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, July 04, 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.

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 75, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.29 compared to the industry median at 2.35, this company has a lower price relative to revenue compared to its peers. This could make Battalion Oil Corp’s stock more attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Battalion Oil Corp’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 6.0, 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. Battalion Oil Corp’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 2.05%. 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. Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its industry median ratio of 1.42. This could make Battalion Oil Corp less attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Gulfport Energy Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Gulfport Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas-weighted exploration and production company. It is focused on the exploration, acquisition and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquid (NGL) in the United States with primary focus on the Appalachia and Anadarko basins. Its principal properties are located in eastern Ohio targeting the Utica and Marcellus formations and in central Oklahoma targeting the SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer formations. The Utica covers hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations located in the Appalachian Basin of the United States and Canada. It has about 193,000 net reservoir acres located primarily in Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson and Monroe Counties in eastern Ohio where the Utica ranges in thickness from 600 to over 750 feet. The SCOOP play mainly targets the Devonian to Mississippian aged Woodford, Sycamore and Springer formations. It has about 73,000 net reservoir acres, located primarily in Garvin, Grady and Stephens Counties.

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.

Gulfport Energy Corp has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

Gulfport Energy Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 3.5 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Gulfport Energy Corp more attractive for value investors.

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

You can read more about Gulfport 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.

Granite Ridge Resources Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration and production company. It owns a portfolio of wells and top-tier acreage across the Permian and four other prolific unconventional basins across the United States. It holds interests in wells in core operating areas of the Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken, Haynesville and Denver-Julesburg (DJ) plays. It owns an interest in approximately 2,826 gross (176.50 net) producing wells, 309,472. The Permian Basin extends from southeastern New Mexico into west Texas. The Permian Basin consists of mature legacy onshore oil and liquids-rich natural gas reservoirs. The Eagle Ford shale formation stretches across south Texas and includes Austin Chalk and Buda formations. The Williston Basin stretches through North Dakota, the northwest part of South Dakota, and eastern Montana. The Haynesville Basin is a premier natural gas basin located in Northwestern Louisiana and East Texas. The DJ basin is a geologic basin centered in eastern Colorado.

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.

Granite Ridge Resources Inc has a Value Score of 87, which is considered to be undervalued.

Granite Ridge Resources Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 14.4 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Granite Ridge Resources Inc less attractive for value investors.

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

You can read more about Granite Ridge 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 73, which is considered to be undervalued.

Marathon Oil Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 11.9 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Marathon Oil Corp less attractive for value investors.

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

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.

Matador Resources Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Matador Resources Company is an independent energy company. The Company is engaged in in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. It operates through two segments: exploration and production and midstream. The exploration and production segment are engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States and is focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. The midstream segment conducts midstream operations in support of the Company’s exploration, development and production operations and provides natural gas processing, oil transportation services, oil, natural gas and produced water gathering services and produced water disposal services to third parties.

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.

Matador Resources Co has a Value Score of 80, which is considered to be undervalued.

Matador Resources Co’s price-earnings ratio is 8.3 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Matador Resources Co more attractive for value investors.

Matador Resources Co’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Matador Resources Co more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.42.

You can read more about Matador Resources Co’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:

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 4.4 compared to the industry median at 11.7. 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.

Reserve Petroleum Co’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

The Reserve Petroleum Company is an independent oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, development, and minerals management with areas of concentration in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The Company’s principal properties are oil and natural gas properties. It has interests in approximately 879 producing properties with 76% of them being working interest properties and the remaining 24% being royalty interest properties. It owns non-producing mineral interests of 88,214 net acres out of 256,534 gross acres. These mineral interests are in twelve different states in the north and south-central United States. A total of 81,080 (92%) net acres are in the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, the areas of concentration for the Company in its exploration and development programs. Its subsidiaries include Grand Woods Development, LLC and Trinity Water Services, 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.

Reserve Petroleum Co has a Value Score of 67, which is considered to be undervalued.

Reserve Petroleum Co’s price-earnings ratio is 101.4 compared to the industry median at 11.7. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Reserve Petroleum Co less attractive for value investors.

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

You can read more about Reserve Petroleum Co’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.

• Battalion Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Gulfport Energy Corp stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Granite Ridge Resources Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Marathon Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Matador Resources Co stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Ring Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Reserve Petroleum Co 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, July 04
• 7 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Wednesday, July 03
• Which Is a Better Investment, Antero Resources Corp or Veren Inc Stock?
• Why Kosmos Energy Ltd’s (KOS) Stock Is Up 4.85%

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