BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Westport Innovations Sees a Promising Future for Alternative Fuel Trucks]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/06/westport-innovations-sees-a-promising-future-for-alternative-fue/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/06/westport-innovations-sees-a-promising-future-for-alternative-fue/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/06/westport-innovations-sees-a-promising-future-for-alternative-fue/#commentsReaders of this space know that the preferred public policy has stance has the United States moving away from first dependency on oil imports, then dependency on oil, period.

And the reason is obvious enough: as convenient as oil has been, it's created havoc for the U.S. economy, via series of oil shocks. Hence, yours truly is always in search of that breakthrough, universal, accessible, affordable energy form that will final break oil's grip on the United States energy system. That breakthrough energy form has not appeared yet, but one that may contend for that title is natural gas.

Continue reading Westport Innovations Sees a Promising Future for Alternative Fuel Trucks

Westport Innovations Sees a Promising Future for Alternative Fuel Trucks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative energyAlternativeEnergynatural gasNaturalGasWestport InnovationsWPRTWed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chasing Value: 2010 -- #5 Williams Company]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/30/chasing-value-2010-5-williams-company/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/30/chasing-value-2010-5-williams-company/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/30/chasing-value-2010-5-williams-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The first four picks were all from the contenders list, but here I reach back to earlier in the year, when in May, I wrote about why I thought Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) would outperform four other, more popular stocks.

I compared it to Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc. (GOOG), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B).

During the past seven months this turned out to be true for half the period, but Apple came on strong and passed it by the second review.

Continue reading Chasing Value: 2010 -- #5 Williams Company

Chasing Value: 2010 -- #5 Williams Company originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 stock picks2010StockPicksAAPLApplebargain stocksBargainStocksberkshire hathawayBerkshireHathawayBRK.Bchasing valueChasingValuedividendsfeaturedgas distributionGasDistributiongooggooglemicrosoftMSFTnatural gasNaturalGassheldon liberSheldonLiberwilliams coWilliamsCoWMBWed, 30 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Natural Gas: The USA's Next Primary Fuel?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/18/natural-gas-the-u-s-s-next-primary-fuel/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/18/natural-gas-the-u-s-s-next-primary-fuel/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/18/natural-gas-the-u-s-s-next-primary-fuel/#commentsFiled under:

Could natural gas become the new, primary fuel for the United States in the 21st century?

It's possible, if new drilling techniques that have the potential to vastly increase the U.S.'s natural gas supplies are deemed safe by regulators.

Exxon-Mobil (XOM) jolted the energy world with its decision to buy natural gas giant XTO Energy (XTO) for $41 billion. The deal brings Exxon's enormous financial resources to XTO, which has made a name for itself via its expertise in the new technique of hydraulic fracturing, which enables companies to profitably access much more natural gas from current fields, and access gas at previously cost-prohibitive fields.

Continue reading Natural Gas: The USA's Next Primary Fuel?

Natural Gas: The USA's Next Primary Fuel? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>natural gasNaturalGasFri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hydraulic fracturing natural gas boom hits obstacle: Groundwater contamination]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/10/hydraulic-fracturing-natural-gas-boom-hits-obstacle-groundwater/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/10/hydraulic-fracturing-natural-gas-boom-hits-obstacle-groundwater/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/10/hydraulic-fracturing-natural-gas-boom-hits-obstacle-groundwater/#commentsFiled under: ,

Perhaps the initial euphoria over the prospects for a massive increase in natural gas supply -- both in the U.S. and globally -- were a bit premature.

The reason? The new techniques -- such as hydraulic fracturing -- to access the gas from previously hard-to-access or untapped beds are causing environmental problems, the chief of which is the contamination of drinking water wells, and water supplies, The New York Times reported. The Times added that so far the incidence of groundwater contamination is thin, but environmental groups counter that's because governments have been slow to monitor the drilling boom and are not looking hard enough for contamination.

Continue reading Hydraulic fracturing natural gas boom hits obstacle: Groundwater contamination

Hydraulic fracturing natural gas boom hits obstacle: Groundwater contamination originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hydraulic fracturingHydraulicFracturinginthenewsnatural gasNaturalGaswell contaminationWellContaminationThu, 10 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) tumbles on Q3 loss]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/clean-energy-fuels-clne-tumbles-on-q3-loss/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/clean-energy-fuels-clne-tumbles-on-q3-loss/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/10/clean-energy-fuels-clne-tumbles-on-q3-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

CLNE logoClean Energy Fuels (CLNE - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported third-quarter earnings yesterday evening, posting a loss of $18.46 million, or 31 cents per share, on revenue of $31.18 million. Analysts had forecast a 30-cent loss per share on revenue of $34.96 million. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on CLNE.

