Tag Archives: energy

Entergy Corp. Reports Solid Cash Flows From Operations

Summary This utility with a 5.14% dividend yield deserve a closer look. The decline in natural gas prices has led to a droop in wholesale electricity prices, harming Entergy’s profits. We use the company’s trailing 12 month P/E to get a better price comparison with industry peers. Regularly generating cash profits is an essential component of successful businesses. It only makes sense that’s how many investors wish to see their investments perform as well: as cash machines. Shark Tank investor “Mr. Wonderful” Kevin O’Leary agrees, emphatically stating, “cash is king.” And dividend payers like Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR ) churn that stuff out. The utility sector has recently crashed, with many companies trading at or near 52-week lows. Choosing the strongest companies from the lot is a fantastic opportunity to lock in great long-term deals on serious cash machines. Entergy Corp. trades at $66.69 per share, near its 52-week low of $61.27. Their dividend yield is a juicy 5.16% at this price level. During the third quarter, Jim Simons’ hedge fund increased their holdings in this company by 1.02 million shares – that means his research team concluded the company is trading at a discount to its intrinsic value. A clear indication that Entergy is worthy of further investigation. Entergy Corporation serves the growing suburban markets of Texas and operates in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. They also distribute natural gas which is becoming more commonly looked upon as a commodity of growing importance in man’s fight against climate change, even as natural gas producers themselves are not presently thriving due to vast oversupply. The company is off of its 1-year high by 27.5% as the utility sector has generally gotten whacked by the market since February of this year. Financial Results & Removing A Big Non-Cash, One-time Impairment Charge Focusing on their operations, the company has announced the shut down of two loss-making power plants. The impairment write-offs and writedowns associated with the closure of the Pilgrim and FitzPatrick nuclear power plants took third quarter results to a net loss of $4.04 per share. I’d like to get closer to the Price-to-Earnings figure without this one-time charge baked in. After we removed the one-time charge we can easily compare the per share price ratios of Entergy Corp with its industry peers. First we’ll take a look at what third quarter 2015 results look like with and without the unusually high impairment charges, then we are going to bake-in Other Income, Interest Expense, and Income Taxes to arrive at an earnings figure that is comparable to industry peers. Note: The company’s 2012, 2013, and 2014 annual reports indicate asset impairment charges of ($ in millions) $255,524, $241,537, and $179,752, respectively. We will use the average of these three annual figures, divided by 4, to estimate the typical impairment charges per quarter. This will allow us to take a view of the profitability of the company aside from the plant write-offs associated with management’s work to improve operations. The average of the indicated impairments for 2012, 2013, and 2014 is $225,604. Divided by 4, that’s $56,401 of average quarterly impairments — the figure used in the image below. Time to review operating expenses with and without the recent quarter’s decommissioning related impairments: Taking another step closer to an industry-comparable earnings per share figure we’ll add in Other Incomes of $43,179 and subtract the quarter’s Interest Expense of $171,349. Our income before income taxes comes to $492,617. On Entergy’s very profitable 2014 they paid 38% tax on the aforementioned figure. Taking income taxes into account for the quarter we come to our net-of-decommissioning write-off 3rd quarter net earnings figure: $305,423. Finally, we will now find our remapped, industry peer comparable earnings per share and price-to-earnings figures for the 179,151,832 common stock shares outstanding: Retuned 3rd Quarter 2015 Earnings Per Share of $1.70 I selected Southern Company and FirstEnergy Corp. as they are among those enjoying profitability and similar dividend yields. Other peers in the energy utility sector include NRG Yield, Inc. (NYSE: NYLD ), Calpine Corp. (NYSE: CPN ), The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES ), and American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE: AEP ). Entergy’s retuned Trailing P/E of 12.24 compares favorably to larger and slightly larger peers Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) and FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE ). Entergy enjoys a higher dividend yield and a competitive price-to-sales ratio with its market capitalization neighbor First Energy. Another favorable indicator is the firm’s Price-to-Sales ratio below the average of its peers. Cash Flow from Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities, net of nuclear fuel purchases and resale, and net of financing costs, bring us to 3rd