The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights:Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Matador Resources, Memorial Production Partners and Dril-Quip

News provided by

Jul 23, 2013, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM-Free Report), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX-Free Report), Matador Resources Co. (NYSE:MTDR-Free Report), Memorial Production Partners L.P. (Nasdaq:MEMP-Free Report) and Dril-Quip Inc. (NYSE:DRQ-Free Report).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Crude Prices Surge: 3 Stocks to Buy Now

U.S. crude oil prices jumped to their 16-month high on Friday, ending above $108 a barrel. The surge in the WTI (West Texas Intermediate) – a benchmark for domestic producers – is likely driven by the ongoing unrest in Egypt that could destabilize the resource-rich Middle East and tighten the global supply picture. The encouraging employment statistics, signaling a strong U.S. economy, have added to the bullishness.

On top of this, the U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release showed that crude stockpiles fell sharply for the third time in as many weeks amid consistently climbing refinery runs. In fact, oil supplies have plunged by a cumulative 27.12 million barrels since the week ending Jun 21, 2013 – from 394.14 million barrels to 367.02 million barrels.

The strong rally in WTI prices has pushed it above Brent – the European counterpart – for the first time since Aug 2010. The elimination of the so-called 'Brent-WTI spread,' which was as high as $23 a barrel in Feb and $10 in early Jun, also points to new/improved pipeline capacity that has allowed the crude glut at the Cushing oil-storage hub in Oklahoma to be unlocked.

With spot crude price pushing through $100 a barrel, brokerage analysts are likely to upgrade their forecasts on oil-weighted companies and related support plays, leading to positive estimate revisions.

While all crude-focused stocks – including behemoths like Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM-Free Report) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX-Free Report) – stand to benefit from rising commodity prices, companies in the exploration and production (E&P) sector are the best placed, as they will be able to extract more value for their products.

Top 3 Crude Oil Plays Right Now

In particular, we suggest exposure to small-cap, undervalued E&P players like Matador Resources Co. (NYSE:MTDR-Free Report) and Memorial Production Partners L.P. (Nasdaq:MEMP-Free Report) that enjoys the benefits of crude oil price leverage, while sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Dallas TX-based Matador Resources, with current focus on the high-return Eagle Ford shale formation in South Texas, is expected to witness earnings growth of 180% in 2013 and 51% in 2014. Moreover, a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of just 1.9 suggests that the stock is still undervalued.

On the other hand, upstream partnership Memorial Production Partners possesses a diverse portfolio of mature, long-lived properties in East Texas / North Louisiana, South Texas and offshore Southern California. Based on the success of the firm's acquire-and-exploit policy, analysts are predicting a solid long-term earnings growth of more than 7%. Moreover, units of Memorial Production Partners are going for about 12.7x the estimate for 2013, a 69% discount to the peer group average of 40.5x.

One may also capitalize on this opportunity with the related business sector of energy equipment service providers. Our top pick in this space is Dril-Quip Inc. (NYSE:DRQ-Free Report). This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) offshore drilling equipment maker boasts of highly engineered drilling and production equipment for deepwater severe-service applications and harsh environmental conditions.

Shares of Dril-Quip are going for about 25.2x the estimate for 2013. Though the stock looks a bit pricey, it should not disappoint investors given the company's long-term expected earnings growth of 15%.

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.

Get the full Report on XOM - FREE

Get the full Report on CVX - FREE

Get the full Report on MTDR - FREE

Get the full Report on MEMP - FREE

Get the full Report on DRQ - FREE

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
[email protected]
http://www.zacks.com

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.