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Peyto Exploration & Dev (TSE:PEY)
TSX:PEY

Peyto Exploration & Dev (PEY) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:PEY

Peyto Exploration & Dev

(TSX:PEY)

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Outperform 78 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
C$32.00
▲(11.42% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/12/26
Score is driven primarily by strong recent financial performance (profitability and cash generation with improving leverage), supported by an established technical uptrend and attractive valuation (low P/E and solid dividend). The key offsets are commodity-cycle volatility, moderate free-cash-flow conversion, and earnings-call risks tied to low AECO prices and elevated government-related costs.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation
Robust 2025 operating cash flow and a sizable free cash flow outturn provide durable funding for capex, dividends and debt reduction. With OCF covering earnings ~2.3x, the company has recurring internal liquidity to support growth plans and manage cyclicality without overreliance on external financing.
Improving balance sheet
Measured deleveraging and rising equity in 2025 improved financial flexibility and reduced balance-sheet risk. Higher returns on equity (~14.7%) indicate capital is being deployed effectively, giving the company more headroom for disciplined investment and resilience through downturns while still servicing a sizable but reduced debt load.
Effective hedging policy
A demonstrably successful hedging program materially boosted realized pricing and stabilized cash flows during weak AECO pricing. By locking-in margins and reducing short-term price exposure, the policy supports predictable funds from operations, underwriting capex plans and dividend payouts across lower-price periods.
Negative Factors
Commodity cyclicality
Upstream gas exposure means earnings and cash flows remain highly sensitive to commodity price cycles. Historical swings including a 2020 loss and multi-year revenue volatility limit visibility on sustained profitability and force conservative capital planning, increasing execution risk for multi-year growth targets.
High government-related costs
A structural burden of regulatory fees, carbon and other government charges consuming ~30% of operating costs materially reduces netbacks. This lowers margin resilience in low-price periods and makes returns more sensitive to regulatory changes or tax increases, constraining long-term free cash flow potential.
Moderate FCF conversion
Despite healthy nominal free cash flow, conversion of net income into free cash flow remains under 50%, indicating significant reinvestment and working-capital/capex demands. Persistently modest conversion limits excess distributable cash, slows debt paydown potential and reduces financial cushion through commodity downturns.

Peyto Exploration & Dev (PEY) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Peyto Exploration & Dev Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPeyto Exploration & Development Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Deep Basin of Alberta. As of December 31, 2021, it had a total proved plus probable reserves of 904 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company was formerly known as Peyto Energy Trust and changed its name to Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. in January 2011. Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyPeyto makes money primarily by producing hydrocarbons and selling them into energy markets. Its core revenue stream is the sale of natural gas, with additional revenue from natural gas liquids (such as condensate and other NGL components) recovered from its production stream. Revenue is therefore driven by (1) production volumes from its wells, (2) realized commodity prices for natural gas and NGLs, and (3) the quality and mix of products it sells. The company’s earnings are also influenced by its ability to control operating and transportation costs and by its access to processing and transportation infrastructure; owning and operating parts of this infrastructure can support netbacks by reducing reliance on third-party services and improving market access. Like many Canadian producers, Peyto may use commodity price risk management (e.g., hedging) to help stabilize cash flows, which can affect realized pricing and reported revenue in a given period. Significant external factors contributing to earnings include regional natural gas benchmark pricing, basis differentials, seasonal demand, pipeline and processing constraints, and regulatory/royalty frameworks in Alberta.

