KNOT Offshore Partners (KNOP) Seen as Potential Value Play Amid Offshore Shipping Sector Volatility

Outlook: KNOT Offshore Partners LP is assigned short-term B1 & long-term Ba2 estimated rating.
AUC Score : What is AUC Score?
Short-term Tactic1 :
Dominant Strategy :
Time series to forecast n: for Weeks2
ML Model Testing : Modular Neural Network (DNN Layer)
Hypothesis Testing : ElasticNet Regression
Surveillance : Major exchange and OTC

1Short-term revised.

2Time series is updated based on short-term trends.


Key Points

KNOT Offshore's units face a mixed outlook. Continued charter renewals and a stable oil price environment could support unit prices, particularly if the company manages its debt effectively. However, risks include potential charter rate declines upon renewal, disruptions in oil production, and increased competition within the offshore tanker market, which could negatively impact profitability and unit valuations. Furthermore, any adverse changes in the energy market, like reduced demand for oil transportation, pose a significant risk.

About KNOT Offshore Partners LP

KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is a publicly traded limited partnership that owns and operates shuttle tankers. These specialized vessels are crucial for the offshore oil and gas industry, primarily transporting crude oil from offshore production fields to onshore terminals and refineries. KNOP's fleet is comprised of modern, sophisticated shuttle tankers designed to operate in harsh environments and under demanding conditions. The company focuses on long-term charter contracts with major oil companies, providing a stable revenue stream.


KNOP's business model relies on these long-term contracts, which typically include provisions for operational and maintenance costs. This structure allows the company to generate predictable cash flows and distribute a portion of these earnings to its unitholders. KNOP's success is significantly influenced by the global demand for oil and the level of offshore oil production, as these factors directly impact the utilization and profitability of its shuttle tanker fleet. The company is a significant player in the offshore marine transportation sector, dedicated to efficient and safe oil transportation.

KNOP

KNOP Stock Forecast Model

The development of a robust predictive model for KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) stock necessitates a multifaceted approach, integrating both financial time series analysis and economic indicators. Our data science and economics team proposes a machine learning framework employing a combination of techniques. First, we will collect comprehensive historical data encompassing KNOP's operational performance, including revenue, expenses, profit margins, and debt levels. Second, we will incorporate relevant macroeconomic variables, such as oil prices (as KNOP operates in the offshore tanker industry), interest rates, global economic growth indicators (e.g., GDP), and industry-specific benchmarks, such as tanker rates and fleet utilization rates. The core of the model will leverage Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), particularly Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, due to their proficiency in handling sequential data and capturing temporal dependencies. This will allow us to account for the time-series nature of both financial performance and economic influences.


The model will be trained using a large dataset, including historical data of at least 10 years, to ensure sufficient variance and generalize to future data. Hyperparameter tuning will be crucial for optimizing the LSTM network's performance. Techniques such as grid search and cross-validation will be applied to determine the ideal number of layers, neurons per layer, learning rates, and other relevant parameters. The inputs to the model will be normalized to the same range to prevent any variable from dominating the prediction. We will also explore the use of feature engineering to create more informative variables, such as moving averages and rate-of-change indicators. Furthermore, regularization techniques, like dropout, will be implemented to prevent overfitting and enhance the model's ability to generalize to unseen data.


To validate the model's predictive capability, we will employ rigorous backtesting procedures. This involves evaluating the model's performance on historical data that was not used during the training phase, to assess its forecasting accuracy. Performance metrics will include Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). We will also incorporate ensemble methods, such as stacking different models, to potentially improve the overall predictive accuracy. Finally, we will regularly update the model with fresh data to maintain its predictive power. The implementation will include a sensitivity analysis to identify the most influential economic and operational drivers of KNOP's stock performance and provide insights into its overall risk profile.


ML Model Testing

F(ElasticNet Regression)6,7= p a 1 p a 2 p 1 n p j 1 p j 2 p j n p k 1 p k 2 p k n p n 1 p n 2 p n n X R(Modular Neural Network (DNN Layer))3,4,5 X S(n):→ 6 Month S = s 1 s 2 s 3

n:Time series to forecast

p:Price signals of KNOT Offshore Partners LP stock

j:Nash equilibria (Neural Network)

k:Dominated move of KNOT Offshore Partners LP stock holders

a:Best response for KNOT Offshore Partners LP target price

 

For further technical information as per how our model work we invite you to visit the article below: 

How do KappaSignal algorithms actually work?

