Cabot Oil & Gas Corp Valuation – March 2017 $COG
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 10 Stocks for Using A Benjamin Graham Value Investing Strategy – March 2017. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a stock analysis showing a specific look at how Cabot Oil & Gas Corp (COG) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the development, exploitation and exploration of oil and gas properties. The Company operates in the segment of natural gas and oil development, exploitation, exploration and production, in the continental United States. Its assets are concentrated in areas with known hydrocarbon resources, which are conducive to multi-well, repeatable drilling programs. As of December 31, 2016, its exploration, development and production operations were primarily concentrated in two unconventional plays: the Marcellus Shale in northeast Pennsylvania and the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas. The Company also has operations in various other unconventional and conventional plays throughout the continental United States. Its Marcellus Shale properties are principally located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Its properties in the Eagle Ford Shale are principally located in Atascosa, Frio and La Salle Counties, Texas.
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Downloadable PDF version of this valuation:
ModernGraham Valuation of COG – March 2017
Stage 1: Is this company suitable for the Defensive Investor or the Enterprising Investor?
What kind of Intelligent Investor are you?
| Defensive Investor; must pass 6 out of the following 7 tests. | ||||
| 1. Adequate Size of the Enterprise | Market Cap > $2Bil | $10,581,334,679 | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 2 | 2.78 | Pass | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 10 years prior | Fail | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Dividend Payments for 10 years prior | Pass | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | Increase of 33% in EPS in past 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end | -193.75% | Fail | |
| 6. Moderate PEmg Ratio | PEmg < 20 | -127.50 | Fail | |
| 7. Moderate Price to Assets | PB Ratio < 2.5 OR PB*PEmg < 50 | 3.96 | Fail | |
| Enterprising Investor; must pass 4 out of the following 5 tests, or be suitable for the Defensive Investor. | ||||
| 1. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Current Ratio > 1.5 | 2.78 | Pass | |
| 2. Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition | Debt to NCA < 1.1 | 3.32 | Fail | |
| 3. Earnings Stability | Positive EPS for 5 years prior | Fail | ||
| 4. Dividend Record | Currently Pays Dividend | Pass | ||
| 5. Earnings Growth | EPSmg greater than 5 years ago | Fail | ||
Stage 2: Determination of Intrinsic Value
| EPSmg | -$0.17 |
| MG Growth Estimate | -4.25% |
| MG Value | $0.00 |
| Opinion | Overvalued |
| MG Grade | D |
| MG Value based on 3% Growth | -$2.53 |
| MG Value based on 0% Growth | -$1.48 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | -68.00% |
| Current Price | $22.27 |
| % of Intrinsic Value | N/A |
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation does not satisfy the requirements of either the Enterprising Investor or the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, and the high PEmg and PB ratios. The Enterprising Investor has concerns regarding the level of debt relative to the net current assets, and the lack of earnings stability or growth over the last five years. As a result, all value investors following the ModernGraham approach should explore other opportunities at this time or proceed cautiously with a speculative attitude.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Overvalued after seeing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) decline from $0.42 in 2013 to an estimated $-0.17 for 2017. This level of negative earnings does not support a positive valuation.As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value below the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $4.17. The company pays a dividend of $0.08 per share, for a yield of 0.4% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was -127.5, which was below the industry average of 69.19, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-4.03.
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation scores quite poorly in the ModernGraham grading system, with an overall grade of D.
Stage 3: Information for Further Research
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$4.03 |
| Graham Number | $4.17 |
| PEmg | -127.50 |
| Current Ratio | 2.78 |
| PB Ratio | 3.96 |
| Current Dividend | $0.08 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% |
| Number of Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth | 0 |
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Most Recent Balance Sheet Figures
| Balance Sheet Information | 12/1/2016 |
| Total Current Assets | $715,881,000 |
| Total Current Liabilities | $257,812,000 |
| Long-Term Debt | $1,520,530,000 |
| Total Assets | $5,122,569,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $0 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,554,902,000 |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) | 456,847,000 |
Earnings Per Share History
| EPS History | |
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | $0.14 |
| Dec2016 | -$0.91 |
| Dec2015 | -$0.28 |
| Dec2014 | $0.25 |
| Dec2013 | $0.66 |
| Dec2012 | $0.31 |
| Dec2011 | $0.29 |
| Dec2010 | $0.25 |
| Dec2009 | $0.36 |
| Dec2008 | $0.52 |
| Dec2007 | $0.43 |
| Dec2006 | $0.81 |
| Dec2005 | $0.37 |
| Dec2004 | $0.22 |
| Dec2003 | $0.05 |
| Dec2002 | $0.04 |
| Dec2001 | $0.13 |
| Dec2000 | $0.09 |
| Dec1999 | $0.02 |
| Dec1998 | $0.01 |
| Dec1997 | $0.08 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham History
| EPSmg History | |
| Next Fiscal Year Estimate | -$0.17 |
| Dec2016 | -$0.22 |
| Dec2015 | $0.17 |
| Dec2014 | $0.38 |
| Dec2013 | $0.42 |
| Dec2012 | $0.31 |
| Dec2011 | $0.33 |
| Dec2010 | $0.39 |
| Dec2009 | $0.48 |
| Dec2008 | $0.52 |
| Dec2007 | $0.47 |
| Dec2006 | $0.43 |
| Dec2005 | $0.21 |
| Dec2004 | $0.12 |
| Dec2003 | $0.07 |
| Dec2002 | $0.07 |
| Dec2001 | $0.08 |
Recommended Reading:
Other ModernGraham posts about the company
Other ModernGraham posts about related companies
Disclaimer:
The author did not hold a position in any company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.  See my current holdings here.  This article is not investment advice; any reader should speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions.  ModernGraham is not affiliated with the company in any manner.  Please be sure to review our detailed disclaimer.
