Cloud Peak Energy Inc. Stock Jumps on Credit-Rating Upgrade

Image source: Getty Images.

What happened

Cloud Peak Energy(NYSE: CLD) stock soared 10% by 3:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday after S&P Global raised the coal producer's corporate credit rating.

So what

Analysts at S&P boosted Cloud Peak's corporate credit rating from SD to B-, while also raising the rating on the company's 2019 senior unsecured notes from D to CCC. However, they still have a negative outlook on the coal producer. Furthermore, the upgraded ratings are still considered very speculative and imply that while the company currently can meet its financial obligations, it is very vulnerable to defaulting if conditions deteriorate.

That is certainly a concern at S&P, which said:

Cloud Peak Energy has quite a hole to dig out of, with S&P suggesting that it needs to get its debt-to-EBITDA ratio below five before it would consider another upgrade. Given the continued weakness in the coal market, that is not likely unless the company sells assets.

Asset sales are the likely path that rival coal producer Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK) will take to trim its leverage and win back an investment-grade credit rating. According to recent comments by Teck Resources' CFO, it needs to reduce debt by $1.5 billion to $2 billion, and it is considering select asset sales to hit that target, including selling some infrastructure and non-core exploration assets. By regaining an investment-grade credit rating, Teck Resources could significantly reduce its cost of capital. For Cloud Peak Energy, just digging out of its debt hole would give it some more breathing room so that it does not join its rivals and file for bankruptcy.

Now what

Despite the credit rating upgrade, Cloud Peak Energy is a very speculative company. If the coal market starts sinking again, that could be enough to push the company into bankruptcy and wipe out investors.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.