Goldman Sachs readjusted ratings on several E&P stocks this week based on updated projections for OPEC productivity, shale efficiency, project startups and oil and gas prices.
Overall, Goldman maintains a Neutral rating on the E&P space.
Upgrades To Buy
Goldman prefers E&Ps with strong balance sheets and exposure to shale efficiency trends. Based on these two points, Goldman upgraded Continental Resources Inc (NYSE: CLR) and Newfield Exploration Co (NYSE: NFX) from Neutral to Buy.
In addition to the upgrades to Buy, Goldman upgraded Laredo Petroleum Inc (NYSE: LPI) from Sell to Neutral based on its “improving Permian asset base” and strong operational execution.
Downgrades To Neutral
Goldman also chose to drop a handful of previously Buy-rated E&Ps down to a Neutral rating. Chesapeake Energy Corp (NYSE: CHK), Range Resources Corp (NYSE: RRC) and Hess Corp (NYSE: HES) were all downgraded to Neutral.
Downgrades To Sell
Goldman downgraded Murphy Oil Corp (NYSE: MUR) from Neutral to Sell based on its exposure to less-efficient deepwater drilling. In addition, Goldman downgraded Gulfport Energy Corp (NASDAQ: GPOR) from Neutral to Sell because the company’s growth rate can no longer justify the stock's premium valuation.
Sell Ratings Maintained
Finally, Goldman maintains its negative outlook for Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE: OXY), Halcon Resources Corp (NYSE: HK), Bill Barrett Corp (NYSE: BBG) and Ultra Petroleum Corp (NYSE: UPL). “Among Sell-rated stocks, we see some combination of unattractive valuation, below peer-average asset quality, weaker balance sheets and/or high operating leverage to commodity prices,” analysts explain.
Goldman is projecting $60/bbl WTI crude oil prices by 2018 and $50/bbl crude oil prices by 2020.
Latest Ratings for CLR
Date | Firm | Action | From | To |
---|
May 2015 | Goldman Sachs | Upgrades | Neutral | Buy |
May 2015 | Ladenburg Thalmann | Upgrades | Neutral | Buy |
May 2015 | Baird | Maintains | | Neutral |
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