CLD, XCO, NFX, NRG, NEM Fall to 52-Week Lows

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of the following stocks slipped to 52-week lows on Thursday: Cloud Peak Energy(CLD) , EXCO Resources(XCO) , Newfield Exploration(NFX) , NRG Energy(NRG) and Newmont Mining(NEM) .

Cloud Peak Energy

"BMO Research recommends contrarian energy investors look into Cloud Peak," BMO Capital Markets analysts wrote in a March 8 report. "Cloud Peak has an attractive coal contract position with 94% of FY2012 production priced at $13.47/t and approximately 60% of FY2013 production priced at US$14.27/t. In addition, Cloud expects to sell ~4.5Mt to the export market via Westshore Terminals in Vancouver; just 4% of volumes, but at very attractive margins given strong thermal coal pricing in the Pacific Basin. Cloud Peak also has below-average costs for the Powder River Basin, one of the lowest-cost coal producing regions in the world, allowing it to compete even at natural gas pricing nearing US$3/mmBcf."

Shares of Cloud Peak Energy fell to a 52-week low of $15.72 on Thursday. The stock's 52-week high of $24.34 was set on Oct. 28.

Cloud Peak Energy has an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 7.25 times; the average for coal companies is 12.2. For comparison, Peabody Energy(BTU) has a lower forward P/E of 6.63; Consol Energy's(CNX) forward P/E is 11.36.

Ten of the 19 analysts who cover Cloud Peak Energy rated it buy. Eight analysts gave the stock a hold rating and one rated it sell.