Peyto Exploration & Dev Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 13, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a positive outlook with strong financial performance and production efficiency, supported by a successful hedging strategy and future growth plans. However, challenges included adverse weather impacts, low AECO prices, and high government-related costs.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Funds from operations nearly $200 million or $0.98 per diluted share, up 29% from Q3 last year, with a profit margin of 29%.
Increased Production and Efficiency
Quarterly production per share up 5% compared to Q3 last year. Operating profit margin at 72% and cash costs at their lowest since the Repsol Canada asset purchase.
Successful Hedging Strategy
Hedging added $87 million of gains or about $1.38 per Mcf for gas, contributing to a realized natural gas price of $3.57 per Mcf.
Expansion and Future Growth
Addition of a fifth rig and extension of credit facility for 4 years, with plans to invest $450 million to $500 million in capital for 2026.
Negative Updates
Wet Weather Impact
July was unusually wet, slowing down activities and resulting in some gas shut-ins due to low prices.
Low AECO Prices
AECO 7A prices averaged $0.94 per GJ, impacting the company's revenue streams.
High Government Costs
Government costs, including AER fees, Orphan Well fund fees, property tax, and carbon tax, account for 30% of operating costs.
Company Guidance
In Peyto's Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported a strong quarter with production per share up by 5% compared to Q3 last year, and production remained relatively stable quarter-over-quarter at approximately 130,000 BOEs per day. The company achieved a significant reduction in cash costs, which reached $1.21 per Mcfe ($1.13 per Mcfe without royalties), marking the lowest level since the acquisition of Repsol Canada assets in late 2023. Despite AECO 7A prices averaging a low $0.94 per GJ, Peyto's strong hedging strategy and market diversification resulted in an all-in realized natural gas price of $3.57 per Mcf, yielding a 3.3x multiple over AECO prices. Funds from operations reached nearly $200 million, up 29% year-over-year, with a profit margin of 29%. The company paid $66 million in dividends, representing $0.33 per share, with a payout ratio just under 100%. Capital expenditures for the quarter totaled $126 million, influenced by projects such as the new compressor station in Sundance and the addition of a fifth rig. Peyto's liquidity remains robust, supported by an extended credit facility of $1.05 billion, and the company expects to set a new production record in November, targeting a production exit rate of 140,000 BOEs per day by December. Looking ahead to 2026, Peyto plans to invest $450 million to $500 million in capital, aiming to drill 70 to 80 net wells, potentially adding 43,000 to 48,000 BOEs per day by year-end, while maintaining a disciplined hedging strategy to navigate market volatility.

Peyto Exploration & Dev Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong 2025 profitability (high net margin) and solid operating cash flow with improving leverage, but results are cyclical/volatile across years and free-cash-flow conversion is only moderate versus net income.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Profitability is strong and improved meaningfully in 2025: revenue rose to ~C$1.06B (up sharply vs. 2024) and net income increased to ~C$419M, with a high net margin (~40%). However, results have been volatile across the cycle (including a loss in 2020 and large revenue swings in 2021–2023), and 2025 gross margin fell versus 2024, signaling some cost/price pressure even as earnings remained strong.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Leverage looks reasonable for the sector and has improved recently: debt-to-equity declined from ~0.50 in 2024 to ~0.41 in 2025, while equity increased. Returns on equity improved to ~14.7% in 2025 from ~10–11% in 2023–2024, indicating better profitability on the capital base. The key drawback is still balance-sheet exposure to a cyclical commodity business, with debt remaining sizable (~C$1.18B) even after the improvement.
Cash Flow
74
Positive
Cash generation is healthy: 2025 operating cash flow was strong (~C$857M) and free cash flow rose to ~C$384M, with operating cash flow comfortably covering earnings (about 2.3x). The main weakness is conversion of earnings into free cash flow: free cash flow was under half of net income in 2025 (and similarly modest in prior years), implying meaningful reinvestment and/or working-capital/capex demands; free cash flow also declined in 2023–2024 before rebounding in 2025.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.06B908.25M945.51M1.63B911.98M
Gross Profit395.02M421.22M424.58M1.07B575.60M
EBITDA746.56M849.88M778.10M872.94M517.66M
Net Income418.59M280.57M292.63M390.66M152.25M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.46B5.51B5.51B4.01B3.78B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments51.06M13.63M37.18M11.90M5.72M
Total Debt1.18B1.36B1.40B864.52M1.07B
Total Liabilities2.61B2.81B2.79B1.95B2.02B
Stockholders Equity2.85B2.70B2.71B2.06B1.77B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow384.13M215.49M233.84M304.92M92.82M
Operating Cash Flow857.48M672.36M644.87M811.78M457.87M
Investing Cash Flow-452.45M-432.24M-1.15B-516.91M-351.43M
Financing Cash Flow-367.60M-263.66M527.27M-288.68M-110.03M

Peyto Exploration & Dev Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price28.72
Price Trends
50DMA
24.97
Positive
100DMA
23.19
Positive
200DMA
20.80
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.98
Negative
RSI
71.60
Negative
STOCH
87.65
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:PEY, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 28.72 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 26.87, above the 50-day MA of 24.97, and above the 200-day MA of 20.80, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.98 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 71.60 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.65 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:PEY.

