Credit Suisse's E&P Earnings Recap And Top Stock Picks

Credit Suisse recently gave a recap of 4Q14 earnings season for the exploration and production (E&P) sector. Analysts updated their ratings and price targets for 12 names in the space. Investors interested The stock market is near all-time highs, and the lagging energy sector is one place that investors are looking for potential upside. According to a Credit Suisse survey, E&P and refiner stocks are drawing particular interest from investors. Oil recovery already priced in Analysts concede that crude oil may be near its bottom for this cycle. However, they believe that a sharp recovery in oil prices is already priced into many E&P stocks. Analysts address this sharp recovery in oil prices, which they "fear may take longer to materialize given the sharp drop in capital costs." Service providers have already lowered costs significantly, but analysts believe that total cost reductions could reach 30 percent if the $50/bbl price environment persists. Top picks Given the uncertainty surrounding oil prices, analysts recommend investors take a defensive approach to the sector. Low leverage and low cost assets make PDC Energy Inc

, Diamondback Energy Inc

and Gulfport Energy Corp

Credit Suisse's top stock picks in the space. Credit Suisse also updated ratings and price targets for the following 12 stocks: Antero Resources Corp

-Outperform; $53 target Bonanza Creek Energy Inc

-Outperform; $35 target Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc

- Neutral; $50 target Gulfport Energy Corp- Outperform; $64 target Magnum Hunter Resources Corp

-Outperform; $3 target Penn Virginia Corp

-Outperform; $7 target Range Resources Corp

-Outperform; $87 target Rosetta Resources Inc

-Outperform; $24 target Rex Energy Corp

-Neutral; $4 target Sanchez Energy Corp

-Outperform; $17 target Swift Energy Co

- Underperform; $1 target Whiting Petroleum Corp

-Neutral; $41 target