventDetails&EventId=3299015&WebCastId=1034351&StreamId=1548383
Thanks for the site speed comments, had a link to a lagging tools site, broke it.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:03 amATPG — the catalyst i most want to hear out of them is having 2 permits in hand, so they can begin planning the next two MC wells, to be drilled in 1Q11. That would be a good time for the shorts to finally leave the party and find another target.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:11 amPXD Notes:
Spraberry/Eagle Ford outperforming
No problem with 15+% per year, now through 2013.
One of the Tunisian wells did 6,000 boepd, Street won’t be able to ignore this segment much longer. Nice job to the guys involved with that project.
Operating CF to double by 2013
Noting that some analysts are saying they are doing knockout swaps. Those guys are wrong, no knockout swaps and no sold calls on oil to allow for higher dry gas drilling, both comments were made in broker notes this morning.
…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:13 amMusic to watch MMR by…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:14 am
PXD Notes 2
2 horizontal Wolfcamp
1 will be TD’d tomorrow, completed in December so maybe a pre Christmas vacation pr there.
Look for upgrade to the type curve for the Spraberry wells soon (Dec/Jan), see slide 10 here:
October 27th, 2010 at 9:18 amhttp://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9NDAwODM4fENoaWxkSUQ9NDA3OTk2fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1
Which shows a clear outperformance pf recently drilled wells.
On the PXD call at the moment, but we have a couple of new subs today. Welcome! Feel free to ask questions, there are no dumb ones, I will get to them following the CC if they are detailed or earlier if not.
Oil #s in 10 minutes.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:19 amRe 25 = LOL.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:20 amEXXI — gots my paw out for some tasty $22-fiddy shares… waiting… waiting…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:22 amPXD Notes:
Eagle Ford Shale
7 rigs running and now have 8 wells waiting on completion, they are building 2 new frac fleets (1 here and one for the Sprayberry) and are also getting another dedicated frac crew here in 1Q11. They recently signed a midstream deal here so we should see a bump by mid 2011 in EFS volumes.
Drilling results: good consistency.
Still on target for a 5,000 BOEpd exit rate.
2011: 10 to 13 MBOEpd
2012: 19 to 24 MBOEpd
2013: 32 to 41 MBOEpd
…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:23 amS&P cracking lower … voter fraud?
October 27th, 2010 at 9:24 amTANKER SEGMENT IS GETTING UGLY
TNP pre announced a loss and a share offering stock down 15 %
October 27th, 2010 at 9:24 amz — call me “old fashioned”… but this voter fraud stuff is really getting under my skin. We seem to get more Banana Republic every day…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:26 amRe 32. How not to sell your deal watch: A loss and an offering? Come on guys, help yourselves a little. Bill, keep watching the area for us if you would, at some point we should get point to pick some tanker shares up cheap. Have you heard much about the magnitude of the move to convert VLCCs to drybulks?
October 27th, 2010 at 9:27 amBloomberg headlines blame the fall on question regarding QE2 next week.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:27 amBOP – nothing wrong with being old fashioned.
PXD weakening with market. Good, I’ve been away here and wanted to be long but shied away from a pre quarter buy back in due to a lot of broker hype and price target upgrades going into the quarter. Numbers were so-so on the bottom line, not troubling at all. Production costs were up due to a combination of higher than normal workover costs and some one time items that depressed 1Q and 2Q costs. Strip that stuff out of all 3 quarters and you have a decent, stable level of LOE expense. PXD is smaller than EOG and NBL but it is in my list of larger, oily, non Bakken names that will be in demand for year end holdings and for 2011 and longer.
Q&A starting
October 27th, 2010 at 9:30 amEIA Oil Inventories
Crude: UP 5.0 mm barrels
Gasoline DOWN 4.4 mm barrels
Distillates: DOWN 1.6 mm barrels
Good on products, headline on crude is a big outlier but largely imports driven.
….
October 27th, 2010 at 9:32 amMore EIA
Cushing was down 300K barrels, in line with the API, positive as we pull away from record highs
Demand:
Gasoline: Big uptick here driving that Gasoline inventory drop. Demand was 9,358 mbopd last week, up from 8,9 mbopd in the prior week.
Distillates: Above the 4.0 mm bpd mark, also positive.
Crude off $1.27 to 81.28 but these are actually better than expected numbers.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:35 amEXXI 22-fiddy shares…
October 27th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Re 35, in other words we’re marking time in front of GDP, the elections, etc as there is little new thinking on QE2, QE3 … that I have read in the last 24 hours. Other than the Fed is “terrified” of deflation and continued expectation of gridlock will put the onus of “fixing the economy” on fed actions and people have less and less confidence that that’s going to do anything but push weakness further down the road and lead to a long period of high unemployment and 1 to 2% GDP growth.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:38 amPXD Q&A tone is positive .
October 27th, 2010 at 9:39 am>Have you heard much about the magnitude of the move to convert VLCCs to drybulks?
Not really..issue is lower demand and too many new ships ordered
Makes me think oil is overpriced here at 80
October 27th, 2010 at 9:45 amRE 35, 40: Any talk about reducing or managing QE better than the bazooka approach is just that — talk.
The Fed has no option other than massive amounts of QE for the foreseeable future. I’d also like to remind everyone that you all said I was crazy when the Fed was talking about the end of QE in mid-2009 and I called their BS.
