Coal Outlook Improving This Summer

Sterne Agee analysts Michael S Dudas and Satyadeep Jain, in their report of July 28, 2014, share their take on the state of the coal industry based on information gleaned from earnings calls, media releases and company filings.

Coal demand and supply

Coal industry players still expect strong improvement in domestic demand for thermal coal, though estimates have been revised somewhat lower.

A milder than expected summer has dampened demand for thermal coal, as well as natural gas, the latter seeing record injections into storage over the past few months.

Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) has lowered its expected increase in 2014 coal demand from 35-45 MT to 30-40 MT. Even so, coal stockpiles...