Permian Resources (PR) Price Target Increase - Sept 21
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:38 am
Notes below are from Neal Dingmann at Truist Financial
Permian Resources Corporation (PR)
Stock Unaltered After Systematic Sale with Company Participation
Not surprisingly, Permian Resources priced a 21.45mm deal from existing holder NGP
Energy (Private) that was well-received given today's performance. We believe investors
continue to appreciate the operational prowess of PR along with their shareholder
alignment as seen by the 2.2mm shares repurchased with the latest deal along with senior
management’s stock ownership and compensation. We are raising our PT to $19 from $18.
We continue to consider the company one of the premiere producers as judged by their low
operating costs and solid organic/external execution. We believe PR is set up for a solid
2H23 along with '24 potentially achieving a +20% yield.
Orderly Overhang Process
We believe much of investors' future concerns over PR’s equity overhang should largely
be put to bed after seeing the results of the last two equity issuances. While ~41% of total
shares remain in private equity hands, we believe these sophisticated investors have a solid
relationship with PR as seen by Project Allies that enables future deals to be company
led/company marketed. As such, we think the likely result should be an orderly exit that
potentially has little impact on the share price much like the recent transaction.
Operations on Point
We estimate PR to achieve 10%+ exit to exit production growth with notable upside to come
as we expect Earthstone (ESTE, Buy) to close late this year contributing ~33% to total
earnings. Our well analysis suggests most PR wells continue to improve after a not surprising
relatively sluggish start this year. We continue to forecast stable linear growth that likely
will not change as ESTE is added. We suggest $150mm+ synergies post deal that should
continue to improve as PR brings wells online likely $1mm+ less than ESTE was previously
running. Further, in our view, the company is on track to likely recognize 10% YoY 2024
deflation that should boost upside even more.
Raising Price Target to $19 From $18
We have updated our model post the latest deal, which minimally changes our estimates.
We continue to include the ESTE acquisition in our model given our view of a high likelihood
of the deal closing. As stated in our prior note, we view the accretive deal as a smart way to
position the proforma company as one of the strongest Permian companies under coverage.
Our $19 price target is derived from two equally weighted methodologies, with the first
being our ’24 EV/EBITDAX multiple of 4.0x (3.8x peer group average) applied to our 2024E
EBITDAX estimate of $4,370MM (consensus of $3,966MM) and the second being a FCF/
EV Yield assumption of 13.0%.
Permian Resources Corporation (PR)
Stock Unaltered After Systematic Sale with Company Participation
Not surprisingly, Permian Resources priced a 21.45mm deal from existing holder NGP
Energy (Private) that was well-received given today's performance. We believe investors
continue to appreciate the operational prowess of PR along with their shareholder
alignment as seen by the 2.2mm shares repurchased with the latest deal along with senior
management’s stock ownership and compensation. We are raising our PT to $19 from $18.
We continue to consider the company one of the premiere producers as judged by their low
operating costs and solid organic/external execution. We believe PR is set up for a solid
2H23 along with '24 potentially achieving a +20% yield.
Orderly Overhang Process
We believe much of investors' future concerns over PR’s equity overhang should largely
be put to bed after seeing the results of the last two equity issuances. While ~41% of total
shares remain in private equity hands, we believe these sophisticated investors have a solid
relationship with PR as seen by Project Allies that enables future deals to be company
led/company marketed. As such, we think the likely result should be an orderly exit that
potentially has little impact on the share price much like the recent transaction.
Operations on Point
We estimate PR to achieve 10%+ exit to exit production growth with notable upside to come
as we expect Earthstone (ESTE, Buy) to close late this year contributing ~33% to total
earnings. Our well analysis suggests most PR wells continue to improve after a not surprising
relatively sluggish start this year. We continue to forecast stable linear growth that likely
will not change as ESTE is added. We suggest $150mm+ synergies post deal that should
continue to improve as PR brings wells online likely $1mm+ less than ESTE was previously
running. Further, in our view, the company is on track to likely recognize 10% YoY 2024
deflation that should boost upside even more.
Raising Price Target to $19 From $18
We have updated our model post the latest deal, which minimally changes our estimates.
We continue to include the ESTE acquisition in our model given our view of a high likelihood
of the deal closing. As stated in our prior note, we view the accretive deal as a smart way to
position the proforma company as one of the strongest Permian companies under coverage.
Our $19 price target is derived from two equally weighted methodologies, with the first
being our ’24 EV/EBITDAX multiple of 4.0x (3.8x peer group average) applied to our 2024E
EBITDAX estimate of $4,370MM (consensus of $3,966MM) and the second being a FCF/
EV Yield assumption of 13.0%.