Topic: How To Invest

Hello Pat: What is your opinion on Sandridge Energy Inc.? Thanks for your assistance.

Article Excerpt

SandRidge Energy, $5.72, symbol SD on New York (Shares outstanding: 405.1 million; Market cap: $2.3 billion), is a natural-gas and crude-oil company based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It mainly focuses on production and exploration. SandRidge and its subsidiaries also own and operate gas-gathering and processing plants, as well as carbon-dioxide treatment and transportation facilities. In addition, Lariat Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SandRidge, owns and operates a drilling rig and a related oil-field-services business. The company focuses its exploration and production activities in West Texas, the Cotton Valley Trend in East Texas, the Gulf Coast, the Mid-Continent, and the Gulf of Mexico. SandRidge will likely be able to increase its oil and gas production. However, its $2.7-billion debt is a high 117% of its $2.3-billion market cap. Moreover, the company only holds cash of $2.1 million. Sandridge’s high debt and low cash reserves add considerable risk. We don’t recommend SandRidge Energy. Energy. …