Introduction

Baker Hughes (BHI), Halliburton (HAL) and Schlumberger (SLB) are leading suppliers of oilfield services, products, technology and other systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. These companies are investing billions of dollars in an effort to grow oil and gas production, and they are top companies in the industry. If you are considering buying stock in the oil and gas industry, you might find it hard to decide which of these three you will go with. It is good then to consider valuations prepared for these companies.

Concerning the Investment Valuation of these companies, let's look at the margin of safety of Benjamin Graham. These three companies have passed the requirement of Graham of being at least 40-50% below the true values of the stocks - good Buys. Let us find out which stock among these three companies is the best candidate for a

Introduction

There are too many articles on Seeking Alpha concerning the top oil companies. These companies have a very similar story to tell. However, the important question is which one is the best bargain among the oil stocks? There is limited analysis comparing the oil majors on similar metrics, even though many analysts are making separate arguments built along the same lines.

To define the juicy oil bargains, we recently compared the stocks of the leading oil/gas companies in the following selections:

Selection 1: Exxon Mobil (XOM) - Chevron (CVX) - Conoco Philips (COP)

Selection 2: BP (BP) - Royal Dutch Shell-Class A (RDS.A)

Selection 3: Apache Corporation (APA) - Anadarko Petroleum (APC) - Conoco Philips - Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) - Occidental Petroleum(OXY)

Selection 4: TOTAL (TOT) - Exxon Mobil - Petrobras (PBR)

Today, our final selection of juicy oil stocks

<< Return to Part 1

Introduction

There are too many articles on Seeking Alpha concerning the top oil companies. These companies have a very similar story to tell. However, the important question is which one is the best bargain among the oil stocks? There is limited analysis comparing the oil majors on similar metrics, even though many analysts are making separate arguments built along the same lines.

Recently, we compared Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) to its industry competitors, Chevron (CVX) and Conoco Philips (COP), and tracked the latest investment status of each. Then, we tracked BP (BP) with its direct competitor -- Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A). We compared Apache Corporation (APA), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Conoco Philips, Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY). Today, we are going to compare Exxon Mobil , TOTAL (TOT) and Petrobras (PBR).

Recent Updates

As oil and gas

Introduction

These days, the trend of spinning off operations and becoming focused on a few specific parts of the business is perceived to offer more value for all stakeholders involved. It all started with the Marathon Group spinning off into Marathon Oil (MRO) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC). ConocoPhillips (COP) followed suit soon afterwards by splitting its company into Phillips66 (PSX), which handles downstream operations, while exploration and production continue to be operated by ConocoPhillips itself. I will be providing my input on the two oil and gas integrated spin-offs and their performances from an interested shareholder's perspective. Occidental Petroleum (OXY) had also been thinking of a spin-off as well, and I have added it into the assessment in order to provide readers with a clearer picture of how the spin-offs for MRO and COP have been beneficial.

Recent Updates

After spinning off Phillips66, ConocoPhillips is

Introduction

There are too many articles on Seeking Alpha concerning the top oil companies. These companies have a very similar story to tell. However, the important question is which one is the best bargain among the oil stocks? There is limited analysis comparing the oil majors on similar metrics, even though many analysts are making separate arguments built along the same lines.

Recently, we compared Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) to its industry competitors, Chevron (CVX) and Conoco Philipps (COP), and tracked the latest investment status of each. Then, we expertized BP (BP) with its direct competitor -- Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A). Today, we are going to compare Apache Corporation (APA), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Conoco Philipps, Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY).

If you are planning to invest in an energy company, then which company do you think has the right energy stock

Nokia Corporation (NOK) is a communications equipment company that makes a variety of mobile devices for consumers. In addition, the company offers Internet services including applications and networking services for businesses and government agencies. Although the company is best known for its mobile phone handsets, its other business units should be considered when making an investment decision.

Recent Updates

Nokia boasts a glorious past having once been a veritable 800 pound gorilla in the mobile handset space. As investors everywhere are well aware, the company missed the boat with the emergence of smartphones and is now in the midst of a major effort to restore its former glory. Some investors might be surprised to learn Nokia still holds second place behind Samsung (SSNLF.PK) in total market share for all mobile handsets, the smart kind and the not so smart kind. Again most investors are well aware the "stupidphone" market

Introduction

In the week following the Q1 2013 earnings release General Electric's (GE) share price dropped more than 6%. JPMorgan downgraded the stock and cut its price target to $22, calling General Electric "dead money near-term."