Quarter cash earnings of $329,628,000. This figure far exceeds their quarterly common stock dividend of $.85 per share, or approximately $154,038,000 inclusive of preferred dividends. It appears that the company can reliably generate enough cash to pay its dividends. Marketplace Interest in Entergy Corporation When a hedge fund with a small army of highly-qualified analysts and access to 3rd party consultants at costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars takes interest in a company by executing significant buy orders, I get interested too. Now, there’s no way to know the exact reasons for the following recent purchases I will outline below but you can be generally assured that these guy’s goal is to make money in a long position through the receipt of dividends and capital appreciation. As mentioned earlier in this article, Jim Simons’ hedge fund added 1.02 million shares of Entergy Corp during the second half of this year. That’s a 70% increase in the size of their position in the company, bringing Jim Simons’ funds’ total position to 2.47 million shares. Millennium Management increased their position by $54 million during the most recent quarter. They own 1,525,275 shares with a value of $99 million. Buying by Hedge Funds far exceeded selling during the second half of the year reported as of September 30th, which is a bullish indicator of smart money sentiment. Conclusion I like Entergy Corp.’s at its yield of 5% and greater. They serve a diverse geography from Texas, to Louisiana, Arkansas, and New York, among other locales. Their earnings figures are solid aside from the one-time decommissioning charge associated with the closure of money-losing nuclear power plants in Plymouth, MA and the FitzPatrick plant of New York State. The Plymouth plant closure is expected to be complete during the first half of 2019 and FitzPatrick’s closure during early 2017 at the latest. Most of the company’s production of electricity is by nuclear power plant. Their profitability has suffered with the collapse in the price of natural gas because it has brought down the wholesale price of electricity in their markets. In general, Entergy’s free cash flow should easily support its quarterly dividend for a long time coming. Utilities such as these folks are the classic example of long-term cash machines. Due to my belief that the marketplace has generally underappreciate Entergy’s ability to reliably pay its dividend, tempered by a reluctance to catch a falling knife where we don’t know whether or not natural gas prices will continue to drag on electricity prices, I rate Entergy Corporation a hold. If natural gas — hence wholesale electricity prices — start climbing again and all else stays the same, Entergy Corporation becomes a clear and even a screaming buy. Click +Follow next to my username to get the latest research beamed to your inbox in realtime Additional disclosure: This article represents the opinion of the author as of the date of this article. This article is based upon information reasonably available to the author and obtained from public sources that the author believes are reliable. However, the author does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this article. It is merely the author’s interpretation of the information contained in the article. The author may close his investment position at any point in time without providing notice. The author encourages all readers to do their own due diligence. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell a security

5 ETFs To Profit From The Oil Collapse

Oil prices continues their sharp decline Monday as mild weather forecasts added to the commodity’s woes after Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) failed to arrive at any agreement to cut production, on Friday. The commodity slumped to its lowest levels in almost seven years, dragging down shares of oil & gas companies and also weighing on the broader market. In the absence of any agreement on production cuts, OPEC as well as non-OPEC members such as Russia, will continue to produce oil in record volume despite weak global demand. In fact, production is going to rise now with Iran set to start exporting oil next year when international sanctions are lifted. Iran was OPEC’s second-largest producer before sanctions and will battle now to regain that position. Further, despite price plunge, US production has not fallen as much as analysts expected earlier. With no end in sight for this supply overhang, the outlook for oil remains negative. Further, even if OPEC somehow agrees to cut production in its next meeting in June, the resulting rally in oil prices would likely bring many smaller producers back into the market and add to supply woes. Now, as the Fed looks all set to raise rates next week and the ECB expected to step up stimulus measures in the coming months, the US dollar may continue to strengthen and pose more headwinds for oil. I believe that oil prices are going to stay “lower for longer”. Looking at the longer-term picture, the rise in climate change awareness would also deter investments in this