2 Energy Stocks Getting Hit By Downgrades Today: Time To Follow?

In separate reports published Friday, analysts at Credit Suisse downgraded two names in the Energy sector.

Penn Virginia

Shares of Penn Virginia Corporation (NYSE: PVA) were downgraded to Neutral from Outperform with a price target lowered to $1 from a previous $4.

Analyst Mark Lear noted that Penn Virginia's initial 2016 budget infers a cash flow deficit of around $147 million at today's strip. In addition, the company is expected to end 2015 with $200 million in projected liquidity, implying further capital markets activity will be required to further fund drilling activity.

Lear also noted that Penn Virginia is only operating one rig in the Eagle Ford after operating eight rigs in 2014. The company doesn't anticipate adding a second rig until early 2016 but doing so depends on the commodity environment.

Finally, the analyst pointed out that shares of Penn Virginia are trading at a 53 percent discount to its net asset value versus a 42 percent discount for the group. In addition, on unhedged multiples, the stock is trading at 23.9x and 16.9x 2015 and 2016 EBITDA versus the group's multiple of 10.6x and 9.8x.

Markwest Energy

Shares of Markwest Energy Partners LP (NYSE: MWE) were downgraded to Neutral from Outperform with a price target lowered to $72 from a previous $81.

Analyst John Edwards commented on the company's revised EBITDA and DCF guidance to $925-975 million and $700-750 million, implying a $50 million reduction to the high end of the company's prior guidance.

Edwards said that Markwest's guidance revision is due to a "continued period" of low commodity prices. As such, the analyst lowered his 2017-2018 EBITDA estimates by 6 percent as he expects a "more prolonged" environment becoming a higher probability.