Well, what does the future hold for GE? Today we will analyze General Electric Company in comparison to its main competitors in the Industrial Goods sector: Siemens (SI) and ABB (ABB). Each of these companies have been competing and pushing their smart strategies to get ahead of the competition. Let us find out which company is leading among these three when it comes to an investment, and which is pushing down the industrial goods sector.

Recent Updates

General Electric is the largest diversified industrial company in the world by market cap, currently at about $237 billion. That is about two and a half times the size of one of its

Introduction

When we compare auto companies, we usually discuss which produces the best models along with the best quality. Many people have said that General Motors has had the best quality and models for decades. In this article however, we are not going to compare the quality of the products they produced, but rather, we will dig into the financial performances of three companies and determine the results of their operating decisions. We will not just be analyzing one year of financial records, but the five periods of historical financial data of each of these companies. By doing this, we are considering the past performances of each company. The companies are General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Company (TM) and Honda Motor Company (HMC).

Today we will answer the question as to which of these three companies, with their long histories, is considered financially healthy and profitable? Are

Introduction

Chemical producing giants DuPont (DD) and Dow Chemical (DOW) are witnessing a transition in the sources of their revenues. The chemical producers have traditionally focused on providing chemical materials for the manufacturing industry, and this has been the backbone of their growth. Over time, however, DD and DOW have begun relying heavily on agriculture to fuel their billion dollar companies. While assessing their entry into the agricultural sector, I will also be keeping Monsanto (MON) in the picture to provide a benchmark for the standings of DD and DOW in the agricultural industry. With production mixes shifting towards agriculture, I aim to find the best-suited chemical company stock for investors.

Recent Updates

The demand for DuPont's drought-resistant seeds has helped the company post a quarterly profit which has doubled from a year ago. The 210-year-old company is trying to root its business more firmly in agriculture

Introduction

There are too many articles on Seeking Alpha concerning the top oil companies. These companies have a very similar story to tell. However, the important question is which one is the best bargain among the oil stocks? There is limited analysis comparing the oil majors on similar metrics, even though many analysts are making separate arguments built along the same lines.

Recently, we compared Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) to its industry competitors, Chevron (CVX) and Conoco Philipps (COP), and tracked the latest investment status of each. Today, we are going to compare BP (BP) with its direct competitor -- Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A). The Gulf oil spill controversy continues and BP is still paying for it, both financially and from a public relations perspective, even three years after the fact. And in its latest conference call, Mr. Voser (CEO of Royal Dutch Shell) bid adieu

Introduction

In 2006, Nokia (NOK) controlled almost half of the smartphone market, but then the Apple (AAPL) iPhone emerged and everything changed. At that time, BlackBerry (BBRY) was the leading handheld device supplier and boasted a 20% market share. With the advent of smartphones, Apple and Google (GOOG) have transformed the mobile phone industry by introducing tremendous innovations and products, leaving Nokia and BlackBerry far behind in the pecking order. However, in 2013, we might be witnessing a resurgence. This resurgence, I must add, will not take shape in the United States, nor in any other developed country, since these markets are saturated with smartphones that have locked consumers into 2-year contracts, leaving little room for headway.

The way back up for Nokia and BlackBerry is in the developing markets and, most notably, China. In emerging markets, Nokia's brand loyalty and image is only surpassed by

introduction

There are too many articles on Seeking Alpha concerning the top oil companies. These companies have a very similar story to tell. They are selling at relative price multiples that are below or close to the industry average. These companies have an attractive dividend yield. Their performances were poor during the recession years, but are now showing signs of recovery. There is a positive trend in the cash flows they are generating. They are reducing their asset bases and thus are in better cash positions than they have been at any time in the last five years. However, the important question is which one is the best bargain among the oil stocks? There is limited analyses comparing the oil majors on similar metrics, even though many analysts are making separate arguments built along the same lines.

Today, we are going to compare the Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) to

The automobile sector is receiving attention as the sector has not truly recovered from the multiple macroeconomic setbacks it has experienced over the last few years, such as the subprime crisis and earthquake in Japan. In an earlier article, we evaluated three of the largest companies in the sector -- Ford (F), Volkswagen (VLKPY.PK), and Toyota (TM) -- all of which have had their share of economic jolts in the last few years. Our argument made a largely statistical case for suggesting which stock was the best bet for now.

With the housing market stabilizing and global demand picking up, the North American car industry looks to finally be getting a breather as it witnesses positive quarterly results. However, the carmakers cater to not only the Americas, but also to Europe and rest of the world. Ford and General Motors (GM) are experiencing contrasting fortunes

Recently, I received the following message from a Seeking Alpha reader:

My question is whether you think Apache (APA) could possibly have poor financial health? I ask, because some SA readers want to buy APA Preferred D, which offers a profit of 26% (let alone the dividends along the way). Should its preferred stock be called? APA-D seems like a solid investment to me; just wondering what you think…

In order to answer this question, I did some additional analysis on the financial statement about solvency ratios and liquidity ratios. These ratios will answer the above mentioned question and, perhaps, might help many SA readers make a reasonable decision.

