Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 7 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production industry. Those looking for value stocks to add to their portfolio may want to use this list as a starting point for further investment research.

Why Focus on Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks?

Value investors seek to buy stocks at a discount to their intrinsic value. Long-term returns show that such strategies are advantageous. Value stocks, as a group, tend to outperform growth stocks over extended periods of time. Typically, value investors perform financial analysis of numerous metrics, don’t follow the herd and are long-term investors.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade is derived from a stock’s Value Score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

What Goes Into AAII’s Value Grade?

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data as well as the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movement. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors with that task.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A–F grades for more than just value. It is possible for a stock to appear cheap based on one valuation metric but appear expensive on another. It is also possible for one valuation ratio to be associated with outperforming stocks during certain periods of time but not others. Some stocks may even have null values for certain metrics like the price-earnings ratio or the price-to-book ratio but not others. An example of this would be a company with losses instead of profits or a negative book value because of heavy borrowing. Negative earnings or book value result in non-meaningful ratios that are left blank or null.

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7 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 7 undervalued stocks in the Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production industry for Thursday, May 23, 2024. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production industry median.

The Value Grade is assigned based on how each stock’s composite valuation compares to all other stocks.

The process for assigning grades starts with each variable for a given stock. The percentile rankings for all valid ratios that a stock has are calculated. So, for instance, a stock could have a price-to-book ranking in the 43rd percentile, a price-earnings ranking in the 67th percentile, a price-to-sales ranking in the 23rd percentile, etc. Then, those rankings are averaged for each stock. (A minimum of two valid variables are required, though all six will be used if available.)

Once the average of the individual variables is calculated, that average is ranked against all stocks. Put another way, each stock’s composite valuation is compared to all other stocks. These ranks are then sorted into quintiles from the cheapest 20% (a grade of A) to the most expensive 20% (a grade of F).

As always, we recommend that you conduct proper due diligence and research before investing in any security. We also suggest that investors utilize numerous grades, not just value, when it comes to deciding whether a company is a good fit for their allocation needs.

Advantage Energy Ltd’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Advantage Energy Ltd. is a Canada-based energy producer. The Company is focused on development and delineation of its world class Montney natural gas and liquids resource at Glacier, Wembley/Pipestone, Valhalla and Progress, Alberta. The Company’s Montney assets are located from approximately 4-80 kilometers (km) northwest of the city of Grande Prairie, Alberta. Its land holdings consist of 228 net sections (145,920 net acres) of liquids-rich Montney lands at Glacier, Valhalla, Progress and Pipestone/Wembley.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Advantage Energy Ltd has a Value Score of 79, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Advantage Energy Ltd’s price-to-sales ratio at 2.57 compared to the industry median at 2.37, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Advantage Energy Ltd’s stock less attractive for value investors.

Advantage Energy Ltd’s price-earnings ratio is 14.38 compared to the industry median at 10.93. This means it has a higher share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Advantage Energy Ltd less attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Advantage Energy Ltd’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 5.2, when compared to the industry median of 5.4, the company may be considered undervalued in relation to its peers. Value investors could use the enterprise multiple to identify stocks that are considered overvalued or undervalued relative to their industry.

Shareholder yield is the sum of a stock’s dividend yield (paid over previous 12 months minus special dividends) and the percentage of net share buybacks over the previous 12 months. Advantage Energy Ltd’s shareholder yield is higher than its industry median ratio of 2.06%. Value investors may look for an attractive shareholder yield because it can be a powerful tool for identifying if the company has a good management team.

As one of the most common value metrics, the price-to-book ratio evaluates a company’s current market price relative to its book value. Advantage Energy Ltd’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.46. This could make Advantage Energy Ltd more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Battalion Oil Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Battalion Oil Corporation is an independent energy company. It is focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. Its properties and drilling activities are focused on the Delaware Basin. Its principal properties consist of leasehold interests in developed and undeveloped oil and natural gas properties and the reserves associated with these properties. Its working interests in over 39,867 net acres in the Delaware Basin are in Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas. This resource play is characterized by high oil and liquids-rich natural gas content in thick, continuous sections of source rock that can provide repeatable drilling opportunities and significant initial production rates. Its primary targets in this area are the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations. It has over 90 operated wells producing in this area in addition to minor working interests in 19 non-operated wells.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Battalion Oil Corp has a Value Score of 65, which is considered to be undervalued.

Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Battalion Oil Corp more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about Battalion Oil Corp’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Barnwell Industries Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Barnwell Industries, Inc. is engaged in three businesses: acquiring, developing, producing and selling oil and natural gas in Canada and Oklahoma; investing in land interests in Hawaii; and drilling wells and installing and repairing water pumping systems in Hawaii. The Company operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. Oil and Natural Gas Segment is engaged in oil and natural gas development, production, acquisitions and sales in Canada and Oklahoma. It invests in oil and natural gas properties, which are located in Alberta, Canada and Oklahoma. Land Investment segment is entitled to receive contingent residual payments from the entities that previously purchased the Company?s land investment interests under contracts entered into in prior years. Contract Drilling segment provides well drilling services and water pumping system installation and repairs in Hawaii.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Barnwell Industries Inc has a Value Score of 71, which is considered to be undervalued.

Barnwell Industries Inc’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Barnwell Industries Inc more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about Barnwell Industries Inc’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Civitas Resources Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent, domestic oil and gas producer focused on development of its assets in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) and Permian Basins. The Company’s operations are focused along the Denver-Julesburg (DJ), Delaware and Midland Basins. Its development facilities are located in counties across the Front Range of northern and central Colorado, as well as Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. Its acreage position in the DJ Basin is about 453,600 net acres and, in the Permian Basin, it is about 68,500 net acres. The Company has a total production of about 280,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE).

