A downside to hedging… WSJ

“Hedging played a big role in companies’ underwhelming cash generation. Seeking stability after years of wild fluctuations in crude prices, many operators entered into derivatives contracts in late 2017 that effectively ensured they could sell some of their 2018 output for $50 to $55 a barrel. Now that prices have risen to more than $70 a barrel, many are failing to capture the value of the rally. WPX Energy Inc.reported an adjusted net loss of $30 million last quarter, which it said was driven by $69 million in losses on its hedges due to higher oil prices.

Some companies are already adjusting their strategies because of higher oil prices. Parsley Energy, which is focused on the Permian Basin, the oil field in Texas and New Mexico that is currently the center of U.S. shale-drilling activity, hedged most of its 2018 production. It plans to change that going forward, and expects to generate more cash relative to spending in coming quarters.”