Top 5 European Companies To Watch For 2015

Top 5 European Companies To Watch For 2015: TotalFinaElf S.A.(TOT)

TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It also involves in the transportation, trade, and marketing of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as in LNG re-gasification and natural gas storage operations. In addition, this segment engages in the shipping and trade of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); power generation from gas-fired power plants, nuclear, or renewable energies; production, trade, and marketing of coal, as well as in solar power systems and technology operations. As of December 31, 2010, it had combined proved reserves of 10,695 Mboe of oil and gas. The Downstream segment involves in refining, marketing, trading, and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. It also produces a range of specialty products, s uch as lubricants, LPG, jet fuel, special fluids, bitumen, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstock. This segment holds interests in 24 refineries located in Europe, the United States, the French West Indies, Africa, and China, as well as operates a network of 17,490 service stations. The Chemicals segment produces base chemicals, including petrochemicals and fertilizers, as well as engages in rubber processing, resins, adhesives, and electroplating activities. TOTAL S.A. was founded in 1924 and is based in Paris, France.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By RichardCox]

  Investors looking for exposure in energy stocks without the added risks that accompanies firms that are heavily focused on properties in the Middle East, additional choices can be found in Octagon 88 Resources (OTCQB:OCTX), and France's Total (TOT). Market valuations at Octagon! 88 have yet to match the broader rallies in oil prices, but this could change in coming months as key development projections continue to make progress. Specifically, Octagon's Peace River will likely add 1.6 billion barrels of oil to the company's total output potential but the stock price is still trading at the middle of its yearly range, so there is little to suggest that these improvements have been priced into the company's stock price.

• [By Varun Chandan, Arora]

  The Yamal LNG project, which is being developed by Novatek, France's Total SA (NYSE: TOT  ) , and China's CNPC, already has the required permits. The LNG plant will have three trains with total capacity of 16.5 million tons of LNG per year, with the first LNG train currently scheduled to start-up in late 2017. The main market for LNG will be China.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Ensco provided an updated fleet status report, which was highlighted by an initial contract for its ultra-deepwater newbuild drillship, Ensco DS-8 (12,000′), expected to begin work for Total (TOT) in Angola during 3Q15 (through 3Q20) at an initial dayrate in the high $610 range (vs. our estimate of $505k/day) with periodic increases equating to an average rate in the mid-$650 range over the 5-year program (ex-mob).

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-european-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html