This morning, CLNE opened at $12.25. So far today the stock has hit a high of $12.25 and a low of $11.55. As of 11:40, CLNE is trading at $11.87, down 97 cents (-7.6%). The chart for CLNE looks bearish.

Continue reading Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) tumbles on Q3 loss

Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) tumbles on Q3 loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Clean Energy FuelsCleanEnergyFuelsCLNECNGearningsinthenewsInvestors ObserverInvestorsObserverLNGnatural gasNaturalGasoptionsTue, 10 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Obama has to see the light on nat gas ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-obama-has-to-see-the-light-on-nat-gas/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-obama-has-to-see-the-light-on-nat-gas/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-obama-has-to-see-the-light-on-nat-gas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says perhaps he can learn from Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, who has become a believer in the fuel.

Maybe President Obama can make the transition to natural gas that Ed Rendell just did in Pennsylvania. The transition is a simple one: Focus on jobs and many things go well; don't focus on jobs and you aren't focused on anything.

When I first heard of the Marcellus Shale from Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake (NYSE: CHK) (Cramer's Take), I was pretty much in disbelief. How could there be so much natural gas in some place in western Pennsylvania? Too good to be true.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Obama has to see the light on nat gas

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Obama has to see the light on nat gas originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chkeqtfeaturedjim cramerJimCramernatural gasNaturalGasTue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Expect profitable days with Schlumberger]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/10/expect-profitable-days-with-schlumberger/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/10/expect-profitable-days-with-schlumberger/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/10/expect-profitable-days-with-schlumberger/#commentsFiled under: ,

True, Schlumberger's stock has meandered in the past three months, but that's just a disguise.

Oilfield and energy services company Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $56.05, remains well-positioned to benefit from the secular trend of increased oil and natural gas exploration and development.

Continue reading Expect profitable days with Schlumberger

Expect profitable days with Schlumberger originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energy sectorEnergySectorinthenewsnatural gasNaturalGasoilSLBThu, 10 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Options Update: Baxter volatility low at 22 into analyst day]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/09/options-update-baxter-volatility-low-at-22-into-analyst-day/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/09/options-update-baxter-volatility-low-at-22-into-analyst-day/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/09/options-update-baxter-volatility-low-at-22-into-analyst-day/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Baxter (NYSE: BAX) is hosting an analyst day on September 16. BAX closed at $55.60. BAX September option implied volatility of 22 is near its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) closed at $23.09. Natural gas is recently up 1.32% to 2.844 according to Bloomberg. CHK September option implied volatility is at 45, October is at 47; below its 26-week average of 61, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Baxter volatility low at 22 into analyst day originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyst dayAnalystDayNatural gasNaturalGasoption implied volatilityOptionImpliedVolatilityWed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Consider Enterprise Products Partners, because natural gas is an alternative energy source]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/26/consider-enterprise-products-partners-because-natural-gas-is-an/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/26/consider-enterprise-products-partners-because-natural-gas-is-an/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/26/consider-enterprise-products-partners-because-natural-gas-is-an/#commentsFiled under:

The plunge in natural gas prices has hurt natural gas and related energy support plays, but just look on that as a buy opportunity, given natural gas's likely large role in the U.S.'s energy future.

Hence, I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), first recommended on April 29, 2009 at a price of $24.24.

Continue reading Consider Enterprise Products Partners, because natural gas is an alternative energy source

Consider Enterprise Products Partners, because natural gas is an alternative energy source originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energyEnterprise Products PartnersEPDnatural gasNaturalGasWed, 26 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[What are Halliburton's earnings numbers telling us about the economy?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/20/what-are-halliburtons-earnings-numbers-telling-us-about-the-eco/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/20/what-are-halliburtons-earnings-numbers-telling-us-about-the-eco/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/20/what-are-halliburtons-earnings-numbers-telling-us-about-the-eco/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This morning, oil firm Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) posted second-quarter earnings and a warning about North American natural gas markets. First things first, HAL reported second-quarter earnings of 30 cents per share (excluding a $12-million charge stemming from job cuts). While these results were far worse than the 55 cents per share the company earned a year ago, they still managed to top the consensus estimate by four cents per share. The situation was the same for quarterly revenue, which fell to $3.49 billion (from $4.49 billion a year ago) but still managed to outpace the Street's expectations - which called for $3.41 billion.

