Crude oil prices have recovered somewhat in recent weeks, matched by rising share prices at the likes of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP), Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), and even services companies like Worleyparsons Limited (ASX: WOR).
Yet one small-cap oil services stock has been surprisingly unmoved by higher oil prices – yet. MMA Offshore Ltd (ASX: MRM) provides marine and slipway services to the oil industry in south-east Asia. Its profits have been smashed by lower oil prices, as oil and gas producers have cut expenditure and renegotiated contracts with lower prices. This has hurt the profitability of the industry and services companies now compete fiercely for the limited pool of available work, in an effort to keep crews employed and cover costs. It's not a good time to be in the industry and margins are razor-thin.
Yet if oil prices rise significantly further and stay there, MMA Offshore stands to reap big rewards. Currently its vessel utilisation is around 60%, meaning it has significant excess capacity should demand pick up. Make no mistake, this excess capacity is like an anchor around the company's neck at the moment. Yet if oil prices recover and there's a sudden lift in demand for services as producers race to resume production, utilisation should improve dramatically and prices paid for work may even increase.
There are a couple of other elements to consider, such as Mermaid Marine's Net Tangible Assets (NTA) of $1.70 per share, including $50 million in cash. If the company was wound up, it's unlikely to realise the full book value of its assets, given the current market environment. Yet the whole company is only valued at one quarter of its NTA, which is quite a margin of safety.
Should I buy it?
I personally don't expect oil prices to rise sustainably higher for some time yet, due to excess global production capacity. If prices did rise, I expect there will be a lag between prices rising and company expenditure increasing (as it takes time for companies to realise higher prices are sustainable). Following this, I think there could be a further lag between increased expenditure and an uplift in MMA Offshore's earnings, due to significant excess capacity in the marine supply industry.
For those reasons, I'm not buying MMA Offshore right now – but it's definitely one to watch if oil prices rise.
