The Canadian Petro Dollar & Alberta Petroleum Industry Oil Price

The first month of 2016 turned out to be quite harsh for the Canadian dollar and those who use it, giving even more meaning to its pseudonym "the loonie".
Unlike the US Dollar which is riding high at the expense of nearly every other currency, the rate given for the Canadian (and Russia) version dipped to just under 68 cents breaking 25+ year lows (early 1990's was the last time the currency was anywhere close to current levels).

You might ask: why is there such a strong correlation between the loonie and the oil price ?  and why doesn't the US dollar share that relationship to oil all things considered. 

ExxonMobil XOM, Chevron Corporation CVX are two of America's largest companies; oil companies represent 6% of the nasdaq 500; 3 of the 5 highest yieilding s&p 500 stocks are oil companies; United States oil production now ranks second behind Saudi Arabia.

look no futher than gdp vs the petroleum industry

Canada may produce less oil than the United States but its economy is nine times smaller and that makes it more dependent on the commodity (7% of gdp directly - tens of billions of dollars in capital expenditures by big oil which for the last five years fueled all of the growth in the only job-creating provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan).  Also note that the USA only recently started exporting oil abroad - Canada exports nearly all of its oil to the United States thanks to a lack of oil refineries out west (Canada's biggest refinery is on the east coast and there are currently no pipelines going west to east).
Another thing to consider is the quality of oil that Canada produces.  Canadian oil is more like tar - it requires heavy processing before it can even be used by refineries.  This adds costs to usage and makes it less attractive to potential buyers.

What was the perfect set of conditions stateside turned out to be the perfect storm for Canadians

While Americans were being spoiled with 10 cents per litre gas price, Canadians faced rapid inflation thanks to their dependancy on the US for food ($8 cauliflower was commonplace).

Costco Conquers Canada

According to the most recent results out of Costco Canada, same store sales are up by a record 9% twice what it is stateside and triple that reported by Canadian grocery leaders Loblaw Companies and Sobeys.

Oil Companies 2013 Results Impacted By Oil Sands Production, Lower Refinery Margins, Kearl Project Christina Lake

2013 was a great year for three of my favorite oil companies - Suncor Energy (nyse:SU), Cenovus Energy (nyse:CVE) and Imperial Oil (nyse:IMO).  For the most part, production, revenue, earnings and dividends were up, however plummeting refining margins coupled with a stronger US dollar negatively affected an otherwise solid financial statement from Cenovus Energy.  I have read through the SEC filings from these companies and will give a brief synopsis of the results.

America Choosing Not To Renew Licenses For Coal Fired Power Plants Gives China, India Economies Competitive Advantage

Nearly 1200 coal fired power plants will be coming online around the world in 2014 ; a cost-benefit-efficiency analysis shows that coal fired power plants produce energy at a very low cost and that's giving US competitors China, India and other emerging markets a strategic advantage.  Another interesting thing to note is this - after a string of attacks on nuclear power plants, their vulnerability has been called into question.

Despite what the nay sayers are saying, US carbon emissions are at their lowest levels since 1994; the reason for this is simple - the so-called 'dirty energy' sources are producing at a very high level of efficiency (power plants fitted with sulfur and carbon scrubbers).

2013 Highlights From Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil

Suncor Energy (SU) 2013 Highlights

Net earnings up significantly thanks in part to a strong fourth quarter; last year, 4Q loss was $574 million due to Voyageur incident / writedown on assets in Libya.  12-month net income: $3,911 million up from $2,740 million.  Hindering earnings is the strong US dollar:  fx loss of $157 million in 2013 vs fx gain of $521 million in 2012.
Capex of $6.380 billion is up marginally from $6.370 billion last year: capex on oil sands down 13% -> $4.311 billion; capex on refining and marketing up 38% -> $890 million.  Planned capital and exploration budget of $7.8 billion for 2014.

Concluded 2013 with record quarterly net production from the oil sands (409,600 bpd) up from 342,800 bpd in 4Q2012.

For the year, production was up at oil sands operations (+33,300 or 9.3% -> 392,500 bpd) but down in the exploration and production segment (189,900 -> 169,900).  Production mix is moving away from natural gas (only 6% from natural gas, down from 9%). Refinery utilization down in Western North America (100% -> 96%).  Price per barrel realized up:  oil sands: $84.22 (vs $82.75);  exploration and production: $91.44 (vs $84.05).

Operating Netback:  increases came from North America Onshore (+33.5% -> $2.51 / mcfe), Other International (+14.5% -> $47.85 / bbl), East Coast Canada (+12.0% -> $73.02 / bbl).  Strongest netback results from North Sea Buzzard where the company pays no royalties (netback @$101.50 (vs $99.74) on avg price realized of $109.95 (up from $108.46).  15% increase in quarterly dividend up to 23 cents.  Net earnings up significantly in the final quarter:  $443 million profit, up from $557 million loss.

Cenovus Energy 2013 Highlights 

Up and Coming Natural Gas Companies Progress Energy (PRQ) Tourmaline Oil Corp (tse:TOU) Paramount Resources (POU) Intermediate

                  Over the last two years these rapidly growing companies (five billion dollar Tourmaline Oil Corp is only 4 years old !) weathered the steep decline in natural gas prices, which is quite impressive to say the least;  2012 first half revenues at Tourmaline (+32% --> $204 million), Paramount Resources (-6.2% --> $101 million) and Progress Energy (-12% --> $103 million) all stable despite the huge drop in natural gas price realized: Tourmaline -46.2% Paramount -43.2% Progress -33.5%.  What's more, these companies were able to attract the investment (Progress received $1.1 billion from Petronas) necessary to maintain capex spending (-3% Paramount, -22% Tourmaline) at a time when Canada's biggest player, Encana divested $2.2 billion in assets and lowered its 2011 investment plan by -37%. 

Yes, the federal government's ruling against the takeover of Progress Energy by Petronas complicates things for investors;  for many intermediate gas producers cash flow lags capital, making outside cash (investment) essential for asset development to continue, but I wouldn't be too concerned.  Cash flow will experience a natural rise over the coming quarters because natural gas prices are on the way up !  +73% in just the last six months.