Continue reading What are Halliburton's earnings numbers telling us about the economy?

What are Halliburton's earnings numbers telling us about the economy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black goldBlackGoldcrude oilCrudeOilearnings reportsEarningsReportsinthenewsnatural gasNaturalGasoiloil inventoriesOilInventoriesMon, 20 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time to get-ahead-of-the-pack with Chesapeake Energy ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/04/time-to-get-ahead-of-the-pack-with-chesapeake-energy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/04/time-to-get-ahead-of-the-pack-with-chesapeake-energy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/04/time-to-get-ahead-of-the-pack-with-chesapeake-energy/#commentsFiled under:

The U.S. natural gas market has been slumping of late - with prices trading around $3.50 per million BTUs - but don't be fooled: one hot summer and a recovering U.S. economy will turn that sector around in a hurry. And with this in mind, Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) is worth a look.

Chesapeake concentrates on increasing natural gas reserves via acquisition and field development. CHK has proved reserves of 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent, mostly in the mid-continent U.S. region.

Continue reading Time to get-ahead-of-the-pack with Chesapeake Energy

Time to get-ahead-of-the-pack with Chesapeake Energy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chesapeake EnergyCHKnatural gasNaturalGasMon, 04 May 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Natural gas prices fall to a six-and-a-half-year low]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/14/natural-gas-prices-fall-to-a-6-1-2-year-low/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/14/natural-gas-prices-fall-to-a-6-1-2-year-low/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/14/natural-gas-prices-fall-to-a-6-1-2-year-low/#commentsFiled under: ,

Unlike crude oil, natural gas is mainly a domestic product, with 84% of US natural gas produced withing the United States. The US produces more natural gas that any other country except Russia. Yet because of the strong demand in the US, prices paid by US consumers are the highest in the world.

So while crude oil it subject to the political maneuvers of OPEC and other oil producing countries, that is not the case with natural gas. The moves in natural gas prices is mainly a domestic affair. Prices peaked last July at $13.694 per million BTU's and since then have fallen 74%. Natural gas in storage was at 1.614 trillion cubic feet, 35% higher than last year and 23% above the five year average.

With this glut of supplies, prices have fallen steadily and hit a 6 1/2 year low at $3.504 per million BTU's then rebounded, up 1.8 cents at $3.628 per million BTU's. The slight uptick was said to have come from bargain hunting at these low prices.

Have the natural gas prices dropped in your area?

Natural gas prices fall to a six-and-a-half-year low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>natural gasNaturalGasTue, 14 Apr 2009 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Chasing Value: Anadarko (APC) Q4 profits triple]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/03/chasing-value-anadarko-apc-q4-profits-triple/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/03/chasing-value-anadarko-apc-q4-profits-triple/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/03/chasing-value-anadarko-apc-q4-profits-triple/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There has been little to cheer about this earnings season, and even mediocre news has brought hope to some. However, today Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC), one of my long time favorites, has reported that profits rose three-fold to $824 million, or $1.79 a share, versus $264 million, or 56 cents a share, from last year.

This result is in good part due to the sale of a Brazilian oil field and non-cash hedging gains related to derivatives.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Anadarko (APC) Q4 profits triple

Chasing Value: Anadarko (APC) Q4 profits triple originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anadarko petroleumAnadarkoPetroleumAPCchasing valueChasingValuenatural gasNaturalGasoilsheldon liberSheldonLiberTue, 03 Feb 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[ETF Funds: Hedge your home heating bills with UNG]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/29/etf-funds-hedge-your-home-heating-bills-with-ung/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/29/etf-funds-hedge-your-home-heating-bills-with-ung/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/29/etf-funds-hedge-your-home-heating-bills-with-ung/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Here's an idea if you are worried about your heating bills this winter. The price of natural gas is crashing. The price decreases last week continued a down trend that's gone on for six months. Why? The economic downturn slows demand for gas and many companies are announcing layoffs and closing plants around the country. Reduced prices for natural gas are also a result of growing capacity in the U.S. because of increases in production at new fields. Natural gas prices are at multi-year lows falling from 65% from more than $13.31 per MMBtu (the way gas is measured) in July 2008 to under $5 -- the lowest since October 13, 2006.

United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that reflects the price of natural gas in the United States. UNG attempts to mirror the performance, net expenses, of natural gas at the Henry Hub, Louisiana.