Analysis

In my opinion, APA is financially healthy. This is proven by my calculations of this company's liquidity ratios and the solvency ratios. I'm going to walk you through the results of my calculations and the interpretations we can draw. Please

The aviation industry only has a few players, but these players are in a big and mean business. Boeing (BA) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) do not compete directly with their primary products, but many of their remaining products challenge each other. Boeing's latest Dreamliner has recently been marred by battery problems, which have kept travelers, airlines and stockholders worried sick. Lockheed Martin has the unusual problem of worrying about a drop in the number of wars around the world, which will dent the demand for its equipment. The two stocks are closely priced, so which one should you go for?

Analysis

Boeing has had a long tradition of providing quality commercial airliners and is only rivaled by the European Airbus. The two companies have taken different routes in going about their businesses. While Boeing has adopted efficiency in the form of composite deposits and lower costs of operation,

Oil is the lifeblood of all activity that takes place in the world today. Its demand is driven by an increasing population, economic activity and transportation needs. The general trend for the demand for oil has been bullish since the time oil was first discovered. Although many alternative fuel sources have been discovered over the course of the last few decades, oil still remains as the top contender for ensuring economic stability. As the world is running out of cheap oil, fluctuations in global oil prices have become more frequent. This has not only created more challenges for the oil and gas exploration and drilling companies; it has also provided them with golden opportunities.

Among all the drilling competitors, Seadrill Ltd, (SDRL) Transocean Ltd (RIG) and Ensco PLC (ESV) can be considered financially healthy. Do they have the ability to meet short- and long-term financial obligations in the

Introduction

In an earlier article we discussed BlackBerry (BBRY), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Ericsson Telephone Company (ERIC), Qualcomm (QCOM) and Motorola Solutions (MSI). Looking at the market fundamentals and base expectations on future investments of these companies, we found out that Cisco Systems was the best bet. In addition, the same story was told about this leading company - much more favorably positioned as compared with some other of its competitors, such as Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) and Juniper (JNPR).

Time has passed. Which changes did the time bring to the communication equipment industry and its main players?

Today we will compare Cisco Systems to its direct competitors in the industry: Nokia (NOK) and Ericsson Telephone Company. As people increasingly prefer smartphones because of the availability of cheap Android options in the market, will these three communications companies be able to sustain profitability in their operations in

Introduction

When we talk about industrial construction, there are a few names that pop up instantly. Yes, I am indeed talking about Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Deere & Co. (DE) and Cummins Inc. (CMI). Concerning the Investment valuation on these companies, the margin of safety was more than 50%, which is above the requirement of Benjamin Graham of at least 40% below the true value of the stock. Let us find out which stock among these three equipment companies is the best candidate for a Buy. As it is well known in the heavy equipment industry, CAT is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel electronic locomotives. Today, we will compare these three equipment companies and track the latest investment status for each.

Deep Finance Expertise

The investment valuation on CAT, DE and CMI

Jeff Immelt's efforts to get General Electric (GE) back on track have had many critics over time. Some criticize his lack of flair and ambition, while others bury him six feet under when comparing him to his predecessor. Truth be told, his predecessor's rise to popularity was due to a policy of acquire, acquire and acquire yet some more. Jeff Immelt, on the other hand, after being in the eye of storm for many years, is finally turning the fortunes of this $226.2 billion company around. As the company reports its Q1 2013 earnings, which tops estimates, I am providing an analysis of what's going right for GE and all that investors need to keep an eye out for. Furthermore, Siemens (SI) has been a conglomerate competitor of GE for a long time. Despite being more electrical in nature, the share buying opportunity between the two has never been

Introduction

Transocean (RIG) and Seadrill (SDRL) are well known names in off-shore deep sea oil and gas drilling. The former is the largest company to conduct such operations, while Seadrill is not far behind. Over the years, the two companies have transformed their fortunes and have witnessed massive expansion in their operations due to the increased demand of oil and gas from the global economy. Recently, a combination of unfavorable results and activism by investors on the stock market has led to a lot of interest in the two stocks. In this article, I aim to determine the best deep sea drilling stock addition to your portfolio.

Seadrill announced that it has secured a three-year, $662 million contract for the newly built West Neptune drillship. The vessel, to be delivered from Samsung Heavy Industries in June 2014, will be employed in the Gulf of Mexico and Bluewater