Encana Corp. (TSX:ECA) has taken many forms and variations in its decades long history. Many of these forms have been grossly mistimed and misinformed, leaving Encana and its shareholders on a disappointing path, stomaching value destruction. Accordingly, Encana’s stock price has tanked 80% in the last 10 years.
Encana’s history
In its 2009 corporate split, Encana split into two highly focused energy companies, Encana Corp., a natural gas company armed with a portfolio of high quality natural gas resource plays, and Cenovus Energy Inc., a fully integrated oil company.
This was the worse timing ever, as the decision to focus entirely on natural gas was made when Canadian natural gas was trading at approximately $12 per gigajoule. As we know, it proceeded to fall off a cliff amid skyrocketing production and an oversupplied situation in the natural gas market.
In 2013, Encana capitulated, refocused — and CEO Randy Eresman retired. A new CEO entered the picture, and with this, a new focus on five resource plays and a more balanced production profile was the way forward for Encana.
The problem is that in its history, Encana bought natural gas assets when they were hot, so overpaid for them and sold these assets when natural gas prices tanked on the cheap. It was the same with Encana’s move to more oil production at a time when oil was hot, trading at north of $100. Many of the company’s acquisitions and dispositions were very badly timed, and indeed were reactionary moves after the fact as opposed to proactive decisions that would ensure smart, financially sound transactions.
These are big disappointments, surely, but where do we stand today?
Surely, Encana stock looks cheap. The company has an enviable asset base once again. Let’s remind ourselves of the prolific resource plays that Encana has exposure to, such as the Permean basin, the Duvernay, and the Montney regions.
The company has made good progress thus far on its five-year plan for maximizing cash flow and increasing margins, and with its enviable asset base, can we can expect good times for Encana in the years ahead?
Although adjusted EPS came in better than expected in the first quarter of 2019, at $0.14 per share versus $0.08 expected, cash flow came in well below expectations, production came in slightly below expectations, and capex came in slightly higher than expectations.
The recent Newfield acquisition has resulted in shareholder dilution, and execution risk to Encana, but management has stated that they expect it to be financially accretive to the tune of up to a 10% addition to cash flow.
Valuation and expectations on Encana stock are at rock bottom. This is a show-me stock, and for good reason. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however.
Encana is free cash flow positive, the company is cutting costs and becoming more efficient, and the focus is on returns as it should be. The Newfield acquisition is resulting in better-than-expected synergies (expect annual synergies of $150 million), and the company is expecting 15% growth in liquids production from its core assets.
The 2019 cash flows should ramp up significantly as a result of the acquisitions and cost cutting. I am left wondering if the time has finally come when Encana will put its disappointing past behind it and finally participate in value creation.
