Just how low can oil prices get? Well, Brent Crude has now slipped below $60 a barrel for the first time since 2009, and its squeezing the pips out of some of our already-pressured oil explorers and producers.
Tullow
Look at Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW), whose shares plunged to a new 52-week low of 352.8p today to take them down 58% over the past 12 months. And that comes despite last months update that told us Tullow expects to be producing over 100,000 bpd of high quality, high margin oil by 2017 in West Africa.
The company did say that low prices will force it to review its capital expenditure and significantly reduce its exploration spend. Tullow is forecast to record a loss per share this year, though the extent will not yet include the latest oil slump.
Premier
Something similarhas happened to Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) which also sank to a new low today, of 146.9p for a 12-month loss of 49%. And thats a company expected to see an earnings per share (EPS) gain of 40% this year, to put the shares on a P/E of only 4. EPS is predictedto fall back again next year, but it would only raise the P/E to 6.
In its November update Premier told us it will go ahead with new projects if they are robust at our long term oil price which is currently $85/bbl, so $60 a barrel is going togive those plans a kick in the teeth.
SOCO
Our third, SOCO International (LSE: SIA), has got off relatively lightly with a 33% share price fall in 12 months, to 260p. And unlike the other two, its upfrom the52-week low of 234.8p that it scrapedon 12 December.
SOCOs fundamentals look pretty decent, with a 54% forecast rise in EPS putting the shares on a P/E multiple of just over 8. SOCOis in a pretty good cash position right now, with approximately$177m in cash andliquid investments on the books as at 12 November and it paid out 22p per share as a special dividend on 10 October.
Time to buy?
Consensus forecasts are probably all a bit too optimistic right now, as analysts recommendations will always be lagging the latest oil price, so real P/E valuations will be less attractive than they seem. Still, the downturn were in now could prove to be an investment opportunity, especially forthe cash-rich companies in the sector.
Is the oilbusiness a good place forwould-be millionairesto put their money in 2015 in the hope of a recovery? Well, there are many ways to millionaire status, and you could evenget there yourself!
Don’t believe me? The Motley Fool’s 10 Steps To Making A Million In The Market shows how a simple strategy followed over the long term can turn modest regular investing into a very significant cash pile. And it’s FREE.
But hurry, as it won’t be available for ever. Just click here for your personal copy today.
Alan Oscroft has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tullow Oil. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
