In this post I will try to review the 4Q results posted by some companies I always follow: ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT), BP plc (NYSE:BP) and AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE:AKS). Only BP plc (NYSE:BP) and AK Steel are already a part of my equity portfolio, though I have written many times about Mittal and I follow this company very closely. Let’s start reviewing BP’s financial results and comments from management, followed by Mittal and Ak Steel.
BP is, according to management, starting a new era defined by (1), the near end of its conflict with the US government and (2), an asset base that is smaller but also has better growth prospects. Management also stressed how the $38 billion disposal target was successfully achieved one year before the planned scheduled date. Not everything was just words. There were some good surprises on the earnings side too, such as the 21% EPS beat. Nevertheless, BP still seems to be trading at a fairly cheap level. Valuation stands at 5.2x EV to 2013 EBITDA and 11.6x P/E (while paying a 4.9% cash dividend yield) reflecting how worried investors still are about the potential coming liabilities from the oil spill.
I am long on BP shares because I think that, in the end, BP will finish its legal conflicts and the company will manage to come back to growth. After all, BP will spend over $24 billion a year in its capex program and, after the disposals, there are many valuable assets left in very different geographic areas. I am sure 2013 will be the last year with a Year over Year (YoY) fall in production and I am also convinced BP will be able to close its TNK-BP sale to Rosneft before the end of 2013.
The steel industry is a different story, but I am also bullish on it
I am not alone. Lakshimi Mittal, Arcelor Mittal’s chairman, said he was positive about his industry. That said, at the time he was making those bullish predictions, his company was announcing a $3.7 billion loss for 2012. His theory is simple. Even if demand in Europe will continue to be weak, China’s growth and Brazil’s growth should come back in 2013. Arcelor Mittal’s chairman also thinks the US market for steel should get substantially better as the housing market recovers. As a matter of fact, and even if Europe is home to some of the company’s biggest plants, the company said it expected its steel shipments to rise 2% to 3% in 2013 after a 2.3% fall last year. In consequence, Mittal’s earnings will improve substantially this year and the company will continue reducing its debt pile (now standing at $21.8 billion). There is a lot of room for improvement for Arcelor Mittal shares. After all, last year’s loss is mainly explained by a huge ($4.3 billion) goodwill write down. It will not happen again.