Peyto Exploration & Dev Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$4.37B14.3227.19%3.04%115.77%
78
Outperform
C$5.88B10.8913.75%5.77%11.52%24.76%
73
Outperform
$4.25B2.7048.07%2.84%-32.36%282.99%
68
Neutral
C$5.16B-110.02-4.70%1.91%-1.36%-149.45%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
65
Neutral
C$4.11B-1.00-16.22%2.07%-8.89%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:PEY
Peyto Exploration & Dev
28.72
13.11
84.01%
TSE:BTE
Baytex Energy
5.55
2.57
86.55%
TSE:ATH
Athabasca Oil
9.10
3.91
75.34%
TSE:POU
Paramount Resources
29.44
13.19
81.19%
TSE:TVE
Tamarack Valley Energy
10.63
6.56
160.86%

Peyto Exploration & Dev Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Peyto Boosts Reserves, Cuts Debt and Sets $450–$500 Million 2026 Capital Plan
Positive
Feb 20, 2026

Peyto reported strong 2025 reserves additions, adding 504 BCFe of new proved developed producing reserves at its lowest finding, development and acquisition cost in 23 years, while growing reserves across all categories and achieving record December production of 145,000 boe/d. The company invested $475 million in capital, funded just over half from funds from operations while returning $265 million in dividends and reducing net debt by $170 million, and its low-cost structure and hedging delivered robust netbacks and recycle ratios, supporting a before-tax net present value of up to $9.4 billion on a proved plus probable basis.

The board approved a 2026 capital budget of $450–$500 million, aimed at drilling 70–80 net horizontal wells and optimizing existing infrastructure to add up to 48,000 boe/d of new production and more than offset natural declines. With hedges securing over $4.00/Mcf for roughly 475 MMcf/d of gas and additional liquids hedges, Peyto expects more than $830 million of revenue in 2026, providing coverage for capital spending and dividends while enabling continued debt reduction and reinforcing its competitive position in the Canadian gas sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:PEY) stock is a Hold with a C$24.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Peyto Exploration & Dev stock, see the TSE:PEY Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividends
Peyto Confirms March Payout for February Monthly Dividend
Positive
Feb 13, 2026

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. has confirmed it will pay a monthly dividend of $0.11 per common share for February 2026, with the payout scheduled for March 13, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 28. The company noted that these dividends qualify as eligible dividends for Canadian tax purposes, reinforcing its commitment to ongoing shareholder returns while directing investors to its website for detailed monthly reports on capital spending and production trends.

By maintaining a consistent dividend policy alongside regular disclosure of operating metrics, Peyto underscores its strategy of balancing income for shareholders with continued investment in its resource base and growth initiatives. This approach may appeal to income-focused investors in the energy sector who are looking for both predictable cash flows and visibility into how management allocates capital in a volatile commodity price environment.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:PEY) stock is a Hold with a C$24.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Peyto Exploration & Dev stock, see the TSE:PEY Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividends
Peyto Confirms $0.11 Monthly Dividend for January 2026
Positive
Jan 15, 2026

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. has confirmed a monthly dividend of $0.11 per common share for January 2026, payable on February 13, 2026, to shareholders of record as of January 31, 2026. The dividend, designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian tax purposes, underscores Peyto’s ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders while maintaining transparency through its monthly online reporting of spending and production trends, reinforcing its appeal to income-focused investors in the energy sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:PEY) stock is a Buy with a C$25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Peyto Exploration & Dev stock, see the TSE:PEY Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Peyto Extends Debt Maturities With New $100 Million Senior Notes
Positive
Jan 5, 2026

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. has refinanced its debt by issuing $100 million in senior secured notes at a 5.03% coupon, maturing in 2033, through a private placement that ranks pari passu with its existing credit facilities and note agreements. The proceeds were used to fully repay $100 million of notes that matured on January 3, 2026, effectively extending the company’s debt maturity profile and supporting balance-sheet stability without increasing net debt, which may enhance financial flexibility and investor confidence in its long-term funding strategy.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:PEY) stock is a Buy with a C$27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Peyto Exploration & Dev stock, see the TSE:PEY Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Peyto Exploration & Development Confirms December Dividend
Positive
Dec 15, 2025

Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. announced a monthly dividend of $0.11 per common share for December 2025, payable on January 15, 2026. This announcement reinforces Peyto’s commitment to providing returns to its shareholders and highlights its stable financial position within the energy sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:PEY) stock is a Buy with a C$27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Peyto Exploration & Dev stock, see the TSE:PEY Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 12, 2026