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Can Price Boost Drive Strong Q1 Earnings for Corterra (CTRA)?

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Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA - Free Report) is set to release first-quarter results on May 2. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter is a profit of 81 cents per share on revenues of $1.8 billion.

Let’s delve into the factors that might have influenced the oil and gas exploration and production firm’s performance in the March quarter. But it’s worth taking a look at CTRA’s previous-quarter performance first.

Highlights of Q4 Earnings & Surprise History

In the last-reported quarter, the Houston, TX-based upstream energy company missed the consensus mark due to higher operating costs. CTRA had reported adjusted earnings per share of 83 cents, 18 cents lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, revenues of $2.2 billion generated by the firm came in above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.9 billion on the back of higher commodity prices.

CTRA missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, which resulted in a negative earnings surprise of 3.7%, on average. This is depicted in the graph below:
 

Coterra Energy Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Coterra Energy Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Coterra Energy Inc. price-eps-surprise | Coterra Energy Inc. Quote

 

Trend in Estimate Revision

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the first-quarter bottom line has remained the same in the past seven days. The estimated figure indicates a 113.2% jump year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues, meanwhile, suggests a 295.1% increase from the year-ago period.

Factors to Consider

CTRA is likely to have cashed in on the surge in hydrocarbon realizations. In the previous three-month period, Corterra’s average realized unit prices for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids were $75.61, $4.43 and $34.18, respectively, well above the year-ago levels. The increase in price is most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter, with oil/gas revisiting their multi-year highs following geopolitical tensions and the ongoing macroeconomic recovery. This price boost is likely to have buoyed the first-quarter revenues and cash flows of Corterra.

Corterra Energy is also expected to have benefited from higher production during the March period. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the company’s production averaged 686.2 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOE/d), soaring from 395.8 MBOE/d a year ago. The uptick is most likely to have continued in the to-be-reported quarter, thanks to CTRA’s impressive production profile from its assets in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale and Anadarko Basin.

Why a Likely Positive Surprise?

Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for CTRA this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Corterra has an Earnings ESP of +2.35% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Other Stocks to Consider

Coterra is not the only energy company looking up this earnings cycle. Here are some other firms from the space that you may want to consider on the basis of our model:

EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.89% and a Zacks Rank #1. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on May 5.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

For 2022, EOG has a projected earnings growth rate of 88.5%. Valued at around $66 billion, EOG has increased around 66% in a year.

Rattler Midstream LP has an Earnings ESP of +1.96% and a Zacks Rank #2. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on May 3.

For 2022, RTLR has a projected earnings growth rate of 34.9%. Valued at around $2 billion, Rattler Midstream has increased around 28.3% in a year.

Murphy USA (MUSA - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +18.49% and is Zacks #2 Ranked. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on May 3.

MUSA is valued at around $5.6 billion. The company topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 24.6% in the trailing four quarters. Murphy USA has gained around 72.8% in a year.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.


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