That being said, the S&P is rangebound by the dollar. Without another move down, the S&P will be capped by the recent highs given the lack of any exceptional strength anywhere, especially the all-important job market.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:45 amVTZ — let me be the first to say “You are NOT crazy.” You have been very very spot-on, on so many of your observations and recommendations.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:48 amre 42. Yeah, way too many ships, was just thinking that China said they will be buying ships and converting for coal and that that could be a minor positive on that front.
VTZ – I hear ya, I recall saying that similar talk about raising rates in 2010 was crazy.
PXD Q&A
Tunisia wells are 100% oil, makes things easier.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:49 amTom – Gil Yang asked a good question of the PXD guys.
Asking about how you keep gas wells flat in the mid-continent without drilling.
PXD’s answer. By paying attention to detail. Capital for the division is less than $10 mm per year. That’s strong. Glad to see them keep the rigs off of the acreage and just doing field work, given where prices are. They think they can keep declines to mid single digits. One thing to recall is that some of this is Raton (CBM) volumes where we are in the tail of much of the production the old EVG wells. Long reserve life, very flat, just keeping it all running, “manufacturing” gas.
Spraberry – People are starting to pay $15 to $20,000 per acre. (Probably Aubrey).
October 27th, 2010 at 9:54 amOII call in 5 minutes, it just refuses to rollover.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:55 amI’ve asked Nicky to come on site re the S&P drop here.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:01 amHES fom briefing. TRGLs ptnr in the Paris Basin
HES Hess: Conf call summary (62.49 -0.02) -Update-
Current net production from the Bakken is approximately 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day with nine rigs working. Co plans to add one additional rig in Nov and expect to exit this year with net production of about 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Says acquisition of American Oil & Gas is progressing through the regulatory process and is expected to close by the end of the yr.
On Q&A, co says they are building and have been building the position in the Eagle Ford. Says they have about 75,000 net acres under a contract and their plans are to begin drilling in Nov in the Eagle Ford. If they can get additional acreage, they will expand that position further. Regarding broader unconventionals, co says they are really focused domestically in the US in their Bakken position and the Eagle Ford and they have their position in the Marcellus. They continue to look for other opportunities but are also focusing internationally. Hoping to get back to work in the Gulf of Mexico in the middle of 2011, but that’s just a planning assumption at this point as lots of questions remain about what lies ahead.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:02 amOII call starting now:
http://web.servicebureau.net/conf/meta?i=1113205023&c=2343&m=was&u=/w_ccbn.xsl&date_ticker=OII
Stock still up $7.50.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:03 amIf anyone gets the KOG notes today, please forward to zman@zmansenergybrain.com
October 27th, 2010 at 10:05 amThanks.
Interesting AREX remains somewhat bulletproof and at the highs as the market comes off.
OII notes so far most of the comments are from the press release.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:10 amPXD jumbled answer on their best Wolfcamp acreage being their southern acreage and their view of the quality of the acreage south of them. I’ll be checking as this is potentially imp’t to AREX.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:15 amZ: Did you see the news on CXPO? Selling shares at $5.00. Stock should be higher?
October 27th, 2010 at 10:20 amthis dip let me get all the ATPG I wanted…that is until it starts going up…then I’ll want more…
still trying to take more SSN…a dumper gave me a nice chunk at 1.16 earlier and I want a few more shares…
October 27th, 2010 at 10:23 amCXPO on the tape selling stock in a private transaction at $5 per share with the stock at $2.89. The buyer, American Energy Capital Corporation, will take 4.25 mm shares for $21 mm. They have an option acquire another 1.75 mm new pref shares that would convert into 1.75 mm common shares at 12/31/10. At this point, AECC would have 13.4% of CXPO.
For future reference, this is how you dilute me. By selling the stock at nearly twice the current share price in a private placement.
Look for 3 E. Texas well completions in the remainder of this month.
Look or their first 2 Eagle Ford tests to be completed by year end
Current production levels of 45 mm/d bode well for analysts estimates for 3Q and 4Q volumes
Recall that I didn’t like these guys up at $5 several months ago and I waited out the decline until taking my first position in the name. I continue to hold CXPO in the ZLT.
There were a lot of notes on this post in comments on CXPO if you are interested:
http://zmansenergybrain.com/2010/10/07/thursday-oil-review-and-gas-review-plus/
Um, that’s interesting, the
October 27th, 2010 at 10:23 amTom – yeah, just saw it before I read your 54, thinking I take more, lot of potentially catalytic events, now to year end and they should have a good looking quarter in terms of volume growth in front of them. We have EFS well on the way there, we also have South Texas wells that should make for strong reserve adds this year and they have 12,000 acres in the Niobrara (10K are HBP) so you could see them look to monetize that or drill a well. Capex there is going to be fully funded by CFOps and this deal.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:26 amZTRADE – ZLT
OAS – Sold a second tranche of OAS for 20.72, up 24% to my average cost.
