Permian Operator Will Use Equity Proceeds to Pay Debt
While the oil and gas industry is battening down the hatches, issuing bailing buckets to all hands and looking for a solid toehold as forty-six dollar crude oil sloshes under and around it, North American shale player Diamondback Energy (ticker: FANG) is a point of light. The company zoomed to the market yesterday by announcing and pricing an equity offering.
Yesterday the Midland, Texas-based independent E&P announced it planed to sell 1.75 million shares in an underwritten public offering that would generate gross proceeds of $106 million. The company said it will use the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The offering is expected to close January 26, 2015, according to a company press release. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.
Funding a Capital Intensive Industry – EnerCom Table
Shoring up a balance sheet is generally viewed as a wise move in times of uncertainty, and Wunderlich Securities’ Houston analyst Jason Wangler applauded the Diamondback move, saying in a research note: “Frankly this is a rare opportunity in the E&P (if not energy in general) space, given oil’s decline and the tough environment that comes with it; but Diamondback has performed better than most, as it did on the way up, due to its strong asset base, solid balance sheet and impressive management/strategy. In these tough times it makes sense for investors to migrate toward quality names and we feel Diamondback is high on that list and as such we remain “Buy” rated and raise our price target [to $80 from $70] as we look for the company to show solid organic growth while also remaining acquisitive.”
If oil prices stay low in 2015, many analysts expect to see assets held by highly leveraged operators to go on the block later in the year, and Diamondback will be financially positioned to take action. In a telephone interview with Oil & Gas 360®, Wangler characterized the action by saying “Their stock has done better than most, there’s been a lot of demand for it and right now cash is king. They had a chance to take a little risk off the table and they did. I think they’re going to be a consolidator in the basin.”
Diamondback’s activities are primarily focused on the horizontal exploitation of multiple intervals within the Wolfcamp, Spraberry, Clearfork and Cline formations in the Permian basin. Shares of Diamondback Energy closed today at $67.98.
Wangler told Oil & Gas 360® he believed a handful of other companies are in a similar position “in terms of dry powder”: Gulfport Energy (ticker: GPOR), Matador Resources (ticker: MTDR), Memorial Resource Development (ticker: MRD) and Synergy Resources (ticker: SYRG).
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Analyst Commentary
Wunderlich Securities
Energy: Exploration & Production
Diamondback Energy (FANG) yesterday priced a common stock offering that should allow the company to repay a considerable portion of its credit facility and increase liquidity in order to remain in a position of strength.
Raising Price Target
DIAMONDBACK ENERGY, INC. (FANG: $68.54) Rating: Buy
January 22, 2015 Price Target: Old - $70.00; New - $80.00
Raising Target as Good Balance Sheet Can Provide Multiple Accretive Moves
Summary
Diamondback Energy (FANG) yesterday priced a common stock offering that should allow the company to repay a considerable portion of its credit facility and increase liquidity in order to remain in a position of strength. Frankly this is a rare opportunity in the E&P (if not energy in general) space given oil's decline and the tough environment that comes with it; but Diamondback has performed better than most, as it did on the way up, due to its strong asset base, solid balance sheet and impressive management/strategy. In these tough times it makes sense for investors to migrate toward quality names and we feel Diamondback is high on that list and as such we remain Buy rated and raise our price target as we look for the company to show solid organic growth while also remaining acquisitive.
Key Points
Equity offering boosts liquidity nicely. The $100+ million in net proceeds should reduce the company's credit facility, which had $140 million outstanding as of 3Q14, and add nice dry powder that Diamondback can use to fund its organic growth through strong horizontal drilling operations on its core Permian asset base. In times like these it seems the balance sheet is as important as the income statement, if not more so, and Diamondback continues to show that it is in a strong financial position for the future.
We expect Diamondback to remain acquisitive. In addition to the company's drilling plans, we look for the company to remain active on the acquisition front, as it has the past few years, in order to boost its inventory and resource potential. With multiple successful acquisitions (and a solid spin-off) under its belt the last few years, we expect Diamondback to continue on this trend by making accretive acquisitions. Further, we expect it to use equity in these endeavors (whether directly or indirectly) given its strong trading multiples.
Operationally in a good position even with bad oil prices. Few plays, or companies, can boast economic returns at current oil price levels, but we believe the core of the Midland Basin and horizontal drilling technology have married to do just that. While the returns are obviously not nearly as exciting as at $90/bbl oil, with costs coming down due to both improved efficiencies and OFS pricing pressures, we look for returns to improve going forward from already economic levels.
The balance sheet, and trading multiple, should provide Diamondback with plenty of viable currencies. Diamondback has ample liquidity currently and given its reduced spending should not outspend cash flow dramatically in 2015, allowing it to maintain a solid cash/liquidity balance and remain opportunistic. Further, its ownership of Viper Energy Partners (VNOM-$16.99, Buy) and its own shares can be used as currency to make acquisitions or raise further capital due to solid trading multiples. These are options many in the space do not have.
Reiterate Buy rating; raising price target from $70 to $80 on this high-quality name. Diamondback has seen a stabilization and improvement in its valuation the last month due to what we believe is a flight to quality (both companies and regions) in the E&P space. Though FANG trades at a premium multiple, we believe that is warranted given the company's financial and operational positions, and with the expectation of accretive acquisitions we think there is additional upside even at today's oil prices. As such, we remain bullish on the name.
Jason Wangler
Wunderlich Securities, Inc.
Equity Research
Houston
