Top Oil Companies For 2014

Sometime in the second half of this year, Murphy Oil� (NYSE: MUR  ) will split in two. When that happens, the company announced today, its current president and CEO, Steve Cosse, will be leaving Murphy proper to join the spun-off business running the firm's current downstream operations, Murphy USA.

Murphy confirmed Monday also that its board of directors plans to promote COO Roger Jenkins to take Cosse's place as head of what's left of Murphy after the spinoff. Jenkins is a 12-year veteran of the firm, and as the company advises, "played a critical leadership role in Murphy's worldwide exploration and production operations, including the development of the Kikeh field in Malaysia and the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas," making him ideal to run the firm's upstream operations going forward.

Investors seemed pleased at being given extra clarity as to who will be running what post-spinoff. Murphy shares gained 1.9% in Monday trading, to close at $62.60.

Best Paper Stocks For 2015: Carnival Corporation(CCL)

Carnival Corporation operates as a cruise and vacation company. It provides cruises to various vacation destinations with a portfolio of cruise brands comprising Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America; and AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, and P&O Cruises in Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company also involves in operation of hotels, as well as offers tour and transportation services. It operates approximately 98 ships, as well as owns and operates 15 hotels or lodges that include 3,420 guest rooms; 395 motorcoaches; and 20 domed rail cars. The company sells its cruises through travel agents, including wholesalers and tour operators. Carnival Corporation was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Cruise line operator Carnival (CCL) has seen some rough seas in recent years. Costa Concordia, the ocean liner that ran aground off the coast of Italy last January, was one of Carnival's ships. So was the Carnival Triumph, which suffered an engine fire earlier this year, leaving passengers adrift for four days. But despite PR nightmares and freak accidents, the world's largest cruise operator has some attractive tailwinds pushing at its back this summer.

  Carnival owns more than 100 ships that fly the flags of its wide spectrum of brands. In addition to Carnival's namesake line, the firm's portfolio includes names like Holland America, Cunard, Princess, and more than a half-dozen other lines. That diversification gives Carnival exposure to vacationers in all income brackets and on three continents. As the cruise industry continues to grow in popularity, especially as cruise-hungry baby boomers reach their retirement years at record rates, Carnival's upside potential is continuing to increase. And the conspicuous mess-ups of the last couple of years are helping investors grab a bargain price tag right now.

  There's no question that the cruise industry is capital-intense: new ships can ring up at a price tag of around $1 billion. But Carnival is entering the tail end of its buying cycle, and limited deliveries should help boost profits in the next couple of years. From a financial standpoint, Carnival's best-in-breed balance sheet gives it the wherewithal to handle unexpected rough seas. And while fuel costs have been rising materially over the years, CCL indexes its prices to the cost of oil, reducing risk and taking the need for commodity hedging off the table. Expect CCL's fortunes to turn with the tide.

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  I should point out that this is a different issue than reported earnings vs. owner earnings. For example, Carnival (CCL) reports earnings that are high relative to owner earnings because of the way it accounts for depreciation. Basically, it owns long-lived tangible assets in a world with inflation so it does not depreciate these assets enough over their lives to account for the higher nominal replacement cost of the asset in the future. It�� a common problem for railroads, etc. But it doesn�� have to do with return on investment. It has to do with accounting.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Stocks moving in the Premarket included:

  Macy�� Inc�(NYSE: M) gained 0.79 percent in premarket trade after rising 0.82 percent over the past week. The Coca-Cola Co�(NYSE: KO) lost 1.68 percent in premarket trade after gaining 0.89 percent over the past five days. Carnival Corp�(NYSE: CCL) fell 1.03 percent in premarket trade after losing 1.24 percent on Monday American Express Co�(NYSE: AXP) was down 0.75 percent in premarket trade after rising 4.18 percent over the past week.

