Company Peer Group Analysis IHS Herold
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Companies & Transactions Company Peer Group Analysis IHS Herold 29 May 2018 Contacts Hassan Eltorie, Research and Analysis Associate Director ∙ [email protected], +1 713 369 0244 Confidential. © 2018 IHS Markit™. All rights reserved. IHS Markit | Company Peer Group Analysis Higher oil prices outweigh rising Key implications interest rates so far; debt investors For the 45 companies in the IHS Markit North continue to express confidence in American E&P peer group (composed of Small, Midsized, and Large E&Ps), the April 2018 average bond E&Ps, as most 2018 bond yields to yield to maturity (YTM) declined slightly from maturity lower than 2017 September 2017, dropping from 8.0% to 7.7%, indicating continued debt investor confidence in E&Ps. The Hassan Eltorie, Research and Analysis Associate Director decline is even more encouraging when factoring in recent increases in the federal funds rate, from 1.25% in September 2017 to the current 1.75%. This examination of bond yield-to-maturity (YTM) rates for the 45 companies in the IHS Markit North American Of the 45 companies, 18 had increases in the April 2018 E&P peer group (composed of Small, Midsized, and Large bond average YTM compared with September 2017, but E&Ps) is an update from our previous, 22 September 2017 for almost all of the 18, the increase was 1% or less. For report. During the oil boom, E&Ps financed rocketing 24 companies, there was a decline in the April 2018 production growth and sizable cash flow deficits with average YTM compared with September 2017, with the cheap money during a low interest rate environment. Total largest declines concentrated in the high- and debt for the companies doubled from $125 billion in 2010 moderate-risk E&Ps. For 3 companies, there was no to $250 billion in 2015, as shown in the chart below. As change in YTM. debt ballooned and as oil prices collapsed, as many as 160 North American E&Ps declared bankruptcy or commenced For the companies with investment-grade securities, strategic reviews. the current average spread of 146 basis points versus US Treasuries is significantly lower than the average of 377 As E&Ps emerge from the rubble of the 2014 oil price points reached in February 2016, when oil prices collapse and move solidly into recovery, debt burden bottomed out. Even more encouraging, the current fears remain. Our previous report allayed fears of a debt yield spread is lower than the 182 basis points in early reckoning by showing that high yields on E&P bonds was 2014, when oil was hovering around the $100/bbl mark. an issue for the few, but not the many. In this update, our research reinforces our previous conclusions, drawing continued on next page 3 North American E&P peer group debt trends $250,000 8.0 $225,000 7.0 $200,000 6.0 $175,000 5.0 $150,000 $125,000 4.0 $100,000 3.0 $75,000 2.0 Total debt to EBITDA times EBITDA to debt Total $50,000 1.0 $25,000 Total debt & preferred stocks ($ millions) ($ stocks & debt preferred Total $0 0.0 2004 Q1 2004 Q2 2004 Q3 2004 Q4 2005 Q1 2005 Q2 2005 Q3 2005 Q4 2006 Q1 2006 Q2 2006 Q3 2006 Q4 2007 Q1 2007 Q2 2007 Q3 2007 Q4 2008 Q1 2008 Q2 2008 Q3 2008 Q4 2009 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Q4 2010 Q1 2010 Q2 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2011 Q1 2011 Q2 2011 Q3 2011 Q4 2012 Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2013 Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2015 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2016 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016 Q4 2017 Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 Total Debt Total Debt to EBITDA (quartely) Source: IHS Markit © 2018 IHS Markit Confidential. © 2018 IHS Markit™. All rights reserved. 