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.

Latest Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stock News

Before choosing which top Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production stock to buy, be sure to conduct proper due diligence: analyze various financial metrics and look at historical data, public statements and news coverage.

The outlook for the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry is mostly favorable for the foreseeable future. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a major oil shock occurred in 2020. Since then, crude oil prices have begun to recover, currently priced at around $60 per barrel as a result of persistent supply cuts by the OPEC-Plus Consortium. While the demand perspective remains uncertain, from a supply perspective, both OPEC and non-OPEC participants have a conservative production outlook in 2021. The most significant unknown factor is the potential lifting of Iran sanctions by the Biden administration and its impact. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil demand is expected to increase by about 5.4 mmb/d, to 96.4 mmb/d in 2021. While this appears to be a strong year-over-year increase, it is well in line with the 2019 demand of around 100 mmb/d, signifying only a 60% recovery from the pandemic. In May 2021, the EIA forecasted WTI crude oil prices as $59 dollars per barrel in 2021 and $57 per barrel in 2022. At these price points, exploration and production operations are expected to generate significant free cashflow.

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 Friday, October 20, 2023. 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. The Company is engaged in the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The Company?s principal properties consist of leasehold interests in developed and undeveloped oil and natural gas properties and the reserves associated with these properties. The Company owns interests in developed and undeveloped oil and natural gas acreage in Texas locations. The Company?s working interests in approximately 40,375 net acres in the Delaware Basin in Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas. The Company has approximately 103 operated wells producing in this area in addition to minor working interests in 13 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 96, which is considered to be undervalued.

When you look at Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-sales ratio at 0.34 compared to the industry median at 1.95, 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.

Battalion Oil Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 0.87 compared to the industry median at 6.13. This means it has a lower share price relative to earnings compared to its peers. This could make Battalion Oil Corp more attractive for value investors.

Now, let’s assess Battalion Oil Corp’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 2.2, when compared to the industry median of 3.5, 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. Battalion Oil Corp’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.23%. 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 lower than its industry median ratio of 1.50. This could make Battalion Oil Corp more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Lastly, let’s take a look at Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio (P/FCF), which can indicate a company’s market value relative to its operating cash flow. Battalion Oil Corp’s price-to-free-cash-flow ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 6.15. This could make Battalion Oil Corp more attractive because the lower P/FCF ratio indicates that Battalion Oil Corp 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.

Occidental Petroleum Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. The Company operates through three segments: oil and gas, chemical and midstream and marketing. The oil and gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil, which includes condensate, natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas. The chemical segment primarily manufactures and markets basic chemicals and vinyl?s. The midstream and marketing segment purchases, markets, gathers, processes, transports, and stores oil, NGL, natural gas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and power. Midstream and marketing segment also includes Occidental?s low-carbon venture businesses (OLCV). OLCV develops carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects, including the commercialization of DAC technology, and invests in other low-carbon technologies intended to reduce GHG emissions from its operations and partners with other industries to help reduce their emissions.

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.

Occidental Petroleum Corp has a Value Score of 67, which is considered to be undervalued.

Occidental Petroleum Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 11.2 compared to the industry median at 6.1. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Occidental Petroleum Corp less attractive for value investors.

Occidental Petroleum Corp’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Occidental Petroleum Corp more attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.50.

You can read more about Occidental Petroleum 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.

Permian Resources Corp’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Permian Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas company. The Company is focused on the acquisition, optimization and development of crude oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas reserves. The Company?s operations are focused on the core of the Delaware Basin. Its assets are concentrated in Reeves and Ward Counties, Texas and Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, consisting of approximately 180,000 net leasehold acres and 40,000 net royalty acres.

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.

Permian Resources Corp has a Value Score of 63, which is considered to be undervalued.

Permian Resources Corp’s price-earnings ratio is 10.5 compared to the industry median at 6.1. This means that it has a higher price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Permian Resources Corp less attractive for value investors.

Permian Resources Corp’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its peers. This could make Permian Resources Corp fairly attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.50.

You can read more about Permian Resources 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.

Permianville Royalty Trust’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Permianville Royalty Trust (the Trust) is a statutory trust formed by Enduro Resource Partners LLC (Enduro), as trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the Trustee), as trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company (the Delaware Trustee), as Delaware Trustee. The Trust is created to acquire and hold for the benefit of the Trust unitholders a net profits interest representing the right to receive approximately 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from certain properties in the states of Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico held by Enduro. The properties in which the Trust holds the Net Profits Interest are referred to as the Underlying Properties. The Company?s Underlying Properties consist of producing and non-producing interests in oil and natural gas units, wells and lands in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

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.

Permianville Royalty Trust has a Value Score of 78, which is considered to be undervalued.

Permianville Royalty Trust’s price-earnings ratio is 5.2 compared to the industry median at 6.1. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Permianville Royalty Trust more attractive for value investors.

Permianville Royalty Trust’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Permianville Royalty Trust less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.50.

You can read more about Permianville 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.

SandRidge Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

SandRidge Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company that is focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties. The Company?s primary areas of operation are the Mid-Continent region in Oklahoma and Kansas. The Company holds interests in over 1,471 gross producing wells, approximately 992 of which it operates, and approximately 551,000 gross total acres under lease located primarily in Oklahoma and Kansas. Its productive wells consist of wells that are producing hydrocarbons. The Company sells its oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) to a range of customers, including oil and natural gas companies and trading and energy marketing companies. The Company?s subsidiaries include Lariat Services, Inc., SandRidge Exploration and Production, LLC, SandRidge Holdings, Inc., SandRidge Midstream, Inc., SandRidge Operating Company and SandRidge Realty, 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.

SandRidge Energy Inc has a Value Score of 85, which is considered to be undervalued.

SandRidge Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 3.1 compared to the industry median at 6.1. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes SandRidge Energy Inc more attractive for value investors.

SandRidge Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make SandRidge Energy Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.50.

You can read more about SandRidge 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.

Vital Energy Inc’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Vital Energy, Inc. (Vital) is an independent energy company. Vital is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin of West Texas. The Company operates through one segment: exploration and production. The Company holds approximately 70% interest in the Forge Energy II Delaware, LLC (Forge Assets). The Forge Assets includes approximately 42,000 gross acres (24,000 net) and production of approximately 9.5 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.

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.

Vital Energy Inc has a Value Score of 94, which is considered to be undervalued.

Vital Energy Inc’s price-earnings ratio is 1.1 compared to the industry median at 6.1. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Vital Energy Inc more attractive for value investors.

Vital Energy Inc’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Vital Energy Inc less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.50.

You can read more about Vital 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 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.

• Battalion Oil Corp stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Occidental Petroleum Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Permian Resources Corp stock has a Value Grade of B.
• Permianville Royalty Trust stock has a Value Grade of B.
• SandRidge Energy Inc stock has a Value Grade of A.
• Vital Energy Inc 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.

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.

• 6 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Friday, October 20
• 6 Undervalued Oil & Gas - Exploration and Production Stocks for Thursday, October 19
• Why Opal Fuels Inc’s (OPAL) Stock Is Down 6.02%
• Why Talos Energy Inc’s (TALO) Stock Is Up 4.32%

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