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Natural Gas Hits Its Highest Price in 5 Weeks: Here's Why
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The U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release showed a lower-than-expected increase in natural gas supplies. The encouraging inventory numbers, coupled with favorable weather predictions and strong liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) feedgas deliveries meant that the U.S. benchmark gained 6.1% last week to reach its highest level in more than a month.
Let us see how the natural gas situation looks like after the U.S. Energy Department's latest weekly inventory release:
EIA Reports a Build Smaller Than Market Expectations
Stockpiles held in underground storage in the lower 48 states rose by 61 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ended Apr 9 compared to the guidance of a 65 Bcf addition. The increase was also below last year’s addition of 68 Bcf for the reported week but came above the five-year (2016-2021) average net build of 26 Bcf.
The third injection of the year puts total natural gas stocks at 1,845 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which is 242 Bcf (11.6%) below the 2020 levels at this time but 11 Bcf (0.6%) higher than the five-year average.
Total supply of natural gas averaged 95.4 Bcf per day, down 1.3% on a weekly basis due to a decrease in dry production and lower shipments from Canada.
Meanwhile, daily consumption fell 2.3% to 88.5 Bcf from 90.6 Bcf in the previous week, dragged down by weaker demand from the residential/commercial and industrial sectors, partly offset by stronger power burn and higher LNG exports to Mexico.
Natural Gas Prices Post a Gain
Natural gas prices rose last week following the lower-than-expected inventory build. Futures for May delivery ended Friday at $2.68 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 6.1% from the previous week’s closing and the highest since Mar 10. The increase in the price of natural gas is also the result of the ongoing strength in LNG demand and forecast models, indicating a cold front in the days ahead, which would translate into smaller inventory additions due to more use of heaters.
Wrap-Up
As is the norm with natural gas, changes in temperature and weather forecasts can lead to price swings. With the latest models showing bullish changes toward a late season cold pattern, prices have trended higher.
However, with winter drawing to a close and the so-called “shoulder season” of typically low natural gas demand in the spring settling in, prices could be in for more downside risks than upside potential. While growing LNG export is providing some support to the prices, it will be weather conditions across the United States that will dictate the energy commodity’s future.
The lingering uncertainty over the fuel means that most natural gas-focused companies carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). As a result, investors should preferably wait for a better entry point before buying shares in EQT Corporation (EQT - Free Report) , Range Resources (RRC - Free Report) , Comstock Resources (CRK - Free Report) , SilverBow Resources (SBOW - Free Report) , Southwestern Energy Company (SWN - Free Report) , Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation etc.
If you are still looking for near-term natural gas plays, Antero Resources (AR - Free Report) might be a good selection.
Antero Resources is the third-largest U.S. gas producer and a leading operator in the Appalachian basin — the most-prolific domestic gas basin — with around 515,000 net acres. More than 65% of the company’s total output is natural gas. While the company’s low-cost, high-quality inventory should ensure long-term output growth, cash flows will also receive some downside protection from attractive hedges.
The 2021 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company indicates 267.86% earnings per share growth over 2020.
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 best buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2021?
Last year's 2020 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +386.8%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
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Natural Gas Hits Its Highest Price in 5 Weeks: Here's Why
The U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release showed a lower-than-expected increase in natural gas supplies. The encouraging inventory numbers, coupled with favorable weather predictions and strong liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) feedgas deliveries meant that the U.S. benchmark gained 6.1% last week to reach its highest level in more than a month.
Let us see how the natural gas situation looks like after the U.S. Energy Department's latest weekly inventory release:
EIA Reports a Build Smaller Than Market Expectations
Stockpiles held in underground storage in the lower 48 states rose by 61 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ended Apr 9 compared to the guidance of a 65 Bcf addition. The increase was also below last year’s addition of 68 Bcf for the reported week but came above the five-year (2016-2021) average net build of 26 Bcf.
The third injection of the year puts total natural gas stocks at 1,845 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which is 242 Bcf (11.6%) below the 2020 levels at this time but 11 Bcf (0.6%) higher than the five-year average.
Total supply of natural gas averaged 95.4 Bcf per day, down 1.3% on a weekly basis due to a decrease in dry production and lower shipments from Canada.
Meanwhile, daily consumption fell 2.3% to 88.5 Bcf from 90.6 Bcf in the previous week, dragged down by weaker demand from the residential/commercial and industrial sectors, partly offset by stronger power burn and higher LNG exports to Mexico.
Natural Gas Prices Post a Gain
Natural gas prices rose last week following the lower-than-expected inventory build. Futures for May delivery ended Friday at $2.68 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 6.1% from the previous week’s closing and the highest since Mar 10. The increase in the price of natural gas is also the result of the ongoing strength in LNG demand and forecast models, indicating a cold front in the days ahead, which would translate into smaller inventory additions due to more use of heaters.
Wrap-Up
As is the norm with natural gas, changes in temperature and weather forecasts can lead to price swings. With the latest models showing bullish changes toward a late season cold pattern, prices have trended higher.
However, with winter drawing to a close and the so-called “shoulder season” of typically low natural gas demand in the spring settling in, prices could be in for more downside risks than upside potential. While growing LNG export is providing some support to the prices, it will be weather conditions across the United States that will dictate the energy commodity’s future.
The lingering uncertainty over the fuel means that most natural gas-focused companies carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). As a result, investors should preferably wait for a better entry point before buying shares in EQT Corporation (EQT - Free Report) , Range Resources (RRC - Free Report) , Comstock Resources (CRK - Free Report) , SilverBow Resources (SBOW - Free Report) , Southwestern Energy Company (SWN - Free Report) , Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation etc.
If you are still looking for near-term natural gas plays, Antero Resources (AR - Free Report) might be a good selection.
Antero Resources is the third-largest U.S. gas producer and a leading operator in the Appalachian basin — the most-prolific domestic gas basin — with around 515,000 net acres. More than 65% of the company’s total output is natural gas. While the company’s low-cost, high-quality inventory should ensure long-term output growth, cash flows will also receive some downside protection from attractive hedges.
The 2021 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company indicates 267.86% earnings per share growth over 2020.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2021
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 best buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2021?
Last year's 2020 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +386.8%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2021 today >>