6 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Thursday, June 20

By AAII Staff
June 20, 2024
Diamond graphic indicating best value stocks in their industry
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Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 6 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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6 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 6 undervalued stocks in the Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production industry for Thursday, June 20, 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.

Company Ticker Price/Sales Price/Earnings EV/EBITDA Shareholder Yield Price/Book Value Price/Free Cash Flow Value Grade
Diamondback Energy Inc FANG 3.87 10.6 6.5 6.8% 1.99 7.9 B
Kolibri Global Energy Inc KEI 1.74 6.1 2.9 -0.0% 0.51 na A
Murphy Oil Corp MUR 1.74 10.8 4.3 5.1% 1.12 8.4 A
Mexco Energy Corp MXC 3.32 12.1 3.0 2.1% 1.34 6.9 B
Ring Energy Inc REI 0.84 3.9 3.4 (10.9%) 0.39 1.5 A
Unit Corp UNTC 1.01 1.4 1.9 12.1% 1.39 na A

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.

Diamondback Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score FANG Industry Median
Price/Sales 76 3.87 2.28
Price/Earnings 27 10.6 11.3
EV/EBITDA 24 6.5 5.4
Shareholder Yield 12 6.8% 1.7%
Price/Book Value 57 1.99 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow 20 7.9 8.5

Diamondback Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The Company's activities are primarily focused on horizontal development of the Spraberry and Wolfcamp formations of the Midland Basin and the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations of the Delaware Basin, both of which are part of the larger Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico. Its total acreage position in the Permian Basin includes approximately 607,877 gross (493,769 net) acres, which consists primarily of 428,324 gross (349,707 net) acres in the Midland Basin and 174,828 gross (143,742 net) acres in the Delaware Basin. The Company is also engaged in midstream gathering, compression, water handling, disposal and treatment operations. Its subsidiary Viper Energy, Inc., also owns mineral interests in the Permian Basin.

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.

Diamondback Energy Inc has a Value Score of 71, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Diamondback Energy Inc’s price-to-sales ratio at 3.87 compared to the industry median at 2.28, this company has a higher price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Diamondback Energy Inc’s stock less attractive for value investors.

Diamondback Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 10.65 compared to the industry median at 11.31. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Diamondback Energy Inc more attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Diamondback Energy Inc’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 6.5, when compared to the industry median of 5.4, the company may be considered overvalued 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. Diamondback Energy Inc’s shareholder yield is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.75%. 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. Diamondback Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.42. This could make Diamondback Energy Inc less attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at Diamondback Energy Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Diamondback Energy Inc’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 8.50. This could make Diamondback Energy Inc more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Diamondback Energy Inc is undervalued. The P/FCF ratio metric can also be viewed over a long-term time frame to see if the company's cash flow to share price value is generally improving or worsening.

Kolibri Global Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score KEI Industry Median
Price/Sales 52 1.74 2.28
Price/Earnings 9 6.1 11.3
EV/EBITDA 6 2.9 5.4
Shareholder Yield 48 -0.0% 1.7%
Price/Book Value 10 0.51 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 8.5

Kolibri Global Energy Inc. is a North American energy company focused on finding and exploiting energy projects in oil and gas. The Company, through various subsidiaries, owns and operates energy properties in the United States. The Company utilizes its technical and operational expertise to identify and acquire additional projects in oil, gas and clean and sustainable energy. The Company develops its Caney Shale oil acreage in the Tishomingo Field in the Ardmore Basin, Oklahoma, United States. It has working interests in approximately 17,169 net acres in Ardmore Basin. Its Tishomingo Field activities produce oil, gas and natural gas liquids. Its proved gross oil and gas reserves in the Tishomingo field are estimated at approximately 32.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), the proved plus probable gross reserves are estimated at approximately 54.1 million BOE and the proved plus probable plus possible gross reserves are estimated at approximately 79.4 million 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.

Kolibri Global Energy Inc has a Value Score of 90, which is considered to be undervalued.

Kolibri Global Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 6.1 compared to the industry median at 11.3. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Kolibri Global Energy Inc more attractive for value investors.

Kolibri Global Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Kolibri Global Energy Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Kolibri Global 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.

Murphy Oil Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score MUR Industry Median
Price/Sales 52 1.74 2.28
Price/Earnings 28 10.8 11.3
EV/EBITDA 12 4.3 5.4
Shareholder Yield 17 5.1% 1.7%
Price/Book Value 35 1.12 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow 21 8.4 8.5

Murphy Oil Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. The Company is engaged in both onshore and offshore operations and properties. The Company’s geographic segments include the United States, Canada, and all other countries. It produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids primarily in the United States and Canada and explores for crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in targeted areas worldwide. In the United States, it produces crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas primarily from fields in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Eagle Ford Shale area of South Texas. It holds rights to approximately 133 thousand gross acres in South Texas in the Eagle Ford Shale unconventional oil and natural gas play. In Canada, it holds working interests in Tupper Montney (100% owned), Kaybob Duvernay (operated) and two non-operated offshore assets: the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields, located offshore Newfoundland in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin.

