Report
Joe Gemino
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Morningstar | Alberta Announces Mandatory Production Cuts; Stocks Mixed on the News

On Dec. 2, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced production cuts of 325 thousand barrels per day of crude oil and bitumen in Alberta. The cuts become effective Jan. 1, 2019 and extend throughout 2019. Initially, the 325 mbbl/d will be in place until excess storage is drawn down, which is expected to take three months. After which, production cuts will drop to 95 mbbl/d and will undergo monthly adjustments to match production with takeaway infrastructure. The mandatory cuts could be lifted before the end of 2019, depending on market conditions.

Accordingly, we lowered our 2019 production estimates for our oil sands producers. The production cuts are short-term and we see them as a bridge to boost heavy oil prices until pipeline expansion projects are placed into service. We think this move benefits producers who have limited pipeline commitments, such as Cenovus Energy, while hampering producers, who are planning to bring on production during 2019, such as MEG Energy and Suncor Energy.

We are lowering our fair value estimates for MEG Energy, Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural, Husky Energy, and Suncor Energy due to higher operating costs associated with the production cuts and maintaining our fair estimate on Cenovus. Stocks are mixed on the news. Cenovus and Canadian Natural are up as much as 9% each on the news, while Imperial is down 3%. Despite the rally, we continue to see upside in Best Idea Cenovus, and Canadian Natural.

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Underlying
Suncor Energy Inc.

Suncor Energy is an energy company. Co.'s operations include oil sands development and upgrading, onshore and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand. Co.'s segments include: oil sands, which develop and produce synthetic crude oil and related products through the recovery and upgrading of bitumen; exploration and production, which include offshore activity, and the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; and refining and marketing, which include the refining of crude oil products, and the distribution and marketing of these and other purchased products, as well as a lubricants plant.

Provider
Morningstar
Morningstar

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors.

Morningstar provides data on approximately 530,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 18 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries and had approximately $185 billion in assets under advisement and management as of June 30, 2016.

We have operations in 27 countries.

Analysts
Joe Gemino

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