Can BP Surge Higher?

With shares of BP (NYSE:BP) trading around $46, is BP an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

BP is an integrated oil and gas company. The firm provides its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants, and the petrochemicals products used to make items like paints, clothes, and packaging. It operates in two business segments: exploration and production, and refining and marketing. BP provides energy products to consumers and companies worldwide. Without the oil and gas products provided, many consumers and businesses would not be able to operate on a daily basis.

BP is reportedly in discussions to turn over control of a major oil and natural gas project in Libya, and is apparently negotiating a deal with Libya's state-owned National Oil Co. to transfer a stake of BP's two Ghadames blocks to its subsidiary, the Arabian Gulf Oil Co., and ultimately make it the operator of the venture. The move is a blow to the country, the Wall Street Journal reports, as it is trying to lure companies in to develop Africa's largest oil reserves.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

BP stock has not made significant progress in recent years. The stock is currently trading near highs for the year. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, BP is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of BP options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
BP Options	17.43%	36%	34%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a small amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
December Options	Flat	Average
January Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a small amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on BP’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for BP look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	N/A	233.67%	192.30%	-78.97%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-50.71%	-0.74%	10.06%	7.51%
Earnings Reaction	4.98%	-3.20%	2.28%	1.35%

BP has seen increasing earnings and mixed revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have mostly been pleased with BP’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has BP stock done relative to its peers, Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDSA), and sector?

	BP	Chevron	Exxon Mobil	Royal Dutch Shell	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	10.57%	11.72%	7.09%	-3.67%	7.42%

BP has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

BP is an oil and gas company that supplies energy products and services worldwide. The company is reportedly in discussions to turn over control of a major oil and natural gas project in Libya, and is apparently negotiating a deal with Libya's state-owned National Oil Co. The stock has not made significant progress in recent years, however, it's currently trading near highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been rising while revenues have been mixed, which has left investors mostly pleased about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its weak peers and sector, BP has been a relative year-to-date performer. Look for BP to OUTPERFORM.