Stockchase Opinions

Gerard Ferguson Baytex Energy Corp BTE-T DON'T BUY Feb 07, 2017

This company transformed itself over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it did it at a time when commodity prices were collapsing. 3 years ago, they bought Aurora and got into the Eagleford, one of the best development plays in the best area. Paid a pretty high price which hurt the balance sheet quite a bit. In the meantime, their Canadian heavy oil program was going on, the area that really got hurt when commodity prices collapsed, and ended up with a debt heavy balance sheet. They’ve done a lot to clean that up, and have just recently begun on the growth path by making an acquisition in Western Canada. There is a lot of “show me” that now needs to happen. It has become a play on commodity. There are better opportunities elsewhere.

$4.740

Stock price when the opinion was issued

oil gas
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Oil stocks are under pressure with the China slowdown. There could be more chances to drill under the Trump administration, therefore more oil and lower prices. Also OPEC is not cutting production. If there was a takeover it would go for a premium.

HOLD
Take the tax loss?

Huge disappointment, not operationally but on the share price. Typifies an out-of-favour stock:  Canadian mid-cap with hair on it. Last quarter had no hair, beat expectations, paid down debt, generated lots of free cash, bought back stock. Deep value, mispriced, too cheap to sell. He's waiting, but patience is being tested.

WATCH

Support has been broken. You need to see the up-and-down consolidation sideways to know whether the downtrend is over.

HOLD
Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research

Oil is down, which doesn't help. The budget shows a slight decline in production from year end exit rates, so investors may be worried that all the spending ($1.2B) is not going to boost actual average production rates. BTE also updated its five-year plan, which looks OK to us with a planned reduction in debt. But the sector remains out of favour overall right now. 
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WEAK BUY

Likes the energy space, so he'd be OK with buying this name. Pipelines to the West Coast have opened up. His play is through CVE.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Apr 02/24, Down 45%)

They executed in their drilling. There's been huge multiple contraction among small/mid-caps. He exited around $3.85-3.90. Shares are in an air pocket now, falling on no natural buyers (energy is out of favour). Stock is cheap, given cash flow. They pay half that cash to buy back shares. Are better stocks than this, but wouldn't rule out buying this again.

DON'T BUY

Eliminated dividend in 2015, reinstated a smaller one last summer. Has since bought back 11% of shares. Doesn't generally earn its cost of capital, and so it trades at a discount. De-leveraging balance sheet, though still not investment grade. Chart's making lower lows.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Apr 02/24, Down 56%)

Drawdown 100% connected to price of oil. More debt than average. Risk-off market. Totally fine on liquidity. Deep value, but needs oil at $65-70 to really start humming.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick May 23/24, Down 48%)

It's down because of the fall in oil prices, pure and simple. He sold this around $4. The stock will excel if oil returns to $70+, but not at $60. He will revisit this at better oil prices later.

SELL

The commodity is its main catalyst and it has been range bound for at least six months. There are better companies in the space. He quoted the common saying: Let your winners run and cut your losses.