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Hess (HES) Gears Up for Q4 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
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Hess Corporation (HES - Free Report) is set to report fourth-quarter 2020 results on Jan 27, before the opening bell.
In the last reported quarter, the leading global independent energy company met the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line, largely backed by higher oil equivalent production from the Bakken play, increased midstream throughput volumes and lower operating costs. Moreover, the company beat the consensus estimate in two of the prior four quarters, the average earnings surprise being 2.9%. This is depicted in the graph below:
Let’s see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement.
Trend in Estimate Revision
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter loss per share of 49 cents has witnessed two downward revisions in the past seven days. The estimated figure suggests an improvement of 18.3% from the prior-year reported number.
The consensus estimate for fourth-quarter revenues of $1.3 billion indicates a 26.4% decline from the year-ago reported figure.
Factors to Consider
The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil has improved roughly 25% through the December quarter of 2020. The approval of two coronavirus vaccines y in the last month of the fourth quarter by U.S. health regulators boosted investor confidence in fuel demand recovery, lifting crude price.
However, the pricing scenario was definitely not as healthy as the pre-pandemic fourth-quarter 2019 levels. In the December quarter of 2019, the price of WTI crude traded consistently above the $50-per-barrel mark. In comparison, through the fourth quarter of 2020, the commodity traded below the mark.
Thus, the dip in year-over-year oil prices is likely to have dented production volumes of Hess in the fourth quarter. It is to be noted that oil comprises majority to the company’s total production volumes, with most of the oil production coming from North Dakota and offshore resources in the United States.
Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s production from Bakken shale play of North Dakota is pegged at 102 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/D), suggesting a decline from 106 MBbl/D in the December quarter of 2019.
Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s production from U.S. offshore resources is pegged at 30.35 MBbl/D, suggesting a decline from 46 MBbl/D in the prior-year quarter.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model does not indicate an earnings beat for Hess this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is -45.71%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of loss of 71 cents per share was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 49 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Hess currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks to Consider
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Hess, here are some companies from the Energy space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the upcoming quarterly reports:
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.99% and is Zacks #3 Ranked. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Feb 4.
RPC, Inc. (RES - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +30.23% and a Zacks Rank #3. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Jan 27.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
Image: Bigstock
Hess (HES) Gears Up for Q4 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
Hess Corporation (HES - Free Report) is set to report fourth-quarter 2020 results on Jan 27, before the opening bell.
In the last reported quarter, the leading global independent energy company met the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line, largely backed by higher oil equivalent production from the Bakken play, increased midstream throughput volumes and lower operating costs. Moreover, the company beat the consensus estimate in two of the prior four quarters, the average earnings surprise being 2.9%. This is depicted in the graph below:
Hess Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Hess Corporation price-eps-surprise | Hess Corporation Quote
Let’s see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement.
Trend in Estimate Revision
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter loss per share of 49 cents has witnessed two downward revisions in the past seven days. The estimated figure suggests an improvement of 18.3% from the prior-year reported number.
The consensus estimate for fourth-quarter revenues of $1.3 billion indicates a 26.4% decline from the year-ago reported figure.
Factors to Consider
The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil has improved roughly 25% through the December quarter of 2020. The approval of two coronavirus vaccines y in the last month of the fourth quarter by U.S. health regulators boosted investor confidence in fuel demand recovery, lifting crude price.
However, the pricing scenario was definitely not as healthy as the pre-pandemic fourth-quarter 2019 levels. In the December quarter of 2019, the price of WTI crude traded consistently above the $50-per-barrel mark. In comparison, through the fourth quarter of 2020, the commodity traded below the mark.
Thus, the dip in year-over-year oil prices is likely to have dented production volumes of Hess in the fourth quarter. It is to be noted that oil comprises majority to the company’s total production volumes, with most of the oil production coming from North Dakota and offshore resources in the United States.
Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s production from Bakken shale play of North Dakota is pegged at 102 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/D), suggesting a decline from 106 MBbl/D in the December quarter of 2019.
Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s production from U.S. offshore resources is pegged at 30.35 MBbl/D, suggesting a decline from 46 MBbl/D in the prior-year quarter.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model does not indicate an earnings beat for Hess this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is -45.71%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of loss of 71 cents per share was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 49 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Hess currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks to Consider
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Hess, here are some companies from the Energy space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the upcoming quarterly reports:
Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.12% and a Zacks Rank of #2. The company is scheduled to release quarterly earnings on Feb 22. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.99% and is Zacks #3 Ranked. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Feb 4.
RPC, Inc. (RES - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +30.23% and a Zacks Rank #3. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Jan 27.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
Click here for the 6 trades >>