Swapped into:
CXPO – Adding a second piece of CXPO at an average cost of just over $2.90 (the original buy in was $2.89). See comments in today’s post for details.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:34 amZ: I can’t remember a company selling additional shares at an 80% premium. Am I crazy? PS give my best to Gil Y when you see him. 🙂
October 27th, 2010 at 10:36 amre 59. Yeah, that’s what we call a rare deal. Anyone know the buyer there? They must have liked the positioning in the EFS, the Gulf Coast or something. I don’t get paying anywhere near that premium otherwise. They’re extremely cheap on CF (just over 2x) but pricey on TEV to EBITDA due to the debt. Maybe the sense is they get another $30 to $40 mm for their Niobrara in a sale.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:40 am60 Backs up to China. (Shanghai)
October 27th, 2010 at 10:44 amThe buyer is a private Chinese investment firm. I haven’t heard of them… but think we will be seeing more and more of this. Why should the Chinese just buy UST’s with US dollars? If I was them, I’d stop supporting the Public Sector in the US and start buying up the Private Sector. That is exactly what this is…. and exactly what they should be doing at this point. Smart fellows. Taking advantage of “Time Arbitrage.”
October 27th, 2010 at 10:45 amOK… ‘fess up. Who snached my EXXI antelope at 22-fiddy-ONE? Cheeky monkey!
October 27th, 2010 at 10:47 amTom – yeah, I see that now, thank you, was wondering what else in energy they have done. We’ve been talking about China making investments via JV’s, this is a premium insured to be too for anyone to turn down although no shareholder vote is needed on this one.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:48 amz — jumped in with ya on CXPO. Shot first… now I have to go back and aim. Looks like a balance sheet with lots o’ bank debt. But if this equity injection saves ’em, then you just materially lengthened the call option embedded in CXPO stock. That stuff has a way of scooting up, quickly.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:48 amlet the Scooting Begin!
October 27th, 2010 at 10:52 amI don’t think it’s a coincidence that MMR is scooting too. Chinese Money is deep-pocketed and the very definition of Patient. Time Arbitrage to the nth degree.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:54 amCXPO — this also puts another pillar of support under ATPG…
October 27th, 2010 at 10:56 amChinese money is concerned with a 5+ year time horizon not the quarterly, weekly, daily, and minute-by-minute spasm attacks we see here.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:56 amBOP – I hear ya, I had some notes on the back in mid Feb that basically said, thanks but no thanks, I’ll wait for it to fall sub $3.
But there are some interesting points in there and this was pre Niobrara thinking. Note that they are now likely to break the 4Q numbers listed below.
Crimson Exploration Issued Production Guidance, Reserves, Operations Update – Out mid day yesterday.
* Just a few quick comments to add to the file on these guys; I plan on staying away until the name is more fairly valued, someplace below $3, probably closer to $2.50. Current price is $3.58.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:59 am* 4Q production of 34,800 Mcfepd
* 2009 came in at 40,900 Mcfepd vs 52,600 Mcfedp in 2008; the drop primarily coming from reduced drilling activity
* 2010 guidance of 35 to 39,000 Mcfepd; not exactly exciting as the low end implies flat levels with the 2009 exit rate.
* 1Q10 guidance of 30 to 32,000 Mcfepd.
* Reserves fell 19% from 2008 results to arrive at 97.5 Bcfe. Given the current total enterprise value of $288 mm, the market is still valuing CXPO’s reserves at an all too lofty $2.95 / Mcfe, up from the $2.40 / Mcfe their 2008 reserve report would have yielded.
* 2010 Capex of $50 to $56 mm vs estimated EBITDA of $87 mm
o This gets you:
+ 7 Haynesville wells
+ 1 Eagle Ford well
+ 4 Yegua/Cook Mountain wells in southeast Texas
* Operations Update:
o Haynesville: Their much touted Kardell well in San Augustine county Texas, the so called highest rate Haynesville well with an IP of 30.7 Mcfepd has been on sales for 90s with an average rate approaching 11 MMcfepd. This is a small working interest well in an area of the Haynesville where others are seeing high rates as well and where CXPO has 12,000 net acres.
o Eagle Ford Update: Vertical well drilled … encouraging. Planning a horizontal well for the second half of 2010. This is a little later than I think people would like.
70 – that comment is from my mid Feb piece on them.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:01 amCXPO deal just hit Briefing… getting more attn now
October 27th, 2010 at 11:01 amCXPO up 16%, I was surprised it sat there up a dime as long as it did. They’re by no means out of the woods but you have to figure the Chinese did a colonoscopy on them.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:02 amI’d say a little more… lol.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:02 amOII call ongoing in the background as I mess with CXPO, very positive call and the stock is backing off a bit as it drags on a bit longer than necessary. I will not play there today.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:04 amha! Shot first, aimed 2nd… thought CXPO had more offshore exposure. My bad. Bought in at 2.90 all the way up to 3.16. Going back to do the legwork now. Ignore my ATPG and MMR comments with respect to CXPO… i was mistaken.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:05 amOII call over. Positive, but we may see some understandable profit taking there. Looking at the daily chart, they are still far from the pre-Macondo share prices seen this past Spring and business is now stronger than they or the investment community was thinking. Stepping out for a bite, back in 30 min.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:05 amBOP – Its on the single digit slice and dice list to be out soonish. I’ll have some basic comments on them in the post tomorrow. Recall these are the guys that shouted long and hard about their record (at the time) well in the Haynesville with DVN, came in over 30 MM/d, dropped like a stone, even for that play as it was basically open choke. They had a minor interest in the well and a lot of debt and people ran for the hills from the name.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:08 amz — they have a LOT of debt. But it’s bank debt. Slightly different animal than bondholders. Can still take away the keys to your car, but it’s a different process.
