Expansion Into New Permian Zones May Open Future Opportunities, But Weather And Costs Could Impact Margins

Key Takeaways

• Strong well performance and production growth increase revenue potential, supported by expansion into new highly economic zones.
  
• Efficiency improvements reduce costs and enhance net margins, with strategic investments in infrastructure boosting ongoing profitability and potential deals maximizing shareholder value.
  
• Adverse weather, cost pressures, and strategic uncertainties could impact HighPeak Energy's operating margins, production revenue, and investor confidence.

Catalysts

An independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

• HighPeak's drilling program has consistently delivered strong well results and exceeded production expectations, which is leading to an increase in production guidance for 2024. This is expected to positively impact revenue as higher production volumes translate into more sales.
  
• The company has been successful in reducing cost structures through efficiency improvements in drilling and completion processes, generating significant free cash flow. This will likely enhance net margins as lower costs per well increase profitability.
  
• HighPeak's recent well performance, especially from new target zones such as the Middle Spraberry and northern extension areas, is demonstrating strong results. This represents further potential to increase earnings due to the addition of highly economic well locations to the inventory.
  
• HighPeak's strategic investment in comprehensive infrastructure systems is anticipated to support ongoing production optimization and cost reduction, which should sustain peer-leading profit margins and further expand EBITDA margins.
  
• The potential for strategic alternatives or deals, as indicated by progress in that area, may enhance shareholder value if realized, impacting earnings per share positively through possible acquisitions or partnerships.

HighPeak Energy Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming HighPeak Energy's revenue will decrease by -3.7% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 14.4% today to 16.9% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach $171.1 million (and earnings per share of $1.24) by about December 2027, up from $163.3 million today.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 23.1x on those 2027 earnings, up from 11.0x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Oil and Gas industry at 10.9x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 2.78% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 8.24%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

HighPeak Energy Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• The recent storm akin to a 100-year flood caused increased lease operating expenses due to remedial work, indicating potential vulnerability to severe weather events, which could impact net margins and operational efficiency.
  
• HighPeak’s drilling and completions costs are currently lower than its Midland Basin peers, but any increase in oilfield service rates or commodity prices could erode these cost advantages, affecting future earnings and capital efficiency.
  
• There is a significant reliance on the continued productivity of wells in specific formations such as the Middle Spraberry; any unexpected downturn in well performance could impact production revenue and the valuation of existing inventory.
  
• The company is carrying debt and while it is working to pay it down using free cash flow, any downturn in oil prices could impact cash flow and financial leverage, potentially affecting net margins and shareholder returns.
  
• HighPeak is pursuing a strategic alternatives process, which could introduce uncertainties regarding the company’s future strategic direction, affecting investor confidence and possibly leading to volatility in share price and valuation.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of $22.75 for HighPeak Energy based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $31.5, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $14.0.
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2027, revenues will be $1.0 billion, earnings will come to $171.1 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 23.1x, assuming you use a discount rate of 8.2%.
• Given the current share price of $14.23, the analyst's price target of $22.75 is 37.5% higher. Despite analysts expecting the underlying buisness to decline, they seem to believe it's more valuable than what the market thinks.
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.