The Shale Revolution Is Over

In a new report, A.B. Bernstein analyst Bob Brackett looked at the boom and bust of the U.S. shale revolution.

Starting in 2006, U.S. gas supply grew 28 BCFD (44 percent), including explosive growth in Arkansas (341 percent), West Virginia (449 percent) and Pennsylvania (2,579 percent). In addition, from the end of 2012 to the middle of 2015, U.S. oil supply grew by 1 million BOPD annually. However, the U.S. finally reached the tipping point for production growth last week with growth crossing over into negative territory for the first time.

While the U.S. shale industry is far from out of the water just yet, Brackett sees this transition as the official end of the U.S. shale revolution.

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“Falling supply and resilient demand will allow oil inventories to drain in the second half of the year, leading to improved pricing,” Brackett explained.

Bernstein sees falling inventories as a buying opportunity for investors.

A Few Names

The firm has Outperform ratings on the following stocks:

• Apache Corporation APA
• Cobalt International Energy, Inc. CIE
• Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation COG
• ConocoPhillips COP
• Devon Energy Corp DVN
• EOG Resources Inc EOG
• Range Resources Corp. RRC
• Southwestern Energy Company SWN

Disclosure: The author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.