(By Balachander) CIBC World Markets Inc. upgraded its rating on shares of Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (PEY.TO) to "Sector Outperformer" from "Sector Performer" with an increased price target of $26.00 from $18.50, saying the Canadian energy company warrants a premium valuation multiple due to its superior per share production growth.
Peyto has agreed to acquire Open Range in an all-stock deal with a transaction value of $179.5 million. Acquired assets include roughly 5,600 Boe/d (92 percent gas) and around 110 net sections of land primarily in the Sundance/Ansell areas of the Deep Basin.
"Bottom line, we believe this is an excellent acquisition for Peyto due to its accretiveness, its asset overlap and the value of the acquired facilities," CIBC analyst Jeremy Kaliel wrote in a note. On an EV per flowing barrel basis, Peyto paid just $31,910 per Boe/d for Open Range versus its current trading metric of $72,970 per Boe/d.
Following the acquisition, Peyto has increased 2012 spending by $50 million to $450 million and now expects exiting 2012 at close to 57,000 Boe/d.
"Peyto has one of the strongest growth profiles in our group, with an estimated per share production growth of 28 percent in 2013 (versus 6 percent for the group)," Kaliel said.
PEY.TO shares, which closed previous trading at $20.07, have been trading in the 52-week range between $14.63 and $26.33.