space. Investors looking for ways to profit from the very challenging outlook for oil should consider investing in the following ETFs. US Global JETS ETF (NYSEARCA: JETS ) Airlines are big beneficiaries of cheap oil and a brightening economy. Fuel accounts for a large portion of airlines’ operating expenses and “lower for longer” oil will further boost airlines’ profitability. This product provides investors access to the global airline industry, including airline operators and manufacturers. It uses a smart beta approach in selecting and weighting its holdings and thus charges a slightly higher fee of 60 bps. JETS is up more than 9% since inception, despite recent headwinds related to worries regarding impact on terrorist attacks on tourism and earlier investigation by the Justice department regarding collusion in pricing practices. First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto ETF (NASDAQ: CARZ ) Ultra-low interest rates and plunging gas prices have been fueling demand for new vehicles in the US. With strong sales for the month of November, auto sales this year appear to be on track to beat the earlier record set in 2000. While higher rates would definitely be negative for the industry, the Fed is likely to move very slowly on rate hikes, and thus the auto industry is expected to continue to do well in the months to come. This product provides investors exposure to automobile manufacturers across the globe. About 80% of assets are invested in stocks of automakers based in the US, Germany and Japan. In view of higher expenses and trading costs, this product is more suitable as shorter-term tactical holding. PowerShares Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment Portfolio (NYSEARCA: PEJ ) While low prices have helped US consumers a lot, they have so far been rather cautious in spending. But now with the labor market firming up, consumers are expected to step up their spending finally, particularly during the holidays. Per Fitch Ratings “U.S. leisure companies will continue to benefit from consumer spending growth in 2016, aided by the trend towards more experiential, rather than material, purchases.” PEJ is a smart beta ETF that uses a variety of investment merit criteria to select the best stocks from airlines, restaurants, movies & entertainment, casino & gambling and other leisure related industries. WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (NYSEARCA: EPI ) India is a huge importer of oil and tumbling energy prices bode well for the country. In addition to narrowing trade, current account and fiscal deficits, lower oil prices have resulted in a drop in inflation. Lower inflation helps the country’s central bank to cut rates, boosting growth. Further, the government has successfully used this opportunity to abolish diesel subsidies and raise taxes on petroleum, which will go a long way in improving the country’s fiscal health. India’s growth is fueled mainly by domestic consumption, largely insulating the economy from global headwinds EPI tracks profitable companies in India using an earnings-weighted methodology. Investors should consider adding this ETF to their portfolio. It is one of the largest, broadest and most liquid India equity ETFs. Market Vectors Oil Refiners ETF (NYSEARCA: CRAK ) Refiners seem to be the only bright spot in the energy space as they are a differentiated segment of the energy sector. Crack spread – the difference between the price of crude oil and its refined products – is an indicator of the profitability of the refining industry and lower oil prices could result in higher margins for refiners. This is the first and the only US-listed ETF to provide pure-play exposure to global oil refiners. However, with more than half of its assets invested in non-US companies, the product has foreign exchange risk and also a higher fee of 59 basis points. Original Post

Why These Funds Are Happy When Energy Players Are Sad

If you believe that breaking a record is always a good thing, you’re actually wrong. For instance, the price of crude has been on a record-breaking mode since mid-June last year. However, every record has been for the worse as oil prices could set only new lows. Last Wednesday, U.S. crude prices fell below the psychologically-resistant level of $40 for the first time since late August. The downward pressure intensified when last Friday the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – the international cartel of oil producers – decided not to cut oil production especially in the already over-supplied crude market. Obviously, this has spelled doom for investors who chose to hold on to their energy funds or stocks. For example Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #5 (Strong Sell) energy funds such as BlackRock Energy & Resources Inv A (MUTF: SSGRX ) and RS Global Natural Resources A (MUTF: RSNRX ) have nosedived 30.1% and 41.4% over the last one year, respectively. The agony is such that none of the energy funds under our coverage has a positive year-to-date or 1-year return. The least loss has come from Fidelity Select Energy Portfolio (MUTF: