The Producer
Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN) is a North American company focussed on exploration, development, and production of natural gas and oil. They currently operate in 7 major areas and have the potential to become the top natural gas producer in the United States.
The Fayetteville Shale contains their largest land holding, but they also have large holdings in the Marcellus Shale, Arkoma Basin, Brown Dense, Denver-Julesberg Basin, Overton Field, and rights to search for oil and gas in New Brunswick. In all of these areas, Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN) has over 4,700 gross producing wells.
The stock has been on the rise, gaining over 12.75% year-to-date. Here are some of the highlights from their fourth quarter 2012 earnings report released in February:
Earnings per share of $0.44, meeting analyst expectations
Oil and gas production increased 12% year-over-year
Operating income from midstream services increased 14.9%
Gas sales increased 4%
Oil sales increased 37.2%
Earnings per share for the year decreased by 23.6%, but will be on the rise over the next 3 years. Analysts project earnings to reach $2.24 in 2015, representing a 61.2% growth from 2012.
If natural gas prices are to rise, Southwestern could have more explosive earnings growth than the 61.2% expected. I think this will happen and propel the stock much higher. Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN) is a long-term investment worth making.
The Supplier
Hi-Crush Partners LP (NYSE:HCLP) is a leading producer of premium monocrystalline sand, which is a specialized mineral used as a “proppant” in hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is a process in which shale rock is drilled and injected with fluids at a high pressure to release natural gas located in the rock. The proppant enhances the recovery of hydrocarbons from oil and gas wells, making a more efficient process.
A huge positive for Hi-Crush Partners LP (NYSE:HCLP) is their rail infrastructure. They have a location with full access to Union Pacific’s mainline, which are able to reach all major shale basins in the United States. The ability to produce at low costs and ship directly to the customer on-site sets Hi-Crush Partners LP (NYSE:HCLP) apart from their competition.
They reported fourth quarter 2012 earnings on Jan. 31, which disappointed analysts, but was very positive overall. Here is a summary:
Earnings per share of $0.35 versus estimates of $0.47
Revenues increased 27.9% to $16.215 million
Gross profit increased 36.4% to $11.902 million
Net income increased 53.2% to $9.399 million
The Transporter
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE:KMP) Partners is the largest natural gas pipeline and storage operator in the United States. The make money by charging companies to use their pipelines and are usually contracts over several years, meaning the constant fluctuation in commodity prices have no effect.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE:KMP) has beaten earnings consistently over the years. Here are highlights from their fourth quarter 2012 report on Jan. 16:
Earnings per share came in at $0.75 versus estimates of $0.68
Revenues increased 59% year-over-year to $3.079 billion
Total revenues for the year rose to $9.973 billion compared to $7.943 billion in 2011
Kinder Morgan’s earnings are expected to rise consistently over the next 3 years. In 2013, analysts expect them to earn $2.57 per share, an 11.3% growth from 2012. Estimates for this company are often much too low, so do not be surprised when they beat these earnings by a large percent.
Kinder Morgan has a high dividend and strong track record of raising it. They currently yield 6% and have raised the dividend for 17 straight years. They are an MLP, like Hi-Crush Partners LP (NYSE:HCLP), so the continued growth in earnings will make this yield rise higher. Kinder Morgan is one of the best stocks you could ever buy for your portfolio.
The Foolish Bottom Line
The natural gas industry in the United States is raging on and owning shares in it would be a smart move for any investor. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE:KMP) is my favorite play because of their consistent growth and management’s strong track record of returning value to investors. All three of these companies have the potential to be long-term investments, so take a closer look and see if one of them fits your investment style.
The article 3 Ways to Play the Shale Boom originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Joseph Solitro.
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