Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Is Petrobras still a buy recommendation since there appears to be some government interference looming? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. ADRs, $33.08, symbol PBR on New York (Shares outstanding: 2.5 billion; Market cap: $83.9 billion), commonly known as Petrobras, is an integrated petroleum company that operates in Brazil and other parts of South America. It’s now expanding into North America and Europe. The Brazilian government established Petrobras as a state-owned petroleum monopoly in 1953. Since then, deregulation and privatization have lowered the government’s control of the industry. However, the state still owns 55.6% of Petrobras. In August 2000, the government sold American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York exchange for $6 each (adjusted for a 2-for-1 split in May 2008); each ADR represents two Petrobras common shares. Petrobras has four business segments: exploration and production, downstream, gas and energy, and international. At the end of 2009, Petrobras’ average daily production was 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent. Its production consisted of 84% oil and 16% natural gas. The company also owns and operates 15 refineries that are capable…