BP Jumps On Oil’s Jolt, Will it Last?

BP has popped over 4% higher in early trade on Monday.

What’s behind the price increase?

Oil prices soared over 20% to over $70 per barrel, the biggest percentage spike in over three decades, following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure over the weekend. Whilst the price of oil has eased back to $65.50, higher oil prices are beneficial for oil majors, increasing their profit margins.

Will oil price remain elevated?

Geopolitical risk in the Middle East is nothing new. However, what we are seeing is a physical disruption to supply, as the attacks over the weekend cut half the county’s oil production. This equates to a disruption on as much as 5% of global oil production.

We can expect oil prices to remain elevated whilst production is disrupted. As production returns, we can expect the price of oil to start declining back towards $61.50. That said, not all the gains will be pared, as the price will need to represent the increased geopolitical risk premium. However, today’s jump in the oil price is more of a reflection of the impact on supply rather than a significantly higher risk premium.

Let’s not also forget that the demand picture isn’t great right now which will dampen the oil price quickly. Most recently China’s industrial production figures disappointed overnight. Last week, OPEC lowered global growth expectations to just 3% for 2019. Furthermore, this is a bearish time of year for oil, as the driving season comes to an end. These factors should also help bring the price of oil lower.

More upside for BP?

Prior to today’s rally the FTSE was trading just 2% higher YTD, under-performing the broader FTSE index. Today’s rally in BP is a knee jerk reaction to the spike in oil. Looking at the chart we can see how closely BP tracks movements in oil.

As the oil supply returns to previous levels, BP could pare some of today’s gains. However, there could be other reasons to consider BP longer term:

BP recently sold its entire Alaska oil operation for $4.5 billion. It plans to sell off a further $10 billion of current assets across the next 2 years so plenty of cash will be coming in. This also means that BP can take advantage of other opportunities “more closely aligned with its long-term strategy”, as noted by chief executive Bob Dudley.

BP is transitioning away from an oil led business, shifting its focus to the booming renewables market. Whilst we all know that elephants don’t gallop BP is changing slowly but surely. BP expects renewables to account a growing proportion of the global energy markets.

BP pays solid dividends, which are expected to increase in Q3 or Q4.

Reporting in dollars means that BP is less susceptible to volatility in the pound – a definite positive amid Brexit uncertainty.

Points of concern:

The big thing to watch with BP, aside from the price of oil is its debt levels. Net debt increased in H1 2019 results to $46.5 million, as did net gearing to 31%. Whilst these levels are not unusual for this sector they are worth keeping tabs on.