Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSX: BIR) stock has done very well. Since March, the low-cost, natural gas-weighted (about 80% natural gas) oil and gas producer has appreciated more than 70% from a low of $3 per share. With the stock now hovering around $5 and change per share, it is meeting some resistance.
How much upside does Birchcliff stock have?
The super run-up we’ve seen in the stock in the last few months might make investors pause. However, an investment in the stock today can still pay off.
Birchcliff stock has been trading in a cyclical manner. If you look at its price chart over a period of 10 years, you’ll notice the roller-coaster ride. At peaks, it tends to hit highs of more than $13 per share. The most recent peak hit a high of more than $9 per share.
Notably, in the last four peaks over a period of a decade, the stock hit the respective highs during the summer — mostly in June or July. We still have some summer months to go, which could push the stock to the $6-per-share level this year. This would imply near-term upside potential of about 16%.
If you’re looking for a peak that resonates with the stock’s cyclical pattern of the last decade, you may be waiting for a +$9 target for the next two to four years. This would imply long-term upside potential of more than 70%.
So, buyers or holders of Birchcliff stock should be aware of their investment horizon for the stock and adjust their price targets accordingly.
Dividend
Birchcliff stock offers a quarterly dividend per share of $0.025, which implies a dividend yield of just under 2% at the recent quotation of $5.16 as of writing. Although the dividend is small, it’ll still be a welcome addition to the overall returns.
Recent results
Birchcliff’s average production for 2017 was about 68,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). Its first-quarter average production was about 76,300 boepd, which was an increase of 24% compared to the same period in 2017.
Management estimates that this year, Birchcliff’s average production will be 76,000-78,000 boepd, which would be a growth of 12-15% over 2017.
In April, Birchcliff entered a long-term (at least 15 years) natural gas-processing agreement at AltaGas Ltd.’s deep-cut sour-gas processing plant in the Gordondale area. This deal will help stabilize Birchcliff’s cash flow generation.
Investor takeaway
Insider purchases are always a positive sign. Insiders bought Birchcliff stock directly or indirectly as recently as early this month at $4.89 per share.
Birchcliff stock tends to have seasonal strength in the summer. Investors looking for a quick trade for this summer could aim to sell at the $6-per-share level. However, this is a riskier method than investors looking for a longer-term investment of two to four years with a target of about $9.