Also, rule-of-thumb = bankers rarely lend over 50% of “liquidation value” on E&P assets. Clearly, they don’t always get that right… but just pointing that out.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:11 amZ: Bagged some CXPO also but you beat me with your price. Nice Shagging.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:14 amTomDavis — you aren’t British, are you… 😉
October 27th, 2010 at 11:15 amBloody no
October 27th, 2010 at 11:16 amCXPO — capital structure gets more interesting… Oaktree is their largest shareholder at just under 40% (pre latest private placement). Oaktree is also the 2nd lien lender, with $150mm of secured notes, due May 2012. This muddies things up a bit, if CXPO gets into “financial distress.” Right now, Oaktree-the-equity-holder owns 30-something percent of the equity, which has more upside than debt… but if equity screws up, then Oaktree-the-lender can step in and take over 100% of the assets. hmmmmm… ‘course, ACEC knows this… but just something to keep in mind.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:27 amAside — i sure as bloody hell (as TomDavis would say) would rather have Oaktree doing this, than GE (rip-your-lungs-out) Capital.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:29 amBOP: Great color as always. I’m glad you are on our team.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:32 amwould think — on the back of this ACEC financing — that CXPO migrates back toward the Giant Sucking Magnet sitting at $5. May take a coupla weeks, but that should be the trajectory.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:36 amI hop that wasn’t bop who made CXPO surge with 400k+ shares traded.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:36 amcargo — i did my part, for sure. 🙂
October 27th, 2010 at 11:38 amBOP – I’d be out before $5 unless drilling results are overtly positive. EBITDAX / Interest of only 2x is tight, production this quarter should be impressive but $5 puts them into pretty lofty air on a TEV/EBITDA basis with such a gassy production profile (72% of prod is NG) and current low gas prices. This was my second buy and my average cost is still $2.90 … not planning on falling in love as I don’t know management and don’t see how they pay down debt in the near term. Of course, I can think of some other names with more debt that we happily own including EXXI (on a debt to cap basis), so that’s not always going keep me out and would in fact encourage me to buy if I saw a near term bump in natural gas prices (in CXPO’s case).
October 27th, 2010 at 11:46 amz — that EBITDAX/interest ratio is tight, tight, tight. This financing gives CXPO some breathing room and plants a giant Flag in the Center of the TownSquare that Someone thinks CXPO is worth more than $5/share. Doesn’t mean we get there… certainly doesn’t mean we get there soon… but we should migrate in that direction.
Not sure I want to stick around long enough to get to know management… only one i’ve seen before is the landman, Tracy Price, from Newfield (yrs ago). So, no feeling for “how good” these guys are. On the other hand, i do know the boys and girls at Oaktree… very patient, very smart…
October 27th, 2010 at 11:52 amre 87. Cargo, that’s an unfortunate, I guess, effect of the ZLBAST list. My trades fired off at 11:32 EST. As soon as they went, I drop the comment on the site and the next thing is the blast list to the Active Client list. At 11:34 the minute chart, the volume zoomed and then stayed fairly strong for the next 50 minutes. Not my intention but I’ve notice with the SDM crowd it seems to happen.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:53 amYeah, and I’ve met Tom Adkins from NFX, now at CXPO, smart but only met him at their Analyst Days so not a lot of exposure other than the plays he was in the Gulf.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:57 amBOP – of course, I’m happy to let it run as we approach catalytic elements.
If you are new around here, there is quite a bit of useful information on tabs at upper left an in links at upper right on the site.
Here’s the latest Cat List:
http://zmansenergybrain.com/subscriber-data/e-p/catalysts/
And I note that CXPO isn’t on there which is an oversight on my part.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:01 pm(should add to the list 1 or 2 EFS completions, and 3 E. Texas mid Bossier)
For a different perspective on quantitative easing
http://www.hussmanfunds.com/wmc/wmc101018.htm
October 27th, 2010 at 12:07 pmVTZ- Do you have any thoughts on why SU is trading relatively cheap and PWE expensive?
Other than the 240 ducks that flew into one of their waste ponds. I wonder how many ducks are flying over northern Alberta in a day?
October 27th, 2010 at 12:09 pmCXPO _ Johnson Rice put out a piece about reit overweight because events coming in near future. As was stated by Z earlier.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:09 pmThanks Tom, have you seen Barclays yet? Last I saw they were long and at the time wrong with a $7 target.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:20 pmBOP – just sent me that Barclays was out reit on CXPO yesterday with a $7 target, thanks BOP.
LINE closing on new highs as they approach earnings tonight.
West – Nice call on XEC, I completely missed that they reported today, anything interesting?
MMR holding up well on a red day … hmmm.
OII – no pullback for me today, not playing for now.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:30 pmKOG – doing a good job of shrugging off two downgrades that were obviously meant to generate commissions for their sales forces.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:32 pmWLT – turned around during their conference call, going to listen to replay soon.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:32 pmVTZ – can we get an update on gold thinking when you get a chance, maybe with some levels to think about adding at?
October 27th, 2010 at 12:36 pmWHX – slipper slide may had started today, would like to think I top ticked the exit for no other reason than I have a small ego that needs constant feeding. Honestly, would love to see a small miss here, followed by a three way analyst thrashing (I think David Tameron is one of them and he surely turned the model over to an intern) following the “miss”. Would love to see it down around $16 again, giving it a forward yield of 14% or so.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:39 pmMMR — hearing stock running on rumors of a good logging run at Blueberry Hill (a well EXXI is not in). Unconfirmed, but makes sense. Lots of different pieces of news will dribble out about MMR over the next few months. Grab the popcorn!
