RSS 2.0Atom
To add an specific blogger’s feed, simply go to their blog and click on their individual RSS link.
Liquified Gases
Rating: 0.83 (18 votes)
Vote: 
InvestorPlace Blogs is powered by Marketocracy. Marketocracy has authorized Investor Place Blogs as an official registrar for voting through Marketocracy's Investment Research Rating service. Registered members of InvestorPlace Blogs are linked with a Marketocracy account to establish voting power based on their performance of trading and posting on stocks.
Greetings Marketocracy Mariners, May no obstacle come across your way. Today we'll blog on two companies that have specialized tanker ships for the transportation of LNG and LPG. At (-)260 degrees F, natural gas condenses to a liquid called liquefied natural gas (LNG). The liquid takes up only 1/600 of the volume of the natural gas. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are the largest importers of LNG and demand in China, India, and the US is growing rapidly. There has not been a major accident involving LNG tankers since maritime inception of the trade in 1959. LNG is shipped in super-cooled, pressurized tanks. Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) The Norwegian company has 30 years of experience in LNG transportation and is listed on the NASDAQ and Oslo exchanges. It owns and operates a dozen vessels. It's customer's include BG Group, Pertamina, and Shell. Golar is converting two of it's ships into FSRU (Floating Storage & Regasification Units) for charter by Petrobras and is also working on other special projects like the Cyprus Floating Power Generating Plant (FPGP). Analyst consensus is a strong buy. Current dividend yield is over 10% and the P/E is a low 12.5. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is portable and can be stored as a liquid in tanks by applying pressure alone (think bottle under the BBQ). It is bought and sold as propane, butane, and mixtures. Among it's uses are cooking fuel, in vehicles as auto gas, home heating, refrigeration and air conditioning. LPG is also shipped under pressure but does not need to be cooled. The spherical tanks of gas carriers jut above the deck and give them a very specific look. StealthGas Inc. (GASS), a Greek company, owns a fleet of 39 LPG carriers that operate worldwide. Once delivery of it's last three ships is complete, the fleet will have an average age of 10.1 years (industry average is 17). The plan is to own 46 ships by the end of 2008. Customers include Petredec, Dow Chemical, Finaval, Petrobras, and Shell. Analysts rate the company a moderate buy. Strong growth, focus, a dividend over 4%, and efficient operation make GASS a welcome part of Crow's Nest. Many of the companies that make up the Crow's Nest portfolio are Greek. The Greek merchant fleet is the largest in the world. This past weekend wildfires destroyed many Greek villages and killed over 60 people. Some of the fires are still burning. Our prayers and wishes for go out for their quick resolution and a speedy recovery. Robert | ||