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Civitas Resources Inc has a Value Score of 75, which is considered to be undervalued.

Civitas Resources Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 8.8 compared to the industry median at 10.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Civitas Resources Inc more attractive for value investors.

Civitas Resources Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Civitas Resources Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about Civitas Resources Inc’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Marathon Oil Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Marathon Oil Corporation is an independent exploration and production company. The Company is focused on the United States resource plays, which include Eagle Ford in Texas, Bakken in North Dakota, Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher Counties (STACK) and South-Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP) in Oklahoma and Permian in New Mexico and Texas. The Company operates through two segments: United States and International. The United States segment explores for, produces and markets crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas in the United States. The International segment explores for, produces and markets crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas outside of the United States as well as produces and markets products manufactured from natural gas, such as LNG and methanol, in Equatorial Guinea (E.G.). Its subsidiaries include Alba Associates LLC, Alba Equatorial Guinea Partnership, L.P., Alba Plant LLC and AMPCO Marketing, L.L.C.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Marathon Oil Corp has a Value Score of 80, which is considered to be undervalued.

Marathon Oil Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 10.7 compared to the industry median at 10.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Marathon Oil Corp more attractive for value investors.

Marathon Oil Corp’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Marathon Oil Corp less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about Marathon Oil Corp’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

North European Oil Royalty Trust’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

North European Oil Royalty Trust (the Trust) is a grantor trust which, on behalf of the owners of units of beneficial interest in the Trust (the unit owners), holds overriding royalty rights covering gas and oil production in certain concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. The rights are held under contracts with local German exploration and development subsidiaries of ExxonMobil Corp. (ExxonMobil) and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (Royal Dutch/Shell Group). Under these contracts, the Trust receives various percentage royalties on the proceeds of the sales of certain products from the areas involved. Its royalties are received for sales of gas well gas, oil well gas, crude oil, condensate and sulfur. The Trust conducts no active business operations and is restricted to collection of income from royalty rights and distribution to unit owners of the net income after payment of administrative and related expenses.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

North European Oil Royalty Trust has a Value Score of 64, which is considered to be undervalued.

North European Oil Royalty Trust’s price-earnings ratio is 5.5 compared to the industry median at 10.9. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes North European Oil Royalty Trust more attractive for value investors.

North European Oil Royalty Trust’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make North European Oil Royalty Trust more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about North European Oil Royalty Trust’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Vitesse Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Vitesse Energy, Inc. is an independent energy company. The Company is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of non-operated oil and natural gas properties in the United States that are generally operated by oil companies and are primarily in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. It also has properties in the Central Rockies, including the Denver-Julesburg Basin and the Powder River Basin. It owns a working interest in over 5,734 gross productive wells and royalty interests in an additional 1,140 productive wells. It also owns working interests in a 224 gross wells, and an additional 363 gross wells that have been permitted for development by its operating partners. Its property in Williston Basin stretches from western North Dakota into eastern Montana. Its property in Denver-Julesburg Basin is located in Northeast Colorado and Southeast Wyoming. Its property in Powder River Basin assets primarily target the Parkman, Sussex, Turner and Niobrara formations.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Vitesse Energy Inc has a Value Score of 67, which is considered to be undervalued.

Vitesse Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 29.4 compared to the industry median at 10.9. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Vitesse Energy Inc less attractive for value investors.

Vitesse Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Vitesse Energy Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.46.

You can read more about Vitesse Energy Inc’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Other Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stock Grades

Value is just one of the five Stock Grades included in our A+ Investor service. AAII members can see the top-graded stocks—those with grades of A or B for value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality—on the A+ Stock Grades Screener.

Also, if you want full access to all of AAII’s premium services, you can subscribe to one convenient bundled plan called AAII Platinum where you can try out A+ Investor, AAII Dividend Investing, the Stock Superstars Report, Growth Investing and VMQ Stocks. With the other premium services, you can dive deep into additional metrics, portfolios, commentary and information about Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 7 Best Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks Is Right for You

Choosing which value stocks to invest in will ultimately depend on your individual goals and allocation; however, comparing similar value stocks in the same industry can help you analyze which might be better investments for you in the long run. So, let’s take a look at the Value Grade for all of our stocks.

• Advantage Energy Ltd stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Battalion Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Barnwell Industries Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Civitas Resources Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Marathon Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• North European Oil Royalty Trust stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Vitesse Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 7 undervalued stocks in the Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production industry as well as their overall grades, it’s time for you to conduct additional research to see if these could fit your portfolio needs based on your goals and risk tolerance. AAII can help you figure out both and identify which investments align with what works best for you.

We do so through a program of education that teaches you to invest for yourself and become an effective manager of your own wealth—no more relying on others for your financial independence. You can rely on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis that makes you a better investor.

A+ Investor adds to that qualitative teaching by giving you a powerful data suite that helps you whittle down investment decisions to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

Additional Resources About Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks

Want to learn more about Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production stocks to see if they could be the right investment for you? Check out some additional resources and articles to help you on your financial journey.

• 7 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Thursday, May 23
• 4 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Wednesday, May 22
• Is Woodside Energy Group Ltd - ADR (WDS) a Good Dividend Stock?
• Is Woodside Energy Group Ltd - ADR (WDS) Stock a Good Investment?

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