Ultra Petroleum (UPL) is the leading producer in the natural gas arena, reason being that their focus is almost entirely on natural gas. This is in contrast with companies like Chesapeake Energy (CHKA.Q), Devon Energy (DVN -0.32%), and SandRidge Energy
With natural gas prices slowly creeping up, expect to see $4 per 1,000 cubic feet in the not-too-distant future. At $4, Ultra Petroleum will be able to drive 8%-10% returns on small wells, which is far better than the industry can do as a whole. Ultimately, UPL's specialization goes to show that when prices are low, lack of differentiation can spell major trouble, but once prices start to rise, this positioning can lead to an industry's share of rewards.
Fool.com analyst Joel South recently saw Ultra Petroleum's company presentation, which provided insight at the firm level as well as a valuable look at the present natural gas market. Watch the video below for Joel's takeaways from the presentation and his analysis of Ultra Petroleum's prospects for the future.
Another player in this space with an exciting future is SandRidge Energy. Investors were startled after SandRidge plummeted when natural gas prices reached 10-year lows, but with the company halfway through its ambitious three-year plan to profitability, the future looks bright. If you are unsure about the future of this emerging oil and gas junior, and are looking to find out more about its strengths and weaknesses, you should view this brand new premium report detailing SandRidge's game plan and what to expect from the company going forward. To get started -- click here!