October 27th, 2010 at 1:01 pmRe 103, thanks, it’s nice to have a BOP that works. 😉
October 27th, 2010 at 1:06 pmPWE has always been one of the premier trust names and I’ve found that it has always traded at a premium.
As well, PWE and SU are very different in terms of asset mix and I think that part of the reason why SU may appear cheap is all of their recent asset sales.
I have perenially thought that SU has been undervalued on an NPV basis but that’s more of a beef that I have with how in ground assets are perceived (the ones in the existing mines, not expansions).
October 27th, 2010 at 1:07 pmDon’t forget that Barclays helped bring CXPO to market, makes some more sense of the $7 target
October 27th, 2010 at 1:08 pm97 Don’t have access to Barclay’s
October 27th, 2010 at 1:08 pmAlso, the duck issue was Syncrude, although Shell and Suncor both announced duck deaths as well. Shell announced only 4 though and I’m not sure if Suncor disclosed the amount.
I’m told that there was a huge amount of ducks flying by and some landed because of the freezing rain that night, but it is however unfortunate.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:10 pmI’ll comment on gold later in the day but I feel as though this is healthy consolidation with support at 1320 resistance at 1339, more major resistance at 1350 and round number support at 1300. The past few days gold has been battling to stay above and in between a couple of the longer term uptrend lines.
I believe that it will likely consolidate and I don’t foresee any drops even with the jawboning from the Fed.
In the intermediate term (ie < 6 months) I believe we will see 1500-1600 without any major pullbacks until then. I would however re-evaluate depending on the Fed announcement/verbage which is undoubtedly what everyone is waiting for.
I still believe that the equities offer the best value and they are still trading attractively relatively to the price of the metal. I use the HUI or GDX to Gold ratio to compare the performance and I also compare the GDXJ to the GDX amongst other metrics.
I believe that at some point, there will be a significant leg up in the equities considering the continued short interest in some of the junior names. At some point they will get buried.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:17 pmFor initiating a position I might wait until just prior the QE announcement to see how it is trading. I won’t be making any trades until just prior the meeting regardless of how it is trading.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:19 pmThe lowest I think gold can go is ~1269.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:20 pmLast one… ~1269 represents both intermediate uptrend support as well as former resistance/support.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:21 pmThanks much V, that’s what I was looking for.
Good point Jat.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:25 pmThanks VTZ.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:40 pmyahoo.com down. weird.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:55 pmBOP – mindless speculation on my part, but since MMR dropped $3 on the bogus water issue, doesn’t it make sense that it should be clawing its way back after that issued was addressed on the EXXI call?
October 27th, 2010 at 2:04 pmRobBanks — sure. MMR has many lots of different reasons it could scoot from here. And that is certainly a good one.
Don’tcha just LOVE inefficient markets? It gives us a chance to buy stocks we want at prices we are happy to pay. MMR with a 15-handle was positively Christmas-in-October.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:10 pm“many lot of different”…heh heh heh… oops. but you get my point.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:11 pmRobBanks — by the way… was it you, who snatched those $22.51 EXXI shares? So far, no one has ‘fessed up to stepping in and grabbing my lunch.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:14 pmThe 15 handle was great. Used it to add yesterday to my slightly underwater (pun intended) position.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:15 pmBOP: Do you know what involvement TB Pickens has to the dynamic duo MMR/EXXI?
October 27th, 2010 at 2:16 pmNice snag! The biggest risk to MMR stock… is the risk of NOT being in it. JMHO, of course.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:17 pmBOP – Is CIGX selling on rumors/news?
October 27th, 2010 at 2:21 pmtomdavis — reef can answer that much bettern I can… but, Boone owns the stock of both, unless I am mis-informed.
Being part of MMR’s Ultra-Deep Shelf Play is sorta like belonging to the Old Geologists Club. One way or the other, guys (or gals) with a nose for exploration (“Oil Finders,” we call ’em), want to get a seat at this show. Kinda fun to know that TBP has to sit in the cheap seats, like the rest of us ordinary slobs. (As opposed to having a front row seat, like Mr. Moncreif.)
Then you have Jim Flores… who gave up his Front Row Seat in order to drop back and hang out with our crowd. Still scratching my head over that one…
Meanwhile, pass the popcorn, please.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:22 pmram — CIGX is being buffeted about by rumors and innuendos. I continue to sleep happily at night, knowing that someday I will be able to afford a MUCH better wine collection, when that ship sails into port. It’s a multi-year project, but we should start to see the (positive) affects soon, methinks.
CIGX will have to do another round of capital-raising. But I’m sure it will be done quietly and with the current shareholder base… so, shouldn’t be a stock crusher. And it’s already been factored into my mental model for the ultimate sharecount. So, not concerned, fwiw.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pmEXXI — ok. Now i’m REALLY irritated at missing those 22-fiddy shares!!
October 27th, 2010 at 2:28 pmMMR $17s are alive and kicking, $18s are waking up.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:33 pmWow BOP, you have a wine collection. I wish there was a Trader Joe’s around these parts so I can get a case of two buck Chuck for a months supply. Now if CIGX gets moving…., I might gravitate towards Sutter Home.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:37 pmram — Yes. I have a wine collection. However, the inventory turnover rate is roughly 1.5 weeks. Looking to stock a few more bottles when CIGX/EXXI and friends do what they are supposed to do.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:39 pmThis thing is just east and north of S. America, Bastardi saying it could be big one if it avoids land early on.
