Can Gulf Keystone Petroleum Limited’s Share Price Return To 412p?

Will Gulf Keystone Petroleum Limited (LON: GKP) be able to return to its previous highs?

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Right now I’m looking at some of the markets most popular companies to try and establish whether or not they have the potential to return to historic highs.

Today I’m looking at Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE: GKP) (NASDAQOTH: GUKYF.US) to ascertain if its share price can return to 412p.

Initial catalyst

Of course, before we can establish whether or not Gulf Keystone can return to 412p, we need to establish what catalyst caused the company’s shares to reach this level in the first place. It would appear that Gulf Keystone reached this high at the beginning of 2012, concluding a rally that began during December the previous year.

As far as I can see, this rally was driven by two factors. Firstly, there was a significant amount of speculation in the market that Gulf Keystone was about to be acquired by a large peer. In addition, it seems as if this rally was fuelled by positive exploration results from the company’s world class Shaikan oil field. 

But can Gulf Keystone return to its former glory?

Gulf Keystone’s Shaikan oil field is widely quoted as one of the largest oil discovery’s in recent times and the company’s positive drill results, as well as initial production rates have only confirmed the fields potential. Indeed, with this huge discovery behind it, I feel that Gulf Keystone has all the foundations in place to make another run at 412p.

In particular, according to Gulf Keystone’s own predictions, the company should be producing 40,000 barrels of oil per day for the majority of this year. This works out at 14.6 million barrels of oil per year, and if the price of oil remains around $100 per barrel, Gulf Keystone’s revenue for 2014 will be in the region of $300 million — not bad for the company’s first full-year of production.

What’s more, management has predicted that within 18 months the company’s production will hit 100,000 barrels of oil per day, which works out at more than $700 million in revenue per year.

In addition, I should mention that City analysts believe there are over 2.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil in Gulf Keystone’s Shaikan field. Gulf Keystone has an 80% interest in the field, so it would appear that Gulf Keystone’s Shaikan oil reserves alone are worth around $200 billion. 

Foolish summary

So overall, Gulf Keystone has an interest in one of the largest oil discoveries ever and the company’s profits are set to explode during the next few years. As a result, I feel that the company can return to 412p.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

> Rupert does not own any share mentioned within this article.

More on Investing Articles

Ice cube tray filled with ice cubes and three loose ice cubes against dark wood.
Investing Articles

Just released: our 3 top income-focused stocks to buy before April [PREMIUM PICKS]

Our goal here is to highlight some of our past recommendations that we think are of particular interest today, due…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is this the best chance to buy cheap FTSE 100 shares in a generation?

I want to buy shares when they're cheap, and sell... never, just keep taking the dividends. And the FTSE 100…

Read more »

Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Could NatWest shares be 2024’s number one buy for passive income?

For those of us looking to earn some long-term passive income, how does NatWest's 7% dividend yield sound? It sounds…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£12K in savings? Here’s how I could turn that into £13K annual passive income

This Fool explains how investing a lump sum can help her build a passive income stream to enjoy in her…

Read more »

Aerial shot showing an aircraft shadow flying over an idyllic beach
Investing Articles

Here’s why Rolls-Royce shares are now set to fly over the £4 mark

Once again, Rolls-Royce shares are crushing the FTSE 100. Should I add to my holding of this stock at the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

1 under the radar FTSE 100 AI stock investors should consider buying

Our writer explains why this FTSE 100 pick could be a shrewd investment with its established experience of using AI…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Does the beaten-down Diageo share price make it a no-brainer buy?

Harvey Jones spent years waiting for the Diageo share price to look like good value, before finally buying it in…

Read more »

One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

8%+ yields! Should I buy these FTSE 100 income shares this month?

Christopher Ruane weighs some pros and cons of two FTSE 100 shares, both of which have a dividend yield over…

Read more »