Ex-growth in Q1, intriguing set-up into summer

Approaching the next product cycle

Avance Gas (No_rec, TP: NOK) - Discontinuing coverage

We have discontinued coverage of Avance Gas, as it no longer has any assets, and does not plan to make any new investments. According to the company, remaining funds after its final USD0.74 DPS, to be paid on 7 May (ex-date 24 April), are expected to be used to settle any outstanding obligations to creditors, including liquidation fees, and the stock is expected to be delisted in June/July 2025. Our last published recommendation, target price and estimates should no longer be relied upon.

Muted 2025 growth expectations

Following Q1 earnings calls by some of the oil service companies, 2025 outlooks appear more challenging than previously. Baker Hughes expects international upstream spending to decline by mid- to high-single digits, while Halliburton sees its international revenues flat to slightly down. Furthermore, Weatherford expects 2025 international revenue to decline by low double- to mid-double digits. Precision Drilling flagged additional rig suspensions by Saudi Aramco, and SLB highlighted a slow start...

ENI capex cut but maintains shareholder returns

Driven by macro headwinds and uncertainty around trade tariffs, ENI was the first large oil company to introduce capex cuts for 2025, contributing to a more challenging business environment for oil services. Over the past five years, we estimate ENI to have been the oil major with strongest offshore spending growth, and it has been considered active and opportunistic while others have been more conservative. Hence, we see its reduction as a soft datapoint for oil services. ENI has optimised its ...

Demant (Buy, TP: DKK300.00) - Headwinds set to persist in Q1

We forecast Q1 organic sales growth of just 0.6% YOY, below the full-year guidance, owing to persistent headwinds in wholesale. However, with Managed Care headwinds set to annualise from Q2, better quarters should lie ahead. We expect an unchanged 2025 guidance of 3–7% organic sales growth and DKK4.5bn–4.9bn in EBIT, but we find the lower end most likely. We reiterate our BUY but have cut our target price to DKK300 (320).

Another abrupt change

The US Trade Representative on 17 April published revised US port fees with significant changes to the initial proposal based on industry feedback. In its current form, the fees will primarily discourage use of Chinese-controlled maritime trade services to the US, and directly affect the use of Chinese-built vessels in US ports (with several considerable exemptions to avoid harm to US trade). The previous broader fees based on fleet composition and share of Chinese-built vessels has been scrappe...

E&P spending sensitivity explored

With an oil price at the mid-USD60s/bbl level, focus on the oil major overspending situation, and resulting impact on the outlook for offshore-focused oil services, is set to increase further. While oil companies would likely cut, or even eliminate, buyback programmes first, we expect increased focus on spending reductions and efficiencies, creating a more challenging business environment for oil services. Hence, we see a risk of oil companies taking a more cautious approach, resulting in projec...

Outlook for continued high rates

Although we continue to expect some margin headwind, the outlook for postponed rate cuts – leaving interest rates at continued high levels – should bode well for sector earnings, further supported by a strong profitability focus and modest loan losses. With the sector trading at an average 2026e P/E of c11.0x, and solid dividend potential, we find the valuation undemanding. We reiterate our positive sector view but highlight a larger share of HOLD recommendations than 12 months ago.

In a mid-cycle plateau

Following recent updates from E&P companies, we have reduced our 2025 offshore spending estimate to 0.5% (from c3% earlier this year). This is driven by a combination of actual 2024 spending being higher than expected (8% versus 4% previously), creating tougher comparables and a reduction in spending plans from Pemex in 2025. Despite growth flattening out, we still see the cycle building in duration, with execution of deepwater developments remaining on the agenda, albeit with a delayed executio...

Avance Gas Minor model adjustments

We have updated our target price due to the stock trading ex-rights (as of 5 March) for the USD0.75 DPS announced following the closing of the sale of its MGC fleet to the Exmar LPG BV subsidiaries on 28 February. According to the company, it is set to receive a final milestone payment of USD34.2m from Exmar once the steel cutting of the fourth and final MGC is completed (expected in April), and will distribute the remaining cash to its shareholders prior to liquidation. We do not consider these...

‘The times they are a-changin’

The recurring theme at our 18th Energy & Shipping Conference was geopolitical uncertainty and a potential trade war, warranting a wait-and-see approach, particularly on the Trump 2.0 effect. The consensus view pointed to high asset values, with no rush to the yards, aligning with below-NAV valuations across most of our coverage. However, panellists generally saw less downside risk than the 25% average discount to steel for our Tanker, Dry Bulk and Gas coverage. Overall, the day highlighted uncer...