Back in 2008, Goldman Sachs listed Petrobras’ share price at $60. Today, it commands $20 a share, and we expect that price to fall further in the future. The Brazilian oil giant just is not what it once was.
Investors are mostly scared by the simple fact that Petrobras does not exist to make a profit for them, but rather to serve the nation in whatever way the Brazilian government sees fit. Following a multi-billion dollar secondary share offering a few years ago and government intervention capping fuel prices and therefore profit, investors are worried that the government is trying to ever increase its control in the company.
The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Petrobras has just reported its worst results in over a decade, losing over 1.35 billion Brazilian reais ($668 million), down from the 10.9 billion reais in profit it made this time last year.
(More: Cultural Problems Prevent Progress in the Fracking Debate)
Chief Executive Maria das Gracas Foster said that they “are working to recover our profitability.” Her task is not an easy one. Petrobras’ profits will continue to be low in all likelihood, because the company's lack of refining capacity means it can't produce the fuel that it needs.
(More: Chicago to Build $3 Billion Coal Gasification Plant)
Even as the price of oil has increased, shares in Petrobras have remained low, struggling to stay above $20 for months. Long gone are the days of the $60-a-share dream.
By Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com
—This story originally appeared on Oilprice.com.