NOG : NYSE MKT : US$17.11
BUY
Target: US$19.00
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Northern Oil and Gas engages in acquisition, exploration, exploitation, and development of oil and natural gas properties in the US Rocky Mountains. Its core focus is the Middle Bakken formation in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota. Its secondary focus is Red River and Mission Canyon formations in Montana
Energy — Oil and Gas, Exploration and Production
RAISING ESTIMATES AND PRICE TARGET FOLLOWING Q3 PRODUCTION BEAT
Investment recommendation
NOG is a Williston Basin (WB) Bakken/Three Forks pure-play with a non-operated model. The company is one of the largest non-operating participants in the play and a natural clearinghouse for non-operated working interests. We see good value in the stock and believe a resumption of production growth, which is now happening, should be the recipe for a higher share price.
Investment highlights
NOG announced that Q3/13 production is expected to average ~13MBoe/d, a 19% Q/Q increase. This soundly beat our 12.2 MBoe/d and consensus of 12.3 MBoe/d. During the quarter, the company added 147 gross (12.1 net) wells to production with an additional 260 gross (18.8 net) wells that were drilling or awaiting completion at the end of the quarter. NOG had a producing well count at the end of the quarter of 1,585 gross (133.5 net).
NOG expects Q3 realized price per Boe, including the effect of settled derivatives, to be in a range of $82.00 – $83.00, and its LOE to be in a range of $9.50 – $9.75/Boe.
