Cimarex Energy $61.38 – New York symbol XEC

Article Excerpt

CIMAREX ENERGY $61.38 (New York symbol XEC; SI Rating: Extra risk) (303-295-3995; www.cimarex.com; Shares outstanding: 82.9 million; Market cap: $5.1 billion) is an oil and gas explorer and producer primarily focused in western Oklahoma, Kansas, the upper Gulf Coast areas of Texas and South Louisiana, the Permian Basin area of West Texas, plus the Gulf of Mexico. Cimarex’s production averaged 482.8 million cubic feet equivalent per day in the latest quarter. Natural gas makes up 70% of output. Production for the full year 2007 will likely average 485 million cubic feet. In the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash flow per share rose 57.3%, to $4.12 from $2.62. The company’s shares trade at just 3.7 times annual cash flow based on the latest quarter. Long-term debt of $487 million is only 10% of market cap. Cimarex is using its strong cash flow to spend over $1.1 billion a year on exploration and development. It balances drilling between the lower-risk Mid- Continent and…