UPDATE: Canaccord Genuity Downgrades Bill Barrett Corporation to Hold on Uinta Basin Weakness

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Bill Barrett Corporation

from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $36.00 to $19.00. Canaccord Genuity said, "Based on actual capital spending/production performance, the capital intensity of the Uinta play is comparable to other major oil plays. Yet, Uinta crude sells at a $15-$20 NYMEX discount given its high-paraffin content and limited regional market, while Bakken/Niobrara/Permian oil sells at a $5-$10 deduct to NYMEX. Accordingly, while the other major oil plays generate a 10% unleveraged return at ~$100 NYMEX, the Uinta play requires a $115-$120 NYMEX oil price to generate the same return." Bill Barrett Corporation closed at $18.66 on Friday.