Coterra(US:CTRA) ZACKSยท2025-09-15 12:42Industry Overview - The U.S. Energy Department reported a natural gas storage injection of 71 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ended Sept. 5, exceeding market expectations of 69 Bcf and significantly above the five-year average of 56 Bcf [3] - Total natural gas stocks reached 3,343 Bcf, which is 38 Bcf (1.1%) below the 2024 level but 188 Bcf (6%) higher than the five-year average [4] - Natural gas futures experienced a weekly decline of 3.5%, closing at $2.941/MMBtu, influenced by a bearish storage build and softer demand [5][9] Long-term Outlook - Analysts project stronger withdrawals this winter, with inventories expected to normalize closer to historical averages by 2026, supported by rising LNG exports and resilient industrial demand [7] - The natural gas market is anticipated to stabilize near the $3/MMBtu mark, underpinned by steady U.S. production and continued LNG expansion [6] Company Focus - Expand Energy (EXE): The largest natural gas producer in the U.S. post-merger, positioned to benefit from increasing demand driven by LNG exports and electrification trends. The 2025 earnings per share estimate indicates a 325.5% year-over-year surge [10][11] - Coterra Energy (CTRA): An independent upstream operator with significant holdings in the Marcellus Shale, expected earnings per share growth rate for three to five years is 30.1%, outperforming the industry average [12][13] - Excelerate Energy (EE): Specializes in LNG infrastructure, representing 20% of the global Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) fleet. The 2025 earnings per share estimate indicates a 5.5% year-over-year growth [14][15]