Tuesday, July 6, 2010

For Investors

Someone wrote me a couple days ago to point out he had not seen any stories in the media/CNBC about companies downgrading their second quarter earnings estimates.

This morning, he sends me a very interesting story from Bloomberg (if you can't trust Bloomberg, who can you trust -- that Bloomberg). Here's the lead paragraph:
Analysts are raising earnings estimates for U.S. companies at the fastest rate since at least 2004 just as stocks post the biggest losses in 16 months on concern that the economy will sink back into a recession. 
I wrote just last week that with the market way down, I hope investors are accumulating shares in their favorite companies.  For me, it's energy and telecommunication companies, but there are probably opportunities everywhere.

Also, I posted the following a few days ago:
For a system allegedly being strangled in its bed, U.S. capitalism seems to be in astonishingly robust shape.

Numbers published by the Federal Reserve a few weeks ago show that corporate profit margins have just hit record levels. Indeed. Andrew Smithers, the well-regarded financial consultant and author of "Wall Street Revalued," calculates from the Fed's latest Flow of Funds report that corporate profit margins rocketed to 36% in the first quarter. Since records began in 1947 they have never been this high. The highest they got under Ronald Reagan was 30%.
I am still on the road, so my postings may be a bit fewer in number (and quality).

Monday, July 5, 2010

134

Incredible. This morning, Sunday morning, July 4, 2010, there were 133 active rigs in North Dakota. Now, while getting ready to go to bed after watching fireworks throughout Los Angeles County (California, USA) where they are banned, I checked the NDIC website just out of curiosity.

Lo and behold, there are now 134 active rigs in North Dakota. This is quite impressive. More tomorrow, but to bed now.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

North Dakota Oil Production Hits All-Time High

Click here and then click on Director's Cut for complete commentary.

In April, ND produced 284,000 bbls of oil/day (an all-time high). This compares to 277,000 bopd one month earlier, March, 2010.

Take-away capacity exceeds production but this should end by January, 2012. Currently about 10% of North Dakota's production is shipped out by rail and 10% is trucked to Canada.

133

133 active rigs in North Dakota, a new record.

The Bismarck Tribune presents an update of the oil industry in North Dakota. 

These links do not last long; the articles may be available later only through accessing archives which may or may not require a password.

Some data points:
  • North Dakota oil industry accounted for 12,750 jobs last year
  • 12,750 = 8th largest city in North Dakota
  • Drilling about 1,000 wells/year
  • Takes about 74 companies to drill a well in North Dakota
  • Williston expects to add 600 housing units this year

Saturday, July 3, 2010

132

132 active rigs in North Dakota today, a new record. I guess they are moving the deep water, off shore rigs from the gulf up to Lake Sakakawea.