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t2/flash-avn.html
October 27th, 2010 at 2:40 pm… and i just LUV Trader Joe’s!! 🙂
October 27th, 2010 at 2:41 pmWLL, LINE tomorrow
rest of week:
October 27th, 2010 at 2:42 pmhttp://zmansenergybrain.com/subscriber-data/calendar/
BOP, when CIGX gets to $5, I will gladly add to your wine cellar!
October 27th, 2010 at 2:42 pmKWK – lawsuits being filed over the recent Darden family news.
October 27th, 2010 at 2:43 pmaaaahhhh, ram… ya don’t have to do that.
Besides, I might not live that long… you may SHOOT ME first, given the extraordinary volatility in CIGX and friends. But, hang in there!
October 27th, 2010 at 2:45 pmnutjobs appoint nut jobs
http://investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=2234&mn=323524&pt=msg&mid=9687918
October 27th, 2010 at 2:56 pmEXII: today announced it has commenced, subject to market conditions, concurrent underwritten public offerings of 9.5 million shares of its common stock and $200 million (800,000 shares) of convertible perpetual preferred stock. The company also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1.425 million additional shares of its common stock and 120,000 additional shares of its preferred stock to cover over-allotments, if any.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:04 pmEXXI offering news
October 27th, 2010 at 3:05 pmahhh, man! Schiller said he wouldn’t do a stock offering until he had a property he wanted to buy. He just announced a 2ndry… as well as more of those nasty perpetual converts. This just chapps my butt.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:05 pmEnergy XXI intends to use the net proceeds from these offerings to purchase approximately $119 million aggregate principal amount of its 16% Second Lien Junior Secured Notes due 2014 and to repay approximately $91.5 million of revolving credit facility debt. The remainder of the net proceeds will be used to for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt, to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:07 pmFor all the movie fans here I ran across this elsewhere today.
“Think big, think positive, never show any sign of weakness. Always go for the throat. Buy low, sell high. Fear? That’s the other guy’s problem. Nothing you have ever experienced will prepare you for the absolute carnage you are about to witness. Super Bowl, World Series – they don’t know what pressure is. In this building, it’s either kill or be killed. You make no friends in the pits and you take no prisoners. One minute you’re up half a million in soybeans and the next, boom, your kids don’t go to college and they’ve repossessed your Bentley. Are you with me?”
Louis Winthorpe III
October 27th, 2010 at 3:07 pmBOP, you now have your 22.50.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:12 pmYipp Yipp Yipp it’s a registered cvt pfd. Son of EEXXF. We get a do-over. In short, if it pressures the stock and goes discount or even if it stays within 4 to 5 points premium, then buy it until your head explodes.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:14 pmBetting we have the reason for MMR up today. Schiller probably going to take some of the WI% that MMR just took off of PXP.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:16 pmEXXI — aaargh.
File Under — “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even”… i’m going to buy the sh*t outta those converts. Then Schiller is gonna have to pay out the butt to get them back… like he just did with he 7.25%s.
This rather defines “insanity,” doesn’t it. LEARN from your MISTAKES, man! sheesh.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:19 pmexxi- now you know why the insiders sold shares at 25
I wonder if they will give themselves 10 m in bonuses for having a share offering
October 27th, 2010 at 3:21 pmEXXI — gotta say, tho… if ya can’t stand the heat, get outta the kitchen.
Schiller is a gun-slinger with his balance sheet. But he knows how to coax value out of the shallow shelf. However, I think he should fire his CFO for giving THE WORST ADVICE IN THE WORLD.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:23 pmwll numbers are out
October 27th, 2010 at 3:23 pmBill – see that, headed out to soccer, will have comments late and in the post tomorrow.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:24 pmZMAN, did WLL beat numbers?
October 27th, 2010 at 3:24 pmbill — yep. Don’t think that the $25 sale slipped my mind. Stewing over that one too. Thing is, however, that was set up a while back, under the 10-b (or whatever it is) stock-selling plan. Schiller has more to go at a pre-set $30 too.
We knew he was going to issue equity and debt (and he can’t issue debt until he extricates at least a good chunk of those 16% 2nd liens)… but it shoulda been part of a bigger strategy move… like they did when they bought the Mitsui stake. Damn. And those 16%s aren’t even callable yet. So, will have to pay up for them too. He told us he was coming after those notes on the conf call… but thought he would show more finesse.
Yeah… no two ways about it… not pleased with this at all.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:28 pmEXXI I , m seeing 21.90 after hrs
October 27th, 2010 at 3:33 pmWhoa EXXI bid 21.50 afterhours. Repeat for emphasis, you will want to own those converts. Either on new issue, if it breaks par upon trading or up 5 points. Cvt bookrunners UBS 888-827-7275, BNP Paribas 212-471-6667 and RBS 203-897-4677. The fact that EXXI is trading heavy gives you a “margin of safety”. Futhermore be sure to note that the cvt arb’s will be long the cvt and short the common which is another way of saying that they will be allocated most of the issue and you want to be with them.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:34 pmsnuhart — me too.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:35 pmelijah — keep us informed on how to play those converts. Thank you.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:36 pmwhats the new conversion rate
October 27th, 2010 at 3:37 pmBOP – Schiller must have had a need for speed on this one.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:39 pmWLL – looks mid guidance on the Q, slightly light on EPS and CFPS to Street. Nothing new at Lewis and Clark to report so we get more wells there between now and year end. I own it in the ZLT but not in the options portfolios, may add on weakness tomorrow during the call. Deets in the Thursday post.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:43 pmwll beat on sales and missed by 3 cents on adjusted earnings, close enough for govt work.
