Rising oil prices are key to their success

Article Excerpt

World oil prices have gained 15% since the start of 2018, and could go higher as the improving global economy continues to spur demand. Higher oil prices will benefit both Pengrowth and Precision Drilling, and help them pay down their high debt loads. Still, for new buying, we prefer Precision for its wider geographic exposure outside of lower prices for Canadian crude. PENGROWTH ENERGY CORP. $0.87 (Toronto symbol PGF; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 556.1 million; Market cap: $483.8 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend suspended in January 2016; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; www.pengrowth.com) has two main properties: its Lindbergh oil sands project in Alberta and its Groundbirch natural gas property in northeastern B.C. Due to sales of less-important properties, Pengrowth’s total production in the second quarter of 2018 fell 54.2%, to 22,600 barrels a day (including natural gas) from 49,349 barrels a year earlier. Revenue also declined 24.0%, to $138.2 million from $181.9 million, while cash flow dropped 60.0%, to $0.02 a share from…