Oil and Gas, Mint Finance

Suhas Reddy

Oil and Gas

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Commodities

Natural gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, but commonly including varying amounts of other higher alkanes, and sometimes a small percentage of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or helium. It is formed when layers of decomposing plant and animal matter are exposed to intense heat and pressure supplied by existing under the surface of the Earth over millions of years. The energy that the plants originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of chemical bonds in the gas.

<ul>
<li>Turbulent fundamentals, volatile weather, and uncertain geopolitics pushed US LNG implied volatility to a 12-month high of 99.47 on 20/Dec. US nat-gas prices have surged 38.2% since November 2024.</li>
<li>Midstream/MLP ETFs, with low energy price correlation, stood out in 2024 as the only energy ETFs to attract inflows, while producer and refiner-focused ETFs saw outflows.</li>
<li>The Alerian MLP ETF, has an AUM of USD 9.4 billion. Over the past year, it has attracted net inflows of USD 1.3 billion and offers a yield of 7.8%.</li>
</ul>


Turbulent fundamentals, volatile weather, and uncertain geopolitics pushed US LNG implied volatility to a 12-month high of 99.47 on 20/Dec. US nat-gas prices have surged 38.2% since November 2024.
Midstream/MLP ETFs, with low energy price correlation, stood out in 2024 as the only energy ETFs to attract inflows, while producer and refiner-focused ETFs saw outflows.
The Alerian MLP ETF, has an AUM of USD 9.4 billion. Over the past year, it has attracted net inflows of USD 1.3 billion and offers a yield of 7.8%.


Long MLP ETF & Short Micro Nat Gas Futures on Shifting Seasonality

India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic, Beat the Street

Sudarshan Bhandari

India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic

Beat the Street

Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Karnataka's proposed mineral tax will significantly impact iron ore miners and the steel industry, potentially raising production costs and impacting profitability. </li>
<li>Larsen &amp; Toubro's (L&amp;T) recent ₹10,000 crore order for K9 Vajra-T artillery platforms signifies the company's strength in the defense sector. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/waaree-energies-limited-6098abe5-9b91-4859-8170-b98fda2cf7ab" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:44031:1" rel="noopener">Waaree Energies (0656504D IN)</a> is accelerating India's renewable energy goals with strategic investments in electrolyzer, lithium-ion storage, and inverter solutions. </li>
</ul>


Karnataka's proposed mineral tax will significantly impact iron ore miners and the steel industry, potentially raising production costs and impacting profitability. 
Larsen &amp; Toubro's (L&amp;T) recent ₹10,000 crore order for K9 Vajra-T artillery platforms signifies the company's strength in the defense sector. 

Waaree Energies (0656504D IN) is accelerating India's renewable energy goals with strategic investments in electrolyzer, lithium-ion storage, and inverter solutions. 


#73 India Insight: Iron Ore Taxed, Waaree’s 2000 Cr Investments in EV Batteries, Adani’s Acquisition

Data-Driven Commodity Research, The Commodity Report

The Commodity Report

Data-Driven Commodity Research

A unique newsletter about commodities and macro analysis in a weekly format.

<ul><li>While the sentiment around the “long US equities trade” seems to be extended and due for a correction, the bearish positioning in commodities and energy is reasonable and we also expect this trend to continue for a little while.</li><li>The latest BofA fund manager survey showed how extreme the position is currently and how little cash professional investors currently have to allocate.</li><li>FMS cash level fell from 4.3% to 3.9% of AUM, matching the lowest level since Jun '21.</li></ul>

While the sentiment around the “long US equities trade” seems to be extended and due for a correction, the bearish positioning in commodities and energy is reasonable and we also expect this trend to continue for a little while.The latest BofA fund manager survey showed how extreme the position is currently and how little cash professional investors currently have to allocate.FMS cash level fell from 4.3% to 3.9% of AUM, matching the lowest level since Jun '21.

Investors Are Max Long Stocks & Bearish Commodities

Head of Research, Krungthai XSpring

Waraporn Wiboonkanarak

Head of Research

A full service Thai brokerage

Krungthai XSpring

Krungthai XSpring is a full service broker. The company provides a wide range of investment services such as Securities Brokerage, Derivative Agent Business, Securities Borrowing and Lending, Securities Trading, Underwriting, Financial Advisory, Wealth Advisory, Private Fund Management and International Markets Securities Trading. 

In terms of credibility, Fitch Ratings has assigned Krunghtai XSpring a long-term rating of AA- and a national short-term rating of F1+ with stable outlook.

Equity Bottom-Up

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited explores for crude oil and natural gas, develops fields for production, and produces oil and natural gas. The Company is a subsidiary of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand.

<ul><li>PTTEP has announced a 3% increase in its expenditures plan (Capex and Opex) for 2025-29E compared to the previous plan, along with a lower petroleum sales volume growth target of a 3.4% CAGR (vs.  +4.9% CAGR during 2024-28E).</li><li>We have revised down the net profit estimates for 2024-25E by 2% and 4%, respectively, while maintaining the 2026E net profit forecast, reflecting the updated 5-year plan.</li><li>The 2-year core EPS estimate is now revised downward to a -6% CAGR, underperforming the sector, owing to a downward trend in unit margins.</li></ul>

PTTEP has announced a 3% increase in its expenditures plan (Capex and Opex) for 2025-29E compared to the previous plan, along with a lower petroleum sales volume growth target of a 3.4% CAGR (vs.  +4.9% CAGR during 2024-28E).We have revised down the net profit estimates for 2024-25E by 2% and 4%, respectively, while maintaining the 2026E net profit forecast, reflecting the updated 5-year plan.The 2-year core EPS estimate is now revised downward to a -6% CAGR, underperforming the sector, owing to a downward trend in unit margins.

Ptt Exploration and Production -5-Year Expenditures Plan and Petroleum Sales Target

Thai Oil Public Company Limited is an oil refinery company. The Company imports crude oil and refines it into gasoline.  It also produces oil related products including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene, fuel oil and chemicals. Thai oil supplies its products to domestic market where its major customers include Shell, Caltex Oil and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand.

<ul><li>The risks associated with the CFP are higher than previously expected (e.g., significant cost overruns, COD delayed by three years, risks regarding remaining construction, and the funding plan).</li><li>TOP’s share price is trading at a higher-than-usual ERP to compensate for these risks.</li><li>We have revised down our 2025-26E profit forecasts by 24-28% due to higher interest expenses from a bond issuance and/or borrowings, resulting in negative 2-year core EPS growth (-20% CAGR) that underperforms the sector. </li></ul>

The risks associated with the CFP are higher than previously expected (e.g., significant cost overruns, COD delayed by three years, risks regarding remaining construction, and the funding plan).TOP’s share price is trading at a higher-than-usual ERP to compensate for these risks.We have revised down our 2025-26E profit forecasts by 24-28% due to higher interest expenses from a bond issuance and/or borrowings, resulting in negative 2-year core EPS growth (-20% CAGR) that underperforms the sector. 

Thai Oil - The CFP Entails Higher than Previously Expected Risks