  Earnings

Top Oil Companies For 2014: Essar Energy Plc (ESSR)

Essar Energy plc is a holding company. The Company is an energy company with assets across the power and oil and gas industries. The Company operates in the areas petroleum refining and marketing, exploration and production and power transmission and generation. The Refining and Marketing business in India comprises of the Vadinar refinery located on the west coast of India and a retail franchise network of around 1,400 fuel stations across India and the Refining, and Marketing business in the United Kingdom comprises of the Stanlow refinery located near Liverpool, north west England and on the south bank of Manchester ship canal. The Company�� exploration and production segment includes a portfolio of 15 blocks and fields in the various stages of exploration and production of oil and gas in India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Vietnam. In Power segment, the Company operates coal fired, captive fuel and gas based power plants in India and Canada together with a number of mining assets. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Essar Energy Plc (ESSR) climbed 2.5 percent to 122 pence after reporting that revenue rose 24 percent to $27.3 billion in the 12 months through March. The company cited higher margins and volumes at its Vadinar refinery in India and its Stanlow refinery in the U.K.

Top Oil Companies For 2014: NuStar GP Holdings LLC (NSH)

NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (NuStar GP Holdings), incorporated on June 06, 2000, conducts operations through its indirect ownership interests in NuStar Energy L.P. (NuStar Energy). NuStar Energy is engaged in the terminalling and storage of petroleum products, the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and petroleum refining and marketing. The Company operates in three segments: NuStar Energy�� Storage Segment, NuStar Energy�� Pipeline Segment and NuStar Energy�� Asphalt and Fuels Marketing Segment. On January 1, 2013, NuStar Energy sold the San Antonio Refinery and related assets, which included inventory, a terminal in Elmendorf, Texas and a pipeline connecting the terminal and refinery. On December 13, 2012, NuStar Energy completed its acquisition of the TexStar Crude Oil Assets (as defined below), including 100% of the partnership interest in TexStar Crude Oil Pipeline, LP, from TexStar Midstream Services, LP and certain of its affiliates.

NuStar Energy has terminal and storage facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, including St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Turkey. NuStar Energy L.P.'s asphalt refineries, refined product terminals, petroleum and specialty liquids storage and terminaling operations, and crude oil storage tank facilities are predominantly located on waterways that are easily accessible by barge or vessel. On September 28, 2012, NuStar Energy sold a 50% ownership interest (the Asphalt Sale) in NuStar Asphalt LLC (Asphalt JV), previously a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar Energy, to an affiliate of Lindsay Goldberg LLC (Lindsay Goldberg), a private investment firm.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  But it is important to note that ETE also has interests in Sunoco Logistics Partners (NYSE: SXL) and Regency Energy Partners (NYSE: RGP).

  Finally, consider NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS) and its general partner NuStar GP Holdings (NYSE: NSH). Like ETE, NSH went public in 2006 and has also significantly outperformed its limited partner since:
  
  
  

  The vast majority of partnerships don’t have a publicly-traded GP. But in each of these three cases in which the GP is publicly traded, the GP tends to outperform the LP units on long-term gains, an advantage somewhat offset by the typically higher LP yield.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  NuStar Energy does have a publicly traded general partner in�NuStar GP Holdings�(NYSE: NSH) which went public in 2006. The GP pays a lower dividend at 5.8 percent, but has significantly outperformed the limited partner since it went public:

Top Oil Companies For 2014: Chesapeake Energy Corporation(CHK)

Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Natural gas has recovered nicely as well from a year ago, when prices bottomed out below $2 per thousand British thermal units (MMBtu). With the front-month contract for natural gas now hovering near $3.50/MMBtu, natural gas producers are in the same boat as the oil producers. Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK), the nation’s second leading gas producer, has seen its share price climb 36 percent over the past year.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) announced it will buy back all outstanding preferred shares issued by its Utica unit for $1.26 billion to simplify its balance sheet as well as eliminate $75 million in annual dividend payments. Shares gained 0.82 percent, closing at $27.06.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) is up 0.3%, at $26.97 in a 52-week range of $16.23 to $27.29.

  EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is up 0.7%, at $168.29 in a 52-week range of $107.76 to $168.77. The high was set earlier Thursday morning.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Chesapeake Energy (CHK) is a natural gas producer who is shifting more and more into liquids production and they're in some of these plays. We recommended them back in May; they're up 30% since we made that recommendation.

Top Oil Companies For 2014: ONEOK Partners L.P.(OKS)

ONEOK Partners, L.P. engages in the gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. The company?s Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment gathers and processes natural gas produced from crude oil and natural gas wells located in the Mid-Continent region; and gathers natural gas in the Williston Basin, which spans portions of Montana and North Dakota, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Its Natural Gas Pipelines segment primarily owns and operates regulated natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage facilities, and natural gas gathering systems for non-processed gas. It also provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services. This segment?s interstate natural gas pipeline assets transport natural gas through FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. In addition, it transports intra state natural gas through its assets in Oklahoma; and owns underground natural gas storage facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Its Natural Gas Liquids segment gathers, fractionates, and treats natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as stores NGL products primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. This segment owns FERC-regulated natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and FERC-regulated natural gas liquids distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana that connect its Mid-Continent assets with Midwest markets, including Chicago, Illinois. ONEOK Partners GP serves as the general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as Northern Border Partners, L.P. and changed its name to ONEOK Partners, L.P. in May 2006. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Dittman]

  Answer: Williams just completed a big deal for Access Midstream Partners LP that will add to cash flow and provide more room for dividend growth. Part of the deal in fact includes a 32 percent payout increase. This is a classic invest-to-grow story. I like Williams under 60.
  
  ONEOK is now a pure-play general partner, its asset being a 41 percent interest in ONEOK Partners LP (NYSE: OKS) and its gathering/processing/transporting assets from key US gas-producing fields. Management has guided to solid dividend growth for the next half-decade. I like ONEOK on dips to 66.

• [By The Part-time Investor]

  I sold ONEOK Partners (OKS), 265 shares at $51.25, and replaced it with ONEOK inc. (OKE), 267 shares at $52.31.

  Although I have removed these three MLPs from my portfolio, I am still holding ARLP, Buckeye Partners (BPL), Plains All American (PAA), and Williams Partners. I am going to continue to hold these until I receive the K-1 forms next year, so that I can more carefully analyze the tax implications, and decide what to do with these other positions. I may decide that the higher yield of the MLPs might make it worth holding on to them, even though I would eventually have to pay some extra taxes. I will have more to say about this when I see the K-1 forms. Perhaps people with have some comments on this issue?

Top Oil Companies For 2014: Valero Energy Corporation(VLO)

Valero Energy Corporation operates as an independent petroleum refining and marketing company. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Ethanol, and Retail. The Refining segment engages in refining, wholesale marketing, product supply and distribution, and transportation operations. It produces conventional gasoline, distillates, jet fuel, asphalt, petrochemicals, lubricants, and other refined products. This segment also offers conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending, gasoline meeting the specifications of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), CARB diesel fuel, low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The Ethanol segment produces ethanol and distillers grains. The Retail segment sells transportation fuels at retail stores and unattended self-service cardlocks; convenience store merchandise and services in retail stores; and home heating oil to residential customers. Valero Energy Corpora tion markets its refined products through bulk and rack marketing network; and sells refined products through a network of approximately 6,800 retail and wholesale branded outlets under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, Beacon, and Texaco names in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Aruba, and Ireland. As of December 31, 2011, it owned 16 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.0 million barrels per day; and operated 10 ethanol plants with a combined nameplate production capacity of approximately 1.1 billion gallons per year. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1955 and is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Today, RBC Capital Markets’ Brad Heffern started coverage on Tesoro (TSO) and Valero Energy (VLO) and named Marathon Petroleum (MPC) his top pick. The market, however, could care less as oil prices tumble.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Pretty much everyone who's anyone in the oil industry got a contract. The biggest winner was Netherlands' Royal Dutch Shell at $474 million, but America's Valero (NYSE: VLO  ) came a close second with $456 million in Pentagon fuel contracts.