Intelligent Investor

Orogen hung out to dry

The cashflows are awesome but the negatives are building. STOP LOSSES or, if you're game, HOLD.
By · 24 Aug 2001
By ·
24 Aug 2001
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Oohmedia Limited - OML
Current price
$1.65 at 16:40 (18 April 2024)

Price at review
$1.00 at (24 August 2001)
All Prices are in AUD ($)
Orogen's share price has been falling. And fast. Since its heyday of $4 in 1997 it's dipped under a $1 this year.

It hasn't been easy to pinpoint why. Since issue 30 (Buy - $1.62) we have been optimistic. NTA was $1.90 a share, there was no debt, plenty of cashflow (in US dollars) and 'the PNG-Queensland gas pipeline was drawing near'. But it wasn't.

Orogen's half-year results showed profit of $38.9m, 27% lower than the same time last year. The rate of natural decline in its oil and gas division is speeding up and even its Porgera Gold Mine is long in the tooth.

Now that the PNG-QLD pipeline may not happen, there's a chance that the company may have to divert more cash into exploration or acquisition to grow.With so many negatives, including the PNG government scaring institutional investors, why own it?

The cashflows are great, there's a gas project that may come good and two new wells to be drilled in about six months. That's about it. If you are tired of waiting, as we are, then SELL and STOP LOSSES. If not, HOLD FOR THE UPSIDE.

IMPORTANT: Intelligent Investor is published by InvestSMART Financial Services Pty Limited AFSL 226435 (Licensee). Information is general financial product advice. You should consider your own personal objectives, financial situation and needs before making any investment decision and review the Product Disclosure Statement. InvestSMART Funds Management Limited (RE) is the responsible entity of various managed investment schemes and is a related party of the Licensee. The RE may own, buy or sell the shares suggested in this article simultaneous with, or following the release of this article. Any such transaction could affect the price of the share. All indications of performance returns are historical and cannot be relied upon as an indicator for future performance.
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