Investing theme from MSN Money
50 Stocks set to rise this month .
articles.moneycentral.msn.com
Whats interesting about this is that these are mostly energy stocks
StockScouter4/3/2007 10:00 AM ET
50 stocks for right now
StockScouter, MSN Money's stock-picking tool, identifies companies with good prospects in the short term. Energy companies -– particularly those engaged in exploration -- are prominent on this month's lis
For energy stocks, March went out like a lion.
Stronger-than-expected economic data and Iran's seizure of 15 British sailors and marines have helped drive prices for crude oil and wholesale gasoline in New York to 35% above their January lows.
Higher prices means more profits for companies engaged in exploration, production, refining, marketing, transportation and retailing of oil and gas. These companies dominate April's list of 50 stocks poised to appreciate in the coming months. The list was created with StockScouter, the MSN Money tool that helps investors quickly analyze and assess a stock's potential to outperform the broad market.
Get free, real-time stock quotes on MSN Money
Among the companies on the list is Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ, news, msgs), one of Canada's biggest natural gas producers. It has oil and gas properties in western Canada, the North Sea and off western Africa. It's also engaged in oil-sands development in northern Alberta.
Investment bankers and analysts cite the company as a takeover target for a bigger energy company that's having trouble expanding natural gas production and replacing reserves.
Anadarko Petroleum (APC, news, msgs), also on this month's Scouter list, is considered another attractive takeover target among independent energy companies. Nearly three-quarters of its reserves are in the United States, but the Texas company has oil and gas operations worldwide.
Companies that provide equipment, technology or project management for oil and gas companies are also listed. One company is GlobalSantaFe (GSF, news, msgs), the giant offshore drilling contractor. The Houston company provides oil and gas contract drilling worldwide. It operates 60 drilling rigs, including jack-up rigs capable of drilling in water depths of up to 400 feet.
Utilities are also well represented this month, including International Power (IPR, news, msgs), a London company that generates electricity from oil, natural gas, coal and water in 18 countries. The company plans to use its robust profits in 2006 to finance acquisitions, including investments in renewable energy.
The nation's biggest publicly traded water utility is also on the list. Aqua America (WTR, news, msgs) provides water and wastewater services to 2.8 million residents in more than a dozen states. The Pennsylvania company has grown through more than 120 acquisitions since the early 1990s. The company continues to benefit from rate increases as well as increased demand for improved water quality, as municipalities turn to private entities to upgrade their water systems.
How the list is created
The StockScouter list is based on an analysis from independent research firm Gradient Analytics.
MSN Money and Gradient Analytics built the StockScouter tool to help individual investors find stocks with superior growth prospects.
StockScouter depends on advanced mathematics, software and an innovative mix of measurements and historical testing to forecast the short- and long-term outlook for all U.S. companies that have traded on the three major exchanges for at least the past six months.
The analytical tools are applied to score stocks on fundamental, valuation, technical and ownership components. This score is combined with each company's StockScouter rating to come up with the list at the bottom of this page. Only stocks with a final closing price above $3 are eligible for the list.
Click here for more on how StockScouter works.
StockScouter picks as of April 1 Company Industry March 30 close Scouter score
Mirant (MIR, news, msgs)
Utilities
40.94
9
DCP Midstream Partners (DPM, news, msgs)
Oil and gas pipelines
39.09
9
Aqua America (WTR, news, msgs)
Water utilities
22.31
8
Consolidated Communications Holdings (CNSL, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
19.88
8
Occidental Petroleum (OXY, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
50.30
10
Unit (UNT, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
51.50
10
Statoil (STO, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
27.74
10
Dynegy (DYN, news, msgs)
Electric utilities
9.47
10
Pennichuck (PNNW, news, msgs)
Water utilities
22.70
10
Imperial Oil (IMO, news, msgs)
Oil refining and marketing
37.58
10
International Power (IPR, news, msgs)
Utilities
77.79
10
Partner Communications (PTNR, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
14.75
10
EnCana (ECA, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
51.26
10
Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PHI, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
52.80
10
Rostelecom (ROS, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
52.59
10
Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX, news, msgs)
Oil and gas equipment
37.45
10
Petrohawk Energy (HK, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
13.44
10
Norsk Hydro (NHY, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
33.17
10
Oceaneering International (OII, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
42.99
10
Smith International (SII, news, msgs)
Oil and gas equipment
48.57
10
Tidewater (TDW, news, msgs)
Shipping
59.15
10
Trico Marine Services (TRMA, news, msgs)
Shipping
37.68
10
GlobalSantaFe (GSF, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
62.24
10
Millicom International Cellular (MICC, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
78.46
10
Global Industries (GLBL, news, msgs)
Heavy construction
17.74
10
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
56.42
10
W-H Energy Services (WHQ, news, msgs)
Oil and gas equipment
47.09
10
Compton Petroleum (CMZ, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
10.21
10
Todco (THE, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
40.19
10
Parallel Petroleum (PLLL, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
23.07
10
Dril-Quip (DRQ, news, msgs)
Oil and gas equipment
44.05
10
Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS, news, msgs)
Shipping
29.17
10
Mitcham Industries (MIND, news, msgs)
Industrial equipment
14.50
10
Warren Resources (WRES, news, msgs)
Oil and gas equipment
13.44
10
Union Drilling (UDRL, news, msgs)
Oil and gas drilling
14.53
10
Western Refining (WNR, news, msgs)
Oil and gas refining
39.30
10
Fording Canadian Coal Trust (FDG, news, msgs)
Metals and minerals
21.99
10
Citizens Communications (CZN, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
14.79
9
AT&T (T, news, msgs)
Telecommunications
39.17
9
Southern Union (SUG, news, msgs)
Gas utilities
30.35
9
BP PLC (BP, news, msgs)
Integrated oil and gas
65.75
9
Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP, news, msgs)
Oil and gas pipelines
47.23
9
CenterPoint Energy (CNP, news, msgs)
Utilities
18.10
9
Inergy (NRGY, news, msgs)
Materials
32.77
9
Global Partners (GLP, news, msgs)
Materials
36.51
9
NRG Energy (NRG, news, msgs)
Electric utilities
73.75
9
Windstream (WIN, news, msgs)
Communications
14.62
9
Forest Oil (FST, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
34.15
9
XTO Energy (XTO, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
55.57
9
Anadarko Petroleum (APC, news, msgs)
Independent oil and gas
43.29
9
|
