Topic: Energy Stocks

Energy stocks: Devon Energy sharpens its focus on North America

Devon Energy Northridge plant picture

Over the past decade, political upheaval around the world has caused many to worry about secure sources of energy supply. Some North American energy stocks have simply decided that overseas risk is not worth the trouble and expense.

Devon Energy Corp., (New York symbol DVN; www.devonenergy.com) is one of them.

Devon is one of the largest U.S.-based oil and natural-gas explorers and producers. Its production mix is 67% gas and 33% oil.

In May 2011, Devon completed the sale of its Brazilian operations for $3.2 billion. It has now sold all of its international and Gulf of Mexico properties, which it saw as risky and expensive to develop.

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In all, the company has received over $8 billion in after-tax proceeds from these sales. It will use these funds to buy back shares, purchase properties and pay down debt. Since May 2011, it has bought back $2.5 billion of its shares; it plans to buy back $1 billion more by the end of the year.

Devon’s long-term debt is $6.0 billion, but that’s just 22% of its market cap. As well, the company holds cash of $6.7 billion, or $16 a share.

Energy stocks: Devon looks to shale oil in Texas and oil sands in Alberta

In the three months ended December 31, 2010, this energy stock’s daily production averaged 2.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 220,000 barrels of oil. Higher production and rising oil and gas prices pushed up cash flow per share by 138.8%, to $3.82 from $1.60

Devon is now focused on its North American properties, which include conventional production, shale oil in Texas and oil sands in Alberta. The company will spend as much as $5.9 billion to explore and develop its properties this year.

We analyze Devon Energy and other energy stocks in the latest edition of Stock Pickers Digest. Our assessment concludes with our clear buy-sell-hold advice on Devon.

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