Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Mari Petroleum Company downgraded

One of Pakistan’s leading brokerage houses, Intermarket Securities has downgraded its stance on Mari Petroleum Company (MARI) from Neutral to Sell. The recent rally of 169% in FYTD has more than priced in the potential upside from new fields and production growth.

Recent discovery in the much-hyped Waziristan block (Bannu West) is likely to commence production by the end of FY25. While the market has high hopes from the block, the brokerage house has assumed initial production of 70mmcfd which could rise to 250mmcfd by FY28.

Following the rally of 91% over the past two months, the stock seems overvalued. MARI has more than priced in the positives while the market has disregarded that near-term earnings will decline due to additional royalty on Mari D&P.

The updated earnings estimates for FY25and FY26 stand at PKR57.00 and PKR62.07, respectively. The Sell stance reflects the view that the recent rally appears to have overestimated the positives, in particular the potential of its recent discoveries.

The recent rally seems to have been partly driven by speculation surrounding potential heavy mineral resource discoveries and the company’s rebranding to "MARI Energy," though no concrete developments have yet materialized. Furthermore, high expectations around Bannu West remain unrealized, adding to the downside risk.

MARI, in partnership with OGDC and another E&P (OPL), has made a significant discovery in the Waziristan block (Bannu West), reporting a cumulative find of 70mmcfd from two exploratory wells, Shewa-1 and Shewa-2. A third exploratory-cum-appraisal well is currently in the drilling phase.

While market expectations for the block remain elevated, the brokerage house estimates production to commence by the end of FY25 with initial flows of 70mmcfd, gradually peaking at 250mmcfd by FY28. However, the market’s exuberance appears overdone: the present stock price of PKR729/ share would be justified by production of 600mmcfd from Bannu West—almost similar to the Mari field. This disconnect between expectations and realistic production forecasts underpins the Sell call on the stock.  

 

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