FSENX ), which is down 13.4% year to date and 17.7% over the last one year. However, we don’t want to sound too pessimistic as you gear up for your year-end celebrations. Losses in the energy sector can actually translate into gains for some other sectors. While auto and transportation are the direct beneficiaries, sectors such as retail, consumer discretionary and consumer staples also gain from low oil prices. So, investing in and profiting from favourably ranked mutual funds that focus on these sectors will make December merrier. The Recent Headwinds for Oil Last Wednesday, the U.S. government data revealed a 10th straight weekly increase in U.S. oil supplies. The federal government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) report revealed that crude inventories increased by 1.2 million barrels for the week ending Nov. 27, 2015. U.S. crude inventories are now at the highest level witnessed around this time of the year for the first time in 80 years. As a result, U.S. crude oil prices settled below $40 for the first time since August, while Brent crude oil plummeted to an almost 7-year low. A curb in production from the OPEC was most wanted to lift the already-low crude price. However before the meeting, OPEC decided to raise the ceiling of daily production from the prior level of 30 million barrels to 31.5 million barrels. The cartel was considering an output cut during the 7-hour meeting last Friday, but found that lowering of output only by the OPEC members will not be enough to lift oil prices. Crude plunged to settle below the $40 per barrel mark post meeting. WTI crude slipped nearly 3% to $39.97 per barrel. Oil Price to Move Further South? The slide in the price of crude has been quite dramatic given that it was hovering above $100 around a year ago. Several factors suggest that the end of the slump is nowhere near to be seen. Oversupply has distressed the industry for a long time now. This is due to two factors – the U.S. shale boom and OPEC’s decision to keep output unchanged despite the slump in prices. Lower consumption across the world is the reason for lower demand. Europe and Japan continue to struggle even as they make vigorous efforts to boost their flagging economies. But the biggest worry on this front is China. The world’s second largest economy may never again experience the pace of growth it witnessed until recently, leading to falling demand even in the long term. Funds to Enjoy Crude’s Loss Auto & Transportation: Fuel cost accounts for a considerable portion of expenses of the trucking companies. The U.S. trucking industry is currently poised to benefit in two ways. Lower oil prices will reduce their operating expenditure, thereby boosting the bottom line. On the other hand, capacity constraint in the form of driver shortage and new government regulations will drive top-line growth. A decline in oil prices is probably even more crucial for airlines. Lower jet fuel prices have been a boon for the airline industry given the inversely proportional relation between crude prices and the value of aviation stocks. Fidelity Select Automotive Portfolio (MUTF: FSAVX ) invests a majority of its assets in companies that manufacture, market and sell automobiles, trucks, specialty vehicles, parts, tires, and related services. The non-diversified fund invests in both US and non-US companies, primarily in common stocks. This Fidelity fund currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 (Buy). Year-to-date, FSAVX has gained just 1.8%, but it is showing an increasing trend since late September. The 3- and 5-year annualized returns are 18.9% and 8.2%, respectively. Consumer Funds: Another class of stocks gaining from this phenomenon is consumer staples. The Federal Reserve has expressed satisfaction over an improvement in the labor market situation. However, its inflation target of 2% still seems some way off. This is again a result of lower oil prices. Lower inflation has led to a considerable fall in input costs. This again would cushion the bottom line. Fidelity Select Consumer Discretionary Portfolio (MUTF: FSCPX ) invests a lion’s share of its assets in securities of companies mostly involved in the consumer discretionary sector. FSCPX primarily invests in common stocks of companies all over the globe. Factors including financial strength and economic condition are considered before investing in a company. FSCPX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy). FSCPX has gained 7.7% and 9.3% over year-to-date and 1-year period, respectively. The 3- and 5-year annualized returns are 18.6% and 14.7%, respectively. Putnam Global Consumer A (MUTF: PGCOX ) invests in mid-to-large companies that are involved in the manufacture, sale or distribution of consumer staples and consumer discretionary products and services. PGCOX uses the “blend” strategy to invest in common stocks of companies. PGCOX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. PGCOX has gained respectively 6.3% and 5.3% in the year-to-date and 1-year period. The 3- and 5-year annualized returns are 13.9% and 11%, respectively. Original Post