They lowered their cost structure
60 per boe for rev and 22 per boe for cost yields 38 per boe
Ga is a modest 2.80 per boe
Looks good from where i sit, also issued new guidance..I havent compared it to old guidance
October 27th, 2010 at 3:44 pmJB – can I get a read on CXPO when you get a chance? Thanks. OK, am out of here for a bit.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:44 pmThanks Bill, I’ll have it all in the post tomorrow, have not read through all yet, just wanted to get back to Ram.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:45 pmBOP – I’m normally never a new issue buyer but I may be this time (probally for half a position) assuming one can even get in on the deal.
There will big demand from the heggies. And maybe from one particular yield hog, Leon Cooperman. Bet he’s got a size allocation.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:45 pmelijah — i have no doubt Schiller has some properties he wants to add to the exploitation portfolio. There is a very attractive Exxon package that is floating around. Might even want to up his share of the Ultra-Deep. Guess he has to strike while the iron is hot.
People didn’t like the Mitsui acqtn and share issuance either. But it didn’t take long to blow past the offering price. I’m just disappointed that 1) there is no acreage package already wrapped up (so we know what the dilution is), 2) that they are repeating the MISTAKE of issuing perpet converts, and 3) this follows pretty closely on the heels of a very heavy G&A quarter (exec pay) and Schiller’s planned share sale.
#3 doesn’t bother me all that much… but #s 1 and 2 really do.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:46 pmBOP #163 = maybe all the bad stuff is being made up by the price decline.
Bill – Will inquire tommorow on price talk and terms. Conversion ratio probally something lung ripping like up 40% if they can get away with it.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:53 pmwll guidance for 2010 same for volume, lower expenses
October 27th, 2010 at 3:58 pmelijah — bet the conversion rate is relatively low… in order to keep the coupon low. The 7.25% issue was an insanely high coupon.
October 27th, 2010 at 3:59 pmBottom line = not gonna sell my EXXI shares into this refi mess. And will try to get more than my fair share of the converts, when elijah advises the time is right. However, it doesn’t mean i’m not effin’ steamed about it right now.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:09 pminteresting
exxi separation package ousted exec
http://www.footnoted.com/my-big-fat-deal/energy-xxi-exec-leaves-but-not-empty-handed/
October 27th, 2010 at 4:10 pmgee, bill — have any more salt to pour into the gaping head wound? Go ahead… i can stand the pain. Been knocked silly by Schiller’s Stupid Pet Tricks. ha!
October 27th, 2010 at 4:15 pmOn a (much) more pleasant topic… EEP just beat. (Or at least, didn’t choke.) Declared another $1.0275/unit distribution.
Always look on the Bright Side of Life!
October 27th, 2010 at 4:20 pmlol, Your wounds will heal that’s just a little boo boo.
I wouldn’t bet against you!
Actually, the separation package ( one time expense ) goes a long way into explaining alot of the ga hit. It just made me look into the proxy and saw some of the bs compensation crap going on, some, but not all of it justified for 4 times move in the common.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:25 pmbill — glad you take the ribbing as it is offered… in good nature. And i really really appreciate the due diligence you bring to the financial statements and footnotes. You definitely run circles around me there… glad to be on your team. Thanks!
October 27th, 2010 at 4:28 pmBOP – as someone who still doesn’t know what a convert is (other than vaguely), I should mention that Cramer used to frequently rant about how managements often didn’t understand that they were being suckered into convert deals that were bad for the stock. Dunno if that is the case here, but you reminded me of it the “learn from you mistakes” comment. Cramer said that he could never get these managements to understand why it was bad for them.
BTW – if anyone wants to do a primer on converts, I might not be the only sub with no clue on these.
BTW2 – for new subs, re Z’s comment #27: *I’m* the one that usually asks the dumb questions around here. If someone else asks dumber questions than me, my nose will be quite out of joint. But don’t let that stop you.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:31 pmDman — simply stated, in today’s world, converts (especially of the preferred stock flavor) are just RAW MEAT for Hedge Funds and PIGGY BANKS for Bankers.
Note to managements … when you see your banker break into a WIDE GRIN on your agreement to go with his “convert idea,” it should be a NEON FLASHING CLUE that you are about to lose a pound of flesh.
What is just over-the-top irritating about THESE converts is that Schiller just had to PAY UP to get out of his LAST converts… Also, wasn’t he watching his stock price, after the last offering??? It was the long convert holders, shorting the sh*t out of the common stock. Talk about “insult to injury,” man… do you have NO COMPASSION for your equity holders? Can you not learn from history???
rant over.
Elijah is a world-renouned convert expert. Perhpas he might be will to teach a short Master Class on the subject.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:38 pmDman #173 – glad you ask that.
My son borrowed my only copy so I’m ordering a new one. This is the single best understandable lay text ever ever ever on converts. Written twenty years ago by the man who built the record and owned the standard at Valueline, Allan Lyons. One hell of a deal @ $1.82 on Amazon.
