RJ see higher oil prices this year
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 2:44 pm
Raymond James Energy Stat of the Week - January 4, 2016
For the past few years, we have definitely not been energy bulls, with below-consensus price forecasts on each of Brent, WTI and
Henry Hub. And, over the past five years, energy stocks have not just underperformed but massively underperformed the broader
market. We think that will change in 2016 as global oil fundamentals are now looking very bullish.
Look for oil prices to bottom in the first half of 2016 and firm in the second half. Since there is an approximately 90% correlation
between oil prices and energy stocks, it is really important for energy investors to get oil prices directionally right. For the past three
and a half years, our oil model has suggested the “right” oil price to balance global oil supply and demand is a mid-$60s average. We
still believe that is the right balancing point (plus or minus $5). While oil prices hovered above $100, we were naturally bearish.
With WTI now in the $30s and the 2016 futures strip near $40, current oil prices are way too low. In fact, the lower oil goes nearterm,
the higher it will likely overshoot the true balancing point in late 2016 and 2017. Given the lower-than-expected oil prices to
start the year, we are modestly lowering our 2016 WTI forecast from $55 to $50 but keeping our long-term price deck at $70.
U.S. gas market looks terrible in 2016. Like oil, the U.S. gas market has been structurally oversupplied for years. We expect the glut
to persist in 2016 – even taking into account a modest reduction in associated gas from liquids-rich resource plays. We are lowering
our 2016 Henry Hub forecast from $2.35 to $2.00 (our third cut since August) and our long-term price deck from $2.75 to $2.50.
After their meltdown, some energy stocks are poised for recovery – but timing is critical. We don’t need to rehash just how
dreadful energy stocks were in 2015: energy was the worst sector in the S&P 500, having underperformed for five years in a row.
While exact timing is impossible, we think that energy, on the whole, will substantially outperform in 2016. Focus on U.S. land rather
than offshore and international-levered companies.
For the past few years, we have definitely not been energy bulls, with below-consensus price forecasts on each of Brent, WTI and
Henry Hub. And, over the past five years, energy stocks have not just underperformed but massively underperformed the broader
market. We think that will change in 2016 as global oil fundamentals are now looking very bullish.
Look for oil prices to bottom in the first half of 2016 and firm in the second half. Since there is an approximately 90% correlation
between oil prices and energy stocks, it is really important for energy investors to get oil prices directionally right. For the past three
and a half years, our oil model has suggested the “right” oil price to balance global oil supply and demand is a mid-$60s average. We
still believe that is the right balancing point (plus or minus $5). While oil prices hovered above $100, we were naturally bearish.
With WTI now in the $30s and the 2016 futures strip near $40, current oil prices are way too low. In fact, the lower oil goes nearterm,
the higher it will likely overshoot the true balancing point in late 2016 and 2017. Given the lower-than-expected oil prices to
start the year, we are modestly lowering our 2016 WTI forecast from $55 to $50 but keeping our long-term price deck at $70.
U.S. gas market looks terrible in 2016. Like oil, the U.S. gas market has been structurally oversupplied for years. We expect the glut
to persist in 2016 – even taking into account a modest reduction in associated gas from liquids-rich resource plays. We are lowering
our 2016 Henry Hub forecast from $2.35 to $2.00 (our third cut since August) and our long-term price deck from $2.75 to $2.50.
After their meltdown, some energy stocks are poised for recovery – but timing is critical. We don’t need to rehash just how
dreadful energy stocks were in 2015: energy was the worst sector in the S&P 500, having underperformed for five years in a row.
While exact timing is impossible, we think that energy, on the whole, will substantially outperform in 2016. Focus on U.S. land rather
than offshore and international-levered companies.