The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Pioneer Natural Resources, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Devon Energy Corp and Canadian Natural Resources

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 27, 2020 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Pioneer Natural Resources Company PXD, ConocoPhillips COP, Chevron Corporation (CVX), Devon Energy Corporation DVN and Canadian Natural Resources Limited CNQ.

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Shale Oil & Gas M&As Pick Up: What Investors Must Know

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the shale oil and gas industry are the current hot topic in the energy sector. Companies with better access to capital are boosting their portfolio through acquisitions and paying relatively low prices for assets. Weak commodity price environment, triggered largely by the coronavirus pandemic-induced demand destruction, has affected multiple debt-ridden companies in the shale patches, thereby forcing them to get under the umbrellas of better-positioned acquirers.

Significant M&As 

  The present market situation is allowing companies with more access to capital to acquire rich shale assets at beaten-down prices. So far, we have witnessed some significant M&A deals in this turbulent period. Recently, Pioneer Natural Resources acquired a smaller rival Parsley Energy, in turn boosting Permian presence. ConocoPhillips agreed to acquire Concho Resources Inc. in an all-stock deal, which will create one of the largest upstream companies in the world. Chevron Corp. acquired Noble Energy for the latter’s Eastern Mediterranean assets. Devon Energy Corp. is merging with WPX Energy to create a bigger company with premium acreage position in the economic core of the Delaware Basin.

In another deal, Canadian Natural Resources agreed to acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of smaller rival, Painted Pony Energy, for its Northeast British Columbia assets in Canada.

Most Investable Upstream Companies are Taken

While all these M&As have left investors guessing about the next acquisition, Pioneer Natural’s CEO Scott Sheffield gave an interesting insight. Bloomberg quoted him saying that the best companies worth investing in are already taken. He said, “There’s only going to be three or four independents that are investable by shareholders” after the latest market downturn.

Why Some Will Survive While Others Won’t?

This is the interesting part wherein we will dig deeper and not just talk about how the weak price environment is the reason for this series of M&As.

When oil price was profitable, most of the companies rampantly boosted production using debt capital rather than just employing free cash flow. However, the current energy market with low demand and weaker prices are drying up free cash flows and making debt repayment difficult.

The situation has forced some shale operators to discontinue drilling and completion activities, as well as reduce capital expenditures, which will likely result in a decline in the remaining economically producible reserves. Halted drilling amid ongoing production will decrease proved developed producing reserves, one of the most important requirements to obtain financing from banks, or in other word, capital. These upstream companies’ lack of access to capital is blurring their way forward.

So, the decline in proved developed producing reserves and access to capital is hampering many of the producers, while the survivors with ample capital and less levered balance sheets are positioning themselves for a thriving future, when commodity prices will improve. Moreover, their ability to generate free cash flow, even in the current weak price environment, is highly reflective of the strength in their operations.

Hence, the survivors will look for opportunities to expand their portfolio and enhance synergy derivations through acquiring lucrative assets at beaten-down prices. The current market volatility has created a window of opportunities for them.

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ConocoPhillips (COP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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