2 29 May 2018 IHS Markit | Company Peer Group Analysis particular support from the recent oil price rally, which has boosted debt investor confidence in oil companies despite Key implications - continued rising interest rates. Whether the rally in oil prices proves For the companies with noninvestment-grade sustainable remains to be seen, but a consensus has grown securities, the current average spread of 421 basis points around a rising interest rate environment. How E&P bond is significantly lower than the average spread of 1,467 yields react to the changing environment is something we points that occurred in early 2016. The current average will be monitoring. spread is higher than the 357 basis points in early 2014 and is in line with the 431 basis points in September For the 45 North American E&Ps in the overall peer group, 2017, the last time we did this report. the average YTM in April 2018 was 7.7%, down slightly from 8.0% in September 2017, indicating continued debt According to our analysis of debt repayment schedules investor confidence in the E&Ps. The decline is even more based on 2017 year-end public filings for the Large, encouraging when factoring in recent increases in the Midsized, and Small E&P subgroups, the amount of federal funds rate, which rose from 1.25% in September principal payments due has declined 15% on a rolling 2017 to the current 1.75%. Of the 45 companies, 18 had five-year basis, compared with 2015 year-end filings. increases in the April 2018 average YTM compared with This likely indicates that most of the companies have September 2017, but for the vast majority of the 18, the increase was 1% or less. For 24 companies, there was a decline in the April 2018 average YTM compared with 2014 to be of little concern, given the radical changes in September 2017, with the biggest declines concentrated in commodity pricing, the evolutionary structural changes in the high- and moderate-risk E&Ps. For 3 companies, there the industry, and the rise in the federal funds rate. was no change in the April 2018 average YTM compared with September 2017. We divided the 45 E&Ps into four groups according to amount of credit risk. Group 1 is high credit risk, For the 45 companies, average YTM rates for April 2018 and containing the 6 companies with April 2018 bond yields September 2017 remain higher than the average of 5.4% in above 10%. Ultra Petroleum’s YTM nearly doubled to 54% 2014, when oil prices were trading at $100/bbl and balance from September 2017, and Petroquest’s YTM increased sheets were more robust. But we consider the difference by 1.9 percentage points. Callon Petroleum’s YTM nearly between the average YTM rate in April 2018 and that of doubled to 11.7%, while W&T’s YTM was halved. For this % of companies in our sample with change in 2018 YTM compared with 2017 YTM 40% 53% 7% Source: IHS Markit Higher Same Lower © 2018 IHS Markit Confidential. © 2018 IHS Markit™. All rights reserved. 3 29 May 2018 IHS Markit | Company Peer Group Analysis Group 1 2018-2017 2018-2014 2017-2014 S&P YTM YTM YTM % Debt credit Company Ticker 2018 YTM 2017 YTM 2014 YTM difference difference difference to cap rating Ultra Petroleum Corp UPL 51.5 27.2 4.7 24.3 46.7 22.5 34% B+ Halcon Res Corp HK 21.0 26.3 8.2 -5.3 12.8 18.1 81% B- Petroquest Energy Inc PQ 19.1 17.2 8.0 1.9 11.1 9.2 54% CCC+ EP Energy Corp EPE 15.2 20.2 6.2 -5.0 9.0 14.0 91% NA Group 1 Callon Petroleum CPE 11.7 5.8 10.8 5.9 0.9 -5.0 191% B W&T Offshore Inc WTI 10.1 19.6 6.9 -9.5 3.2 12.7 53% CCC Source: IHS Markit © 2018 IHS Markit Group 2 2018-2017 2018-2014 2017-2014 S&P YTM YTM YTM % Debt credit Company Ticker 2018 YTM 2017 YTM 2014 YTM difference difference difference to cap rating Sanchez Energy Corp SN 9.6 11.9 6.2 -2.4 3.4 5.8 101% B Athabasca Oil Corp ATH.TO 9.5 11.4 8.9 -1.9 0.6 2.4 26% B- Comstock Res Inc CRK 9.5 14.8 6.9 -5.3 2.6 7.9 17% CCC+ Group 2 Denbury Res Inc DNR 8.2 17.3 5.6 -9.1 2.6 11.7 32% CCC+ Approach Resources Inc AREX 8.1 11.6 6.5 -3.5 1.7 5.1 16% NR Source: IHS Markit © 2018 IHS Markit group, the average YTM increased from 19.4% in September average YTM declined from 14.8% to 9.5%. The average 2017 to 21.4% in April 2018. Excluding Ultra’s extremely YTM for the group declined from 13.4% in September 2017 high, outlier YTM, the average yield for the high-risk group to 9.0% in April 2018. actually declined from 17.8% in September 2017 to 15.4% in April 2018. Group 3, dominated by Midsize E&Ps, is low credit risk. For the group, the average YTM declined from 6.5% in Group 2 is moderate credit risk. For this group, average September 2017 to 5.9% in April 2018. Most of the YTM YTM in April 2018 declined from September 2017 for changes were between 0.5 and 1.5 percentage points. Bill all companies, with rates falling to 8.1–9.6%.