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.

Murphy Oil Corp has a Value Score of 87, which is considered to be undervalued.

Murphy Oil Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 10.8 compared to the industry median at 11.3. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Murphy Oil Corp more attractive for value investors.

Murphy Oil Corp’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Murphy Oil Corp less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Murphy 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.

Mexco Energy Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score MXC Industry Median
Price/Sales 72 3.32 2.28
Price/Earnings 32 12.1 11.3
EV/EBITDA 7 3.0 5.4
Shareholder Yield 32 2.1% 1.7%
Price/Book Value 42 1.34 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow 17 6.9 8.5

Mexco Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, are engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The Company owns producing properties and undeveloped acreage in approximately 14 states. It acquires interests in producing and non-producing oil and gas leases from landowners and leaseholders in areas considered favorable for oil and gas exploration, development, and production. There are two primary areas in which the Company is focused, namely the Delaware Basin located in the Western portion of the Permian Basin including Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico and Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas and the Midland Basin located in the Eastern portion of the Permian Basin, including Reagan, Upton, Midland, Martin, Howard and Glasscock Counties, Texas. The Company's subsidiaries include Forman Energy Corporation, Southwest Texas Disposal Corporation, and TBO Oil & Gas, LLC.

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.

Mexco Energy Corp has a Value Score of 76, which is considered to be undervalued.

Mexco Energy Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 12.1 compared to the industry median at 11.3. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Mexco Energy Corp less attractive for value investors.

Mexco Energy Corp’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Mexco Energy Corp less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Mexco Energy 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.

Ring Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score REI Industry Median
Price/Sales 30 0.84 2.28
Price/Earnings 4 3.9 11.3
EV/EBITDA 8 3.4 5.4
Shareholder Yield 79 (10.9%) 1.7%
Price/Book Value 7 0.39 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow 2 1.5 8.5

Ring Energy, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration, development, and production company. The Company is focused on the development of its Permian Basin assets. Its primary drilling operations target the oil and liquids-rich producing formations in the Northwest Shelf and the Central Basin Platform, in the Permian Basin in Texas. The Company's leasehold acreage positions total approximately 96,127 gross (80,535 net) acres, and it holds interests in approximately 1,043 gross (864 net) producing wells. All of its properties are located in the Permian Basin and its proved reserves are oil-weighted, with approximately 63% consisting of oil, 19% consisting of natural gas, and 18% consisting of natural gas liquids. Of those reserves, approximately 68% are classified as proved developed and 32% are classified as proved undeveloped. Its proved reserves are approximately 129.8 million 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.

Ring Energy Inc has a Value Score of 93, which is considered to be undervalued.

Ring Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 3.9 compared to the industry median at 11.3. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Ring Energy Inc more attractive for value investors.

Ring Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Ring Energy Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Ring 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.

Unit Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score UNTC Industry Median
Price/Sales 35 1.01 2.28
Price/Earnings 2 1.4 11.3
EV/EBITDA 4 1.9 5.4
Shareholder Yield 5 12.1% 1.7%
Price/Book Value 43 1.39 1.42
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 8.5

Unit Corporation is a natural gas contract drilling company. The Company is primarily engaged in the development, acquisition, and production of oil and natural gas properties, the land contract drilling of natural gas and oil wells, and the buying, selling, gathering, processing, and treating of natural gas. The Company operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Contract Drilling, and Mid-Stream. The Oil and Natural Gas segment explores, develops, acquires, and produces oil and natural gas properties for its own account. The Contract Drilling segment contracts to drill onshore oil and natural gas wells for others and for its own account. The Mid-Stream segment buys, sells, gathers, processes, and treats natural gas for third parties and for its own account. The Company’s producing oil and natural gas properties, unproved properties, and related assets are primarily located in Oklahoma and Texas, in addition to Arkansas, Kansas, and North Dakota to a lesser extent.

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.

Unit Corp has a Value Score of 97, which is considered to be undervalued.

Unit Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 1.4 compared to the industry median at 11.3. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Unit Corp more attractive for value investors.

Unit Corp’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Unit Corp fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Unit 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.

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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 6 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.

  • Diamondback Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Kolibri Global Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Murphy Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Mexco Energy Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Ring Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Unit Corp stock has a Value Grade of A.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 6 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.

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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.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.



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