Topic: Energy Stocks

Higher production and gas prices pushed up this natural gas stock’s cash flow

Delphi Energy, symbol DEE on Toronto, explores for oil and gas in Alberta and B.C. Natural gas makes up 74% of its daily output; the remaining 26% is oil.

In the three months ended March 31, 2011, the natural gas stock’s production rose 8.0%, to an average of 8,259 barrels of oil equivalent (including natural gas) per day from 7,647 barrels a year earlier.

Delphi’s cash flow rose 2.0%, to $15.1 million from $14.8 million. Higher production and oil prices were the main reason for the gain. The company’s operating costs also fell. Delphi sold 3.2 million shares to raise $9.0 million in the quarter. Due to more shares outstanding, cash flow per share fell 13.3%, to $0.13 a share from $0.15.

The company successfully drilled 13 new wells in the quarter: six for oil and seven for natural gas. Nine of these wells are already producing, and the other four should be producing by the summer.

The company holds cash of $7.6 million, or $0.06 a share. Its long-term debt of $104.5 million is a manageable 36.5% of its market cap. Delphi expects to increase its average daily output to as high as 9,200 barrels in 2011.

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