Continue reading ETF Funds: Hedge your home heating bills with UNG

ETF Funds: Hedge your home heating bills with UNG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energyenergy pricesEnergyPricesetfheatingnatural gasNaturalGasoilUNGUnited States Natural GasUnitedStatesNaturalGasThu, 29 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Noble Energy (NBL) surges on new gas discovery]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/20/noble-energy-nbl-surges-on-new-gas-discovery/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/20/noble-energy-nbl-surges-on-new-gas-discovery/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/20/noble-energy-nbl-surges-on-new-gas-discovery/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NBL logoNoble Energy (NYSE: NBL - option chain) shares have risen this higher morning after the company announced a major natural gas discovery in the Tamar prospect in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel. NBL owns a 36% stake in the well, and company CEO Charles Davidson called the find the largest discovery in the company's history.

If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NBL.

NBL opened this morning at $50.44. So far today the stock has hit a low of $47.59 and a high of $50.50. As of 12:15, NBL is trading at $49.77, up 2.98 (6.4%). The chart for NBL looks neutral and S&P gives NBL a 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a February bull-put credit spread below the $35 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think, but still leverages nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 6.4% return in just four weeks as long as NBL is above $35 at February expiration. Noble would have to fall by more than 29% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

NBL hasn't been below $35 in the past year except for two days in October and has shown support around $41 recently.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in NBL.

Noble Energy (NBL) surges on new gas discovery originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Investors ObserverInvestorsObservernatural gasNaturalGasNBLNoble EnergyNobleEnergyoptionsTue, 20 Jan 2009 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Oil rises above $50 on OPEC cuts, Russian natural gas dispute]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/06/oil-rises-above-50-on-opec-cuts-russian-natural-gas-dispute/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/06/oil-rises-above-50-on-opec-cuts-russian-natural-gas-dispute/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/06/oil-rises-above-50-on-opec-cuts-russian-natural-gas-dispute/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's nothing like a supply cut and geopolitical tension to put a floor under oil's price.

Oil popped above $50 a barrel Tuesday after Kuwait and Qatar indicated they will implement supply cuts announced last month, and Russia shutoff gas shipments to Europe stemming from its natural gas dispute with Ukraine.

Oil rose $1.66 to $50.47 per barrel. Natural gas rose 10 cents to $6.18 per million BTUs. The price of oil has risen about $12 in two weeks.

Economist Richard Felson said Tuesday geopolitical tension has re-entered the oil price equation. "Demand is so weak, prices should not be rising. And had they occurred alone, neither the Russian natural gas dispute nor Middle East tension would be enough to increase prices either," Felson said. "But the geopolitical tension combined with OPEC's production cut has been enough to attract oil buyers back to the market."

Continue reading Oil rises above $50 on OPEC cuts, Russian natural gas dispute

Oil rises above $50 on OPEC cuts, Russian natural gas dispute originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gasoline priceinthenewsnatural gasNaturalGasoil pricesOPECRussiaUkraineTue, 06 Jan 2009 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Gas prices dropped -- why did heating costs jump?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/05/gas-prices-dropped-why-did-heating-costs-jump/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/05/gas-prices-dropped-why-did-heating-costs-jump/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/05/gas-prices-dropped-why-did-heating-costs-jump/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the past few months we have seen the price of gas fall from about $4.00 per gallon to under $2.00 per gallon in most locations.

The price of natural gas has also fallen 25% over the same period. Good news for homeowners, right? Wrong. Homeowners who heat with natural gas saw an increase of 5% in their heating bills. Customers are angry and rightly so. Complaints are pouring in to utility providers and regulators. Some homeowners have had to turn down their thermostats to save money.

Now, if you have electric heat, it's even worse. One third of the home owners in the Northeast use electricity to heat their homes. They have seen an increase of 5% blamed primarily on the cost of coal.

Heating oil prices have dropped by 13% but this affects only 7% of home owners.

By the time all these complaints are filed and investigated winter will be over. Meanwhile, a large population of homeowners will have been held hostage by the energy companies.

Gas prices dropped -- why did heating costs jump? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electricheating costsHeatingCostsnatural gasNaturalGasprice increasePriceIncreaseMon, 05 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Piedmont Natural Gas sinks on disappointing earnings, 2009 outlook]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/29/piedmont-natural-gas-sinks-on-disappointing-earnings-2009-outlo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/29/piedmont-natural-gas-sinks-on-disappointing-earnings-2009-outlo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/29/piedmont-natural-gas-sinks-on-disappointing-earnings-2009-outlo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (NYSE: PNY) is one of the few corporations to report earnings this week -- and, judging by its results, that may be a good thing. PNY reported a widened fourth-quarter loss of $13.2 million, or 18 cents per share, while revenue improved by 12% to $311.8 million. Gross margin for the period contracted from 29.1% to 28.1%.