Enhanced Convertibles by Allan S. Lyons
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=convertibles&x=14&y=20#%2Fref%3Dsr_pg_3%3Frh%3Dn%253A283155%252Ck%253Aconvertibles%26page%3D3%26keywords%3Dconvertibles%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1288215445&enc=1
October 27th, 2010 at 4:44 pmThanks Eli.
BOP – yeah that was exactly what Cramer used to say. Except he said it with bulging eyes and lots of shouting and screaming.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:51 pmIs Schiller’s wife the Schiller of NPR fame? Maybe he’s getting his Dale Carnegie lessons on making friends and influencing people from her?
October 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pmfrom Briefing:Brigham Exploration (BEXP) CEO sold 125,000 shares at $20.00-20.70 on 10/7
October 27th, 2010 at 6:02 pmI gotta tell ya BOP.. be careful with CIGX. I am new to this board so i dont want to make any enemies…. but CIGX is the old STSI.. I have met Mgt and they are pretty slick. Lost a bundle on STSI with their Low TSNA tobacco lawsuit against RAI … Twice!!. now suddenly they are an Alzheimer drug co?
They say they have a “compound” in preliminary tests that reduces beta-amlyoid in cell cultures? There are 1000’s of compounds that do that. The holy grail is finding one that works in living animals w/o massive side effects.
and there is no proof that beta-amyloid is the “cause” of Alzheimers… it may very well be an “effect” of Alz, and NOT a cause as demonstrated by a number of drug failures.
James Altucher seems to love this stock.. even says this compound is a neutraceutal… which means crap like echinacea that doesnt do anything.
CIGX will continue to dilute shareholders with stock offering after stock offering tethered to some pipe dream. CIGX is for mad money only imo.
That said.. this is a great site… lotta smart people here as I am learning.
October 27th, 2010 at 6:32 pmirongate — I hear you. And thank you for your contribution! Always additive to hear pros and cons. I have been in and around the STSI/CIGX stock and story since 2004… so, I know wherefrom you speak (and felt the financial pain myself, selling STSI 2x, right after the 2 Garbis rulings [in 2007 and 2009]).
Your points are all valid. There will be another dilutive offering… and soon, i would think. That has been factored into my thinking on this stock (always figured there would be about 130mm share on an FD basis, before they go CF positive). And it is for “mad money” only, as the risk reward is 0 or or several hundred percent from here. It won’t happen overnight (the several hundred percent), but i think there is a greater than 50% chance it will. The Roskamp Institute is a solid, outside validation of the potential here. Note I say “potential.” But, that’s for Alzheimers. What we know now, is that CigRX does help people satisfy the desire to smoke. If that is the only use of the compound, that is still a huge market.
So, let’s look at this the way I am… 20% chance of success and 80% chance of complete and total failure. Success means compound works for smokers and company gets a small percentage of a very large “quit smoking” market. Stock goes to $20. On the other hand, management is a complete sham and stock goes to zero. Expected value in this scenario is $4.00.
It’s great that you feel free to comment on this site. Z does a bang-up job of keeping us on the straight and narrow. I only brought up CIGX on a slow Friday when z was on vacation last summer. It was my Evil Plan to keep him from ever going on another vacation (and i think it worked). Other than that, it’s All Energy, All the Time on this site. Thanks again and welcome!
October 27th, 2010 at 7:06 pmExactly why I won’t be going on vacation for quite some time, lol. Welcome aboard Irongate!
October 27th, 2010 at 7:55 pmRE: #7 Oll, really was not all that technically remarkable yesterday, but what a difference a day makes, actually the P&F chart looked really good right before the gap, having recently broken longer term trendline resistance, but the daily was not that exciting…posted new charts…the obvious issue being how Oll reacts to the massive gap…the weekly chart is interesting, a huge triangle, also interesting that the runup stopped right at the weekly resistance line…also added a 30 min which will be a helpful perspective in
terms of the gap…
#9 KOG, had a great breakout to $4.55 and then pulled back into the range, the 30 min has gotten a bit sloppy, I’d like to see KOG stay above $4.30 tomorrow, holding the redefined intraday trendline…you can see it on the updated 30 min chart, if $4.30 holds great, if it breaks and stays below $4.30, I’m thinking KOG could test $4.10-$4.14 support zone, this would be the long try, which would tail below the lower daily bull channel line, anticipating a close above or very near $4.20 which would keep KOG within the channel…
RE: #160 CXPO, still on a P&F sell signal but in X’s, nice break out above the basing triangle, stopping and closing right on the 200 day SMA resistance line, a pullback to support at $3 would be a place to consider conservative longs, weekly resistance at $3.50…charts updated
http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/Favorites.CServlet?obj=ID3724280
October 27th, 2010 at 8:54 pmJB – thanks much, very helpful, voted.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:08 pmThanks ZMAN. Thanks Bill.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:29 pmRam – Its a small miss, other good stuff in there though as they have decided to downspace their core Sanish area, adds a lot of potential reserves.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:33 pmThanks. I took options late today on WLL. I was hoping not to get a repeat of the beating on WLT today. I took WLT vs. OII – ouch.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:31 pmFor those with an interest here is address for Sundance's most recent update… http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20101028/pdf/31tg75zrtsd9l2.pdf ….
October 27th, 2010 at 11:13 pmWelcome Irongate!
October 28th, 2010 at 5:50 am