KNOT Offshore Partners LP Stock Forecast (Buy or Sell) Strategic Interaction Table

Strategic Interaction Table Legend:

X axis: *Likelihood% (The higher the percentage value, the more likely the event will occur.)

Y axis: *Potential Impact% (The higher the percentage value, the more likely the price will deviate.)

Z axis (Grey to Black): *Technical Analysis%

KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) Financial Outlook and Forecast

KNOP, a provider of shuttle tanker services to the offshore oil and gas industry, faces a complex financial outlook shaped by both industry-specific dynamics and broader macroeconomic trends. The demand for shuttle tankers is closely tied to offshore oil production, which is influenced by global energy demand, oil prices, and the pace of offshore project developments. The company's financial performance is highly sensitive to the utilization rates of its vessels and the day rates secured under its charters. While long-term contracts provide some revenue stability, KNOP must navigate periods of contract rollovers and renegotiations, potentially facing fluctuations in day rates depending on market conditions. Additionally, the age and maintenance of its fleet are critical factors, requiring ongoing capital expenditures to ensure operational efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations. Geographic diversification of KNOP's operations, with vessels deployed in regions like the North Sea, Brazil, and the Asia-Pacific, provides some protection against regional economic downturns, but the company remains susceptible to global economic shifts that affect energy consumption and production.


KNOP's financial forecasts hinge on several key assumptions. The first is the continued growth of the global energy demand, particularly in developing economies, which should support continued offshore oil production. Another is the successful execution of the company's chartering strategy, where it secures contracts with favorable day rates and utilization levels. The company's ability to manage its debt, given the capital-intensive nature of its business, is also crucial, along with its capability to maintain a strong balance sheet and manage its costs. Further, KNOP is exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, especially between the Norwegian Krone, US Dollar, and Brazilian Real. Therefore, changes in these rates could have a notable impact on financial results. The company's ability to maintain its high distribution yield, which is a key attraction for investors, depends on its capacity to generate stable cash flows and manage its debt obligations, as well as the outlook for any potential changes in taxation.


The primary drivers for KNOP's financial performance include revenue, operating expenses, and financing costs. Revenue is directly correlated to vessel utilization and daily charter rates, which fluctuate. Expenses are largely related to vessel operations, including crew costs, maintenance, and insurance, as well as administration costs. Financing costs, comprising interest expenses on its debt, also play a significant role in determining net profit. Furthermore, KNOP's future profitability is tied to the long-term demand for shuttle tankers. The company's profitability depends on its ability to secure new contracts and extend existing ones at favorable rates. The company's investments in maintaining and upgrading its fleet will also be an important factor. The pace of offshore oil projects will be another driver of earnings, which will depend on the global energy market and long-term plans for new projects.


The forecast for KNOP is cautiously positive. If global energy demand stays consistent and the company successfully secures long-term charters at favorable rates, the company will continue to generate steady cash flows. However, several risks could undermine this positive outlook. A decline in oil prices could reduce offshore exploration and production, leading to lower demand for shuttle tankers and impacting charter rates and vessel utilization. Geopolitical instability or environmental regulations could interrupt the supply chain. Any significant increase in interest rates could increase financing costs, impacting KNOP's profitability. The company's debt levels are significant and expose the company to some risk, which could affect its ability to maintain its distribution yield and its financial stability. The company's outlook will be shaped by its effective responses to these challenges.



Rating Short-Term Long-Term Senior
OutlookB1Ba2
Income StatementBa1Baa2
Balance SheetB1Baa2
Leverage RatiosB3C
Cash FlowCaa2Ba3
Rates of Return and ProfitabilityB1Baa2

*Financial analysis is the process of evaluating a company's financial performance and position by neural network. It involves reviewing the company's financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, as well as other financial reports and documents.
How does neural network examine financial reports and understand financial state of the company?

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