Ahead of the report, analysts were expecting a more modest quarterly loss of about 13 cents per share, according to Thomson Financial. Piedmont's forecast for the next fiscal year also fell short of Wall Street's expectations; the company backed its fiscal 2009 guidance for earnings of $1.55 to $1.65 per share, compared to analysts' consensus estimate for earnings of $1.66 per share.

Continue reading Piedmont Natural Gas sinks on disappointing earnings, 2009 outlook

Piedmont Natural Gas sinks on disappointing earnings, 2009 outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsfourth quarterFourthQuarternatural gasNaturalGaspiedmont natural gasPiedmontNaturalGaspnyMon, 29 Dec 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 Trades Gone Bad #5: The peak oil trade]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/26/2008-trades-gone-bad-5-the-peak-oil-trade/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/26/2008-trades-gone-bad-5-the-peak-oil-trade/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/26/2008-trades-gone-bad-5-the-peak-oil-trade/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This oil trade takes the cake.

At the zenith of the speculative bubble in the oil patch -- when crude hit $147 per barrel in July -- you had everyone from T. Boone Pickens to Prince Alaweed touting $200-per-barrel oil by the end of the year.

Crude is now trading around $40 -- down $107 per barrel in less than six months. Unbelievable!

And this latest drop comes after OPEC voted to cut daily production by an eye-popping 4.2 billion barrels per day.

Looks like the world is awash in crude oil.

Needless to say, those euphoric longs in the oil stocks got destroyed. Most energy stocks lost 50% to 70% of their value during the course of the sell-off in crude.

And remember those television commercials with T. Boone and Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) CEO Aubrey McClendon pushing for the expansion of natural gas?

Well, natural gas prices are down 60% from their mid-year highs.

If you put money into T. Boone's Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) as recently as September, when the stock was trading at $20, you now own Mr. Pickens' vision for $5.

Continue reading 2008 Trades Gone Bad #5: The peak oil trade

2008 Trades Gone Bad #5: The peak oil trade originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aubrey McClendonAubreyMcclendonbryan perryBryanPerryClean Energy Fuels CorpCleanEnergyFuelsCorpclnecrudecrude oilcrude oil pricescrude pricesCrudeOilCrudeOilPricesCrudePricesnatural gasNaturalGasoiloil bubbleoil pricesOilBubbleOilPricest. boone pickensT.BoonePickensworst tradesWorstTradesFri, 26 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chasing Value: High yield thru Boardwalk's pipes]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/chasing-value-high-yield-thru-boardwalks-pipes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/chasing-value-high-yield-thru-boardwalks-pipes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/chasing-value-high-yield-thru-boardwalks-pipes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In October Loews Corp. (NYSE: L) acquired $490 million on 21.2 million common shares of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (NYSE: BWP), which plans to use the proceeds to expand its pipelines.

Loews, which owns stakes in insurance company CNA Financial Corp. as well as oil and gas companies and hotels, paid $23.13 per share, Friday's closing price, was $19.49 so your buying at a discount to the general partner.

Boardwalk said the cost to complete three pipeline projects is estimated at $3.9 billion. It has financed the projects to date with a combination of equity and debt issuance, cash from operations and by borrowing from the partnership's $1 billion revolving credit facility.

Lowes is the largest shareholder with a 70% equity interest. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners is in the business of interstate transportation, gathering, and storage of natural gas. The company operates through two subsidiaries -- Texas Gas Transmission and Gulf South Pipeline Company -- with a combined 13,550 miles of pipeline in 11 states.

Natural gas prices are down significantly, but I think most investors and users of natural gas alike think that is temporary and the price which is cyclical is near a low point and destined to go up. In the mean time BWP is off its 52 week high of $32.25, down in line with the overall market. The difference here is that BWP has almost a 10% yield while trading at a price to book value near 1.0. It seems to me that this stock will reward your patience while they expand the network and later when gas prices rise as expected.

Last weeks gas prices: At the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) The January 2009 contract settled at $5.686 per MMBtu.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture and planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I do not own shares of BWP or L, but I am considering them.

Chasing Value: High yield thru Boardwalk's pipes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardwalk pipelineBoardwalkPipelineBWPChasing ValueChasingValuefeaturedinfrastuctureLLowes CorpLowesCorpNatural GasNaturalGasSheldon LiberSheldonLiberMon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:00 EST