Thursday, December 8, 2016

Flotek: some new research

Flotek should be familiar to readers of this blog.

In plain english Flotek makes a chemical mix which makes sand-water mixes slippery so you can get more sand into fractures when you fracture an oil and gas reservoir. Their chemical mix is a surfactant.

There are many suppliers of surfactants. The product is a commodity.

However Flotek sell their product as somehow special. The claim: their surfactant is a "complex nano-fluid", but it is really a mix of d-limonene (the oil from orange peel) and isopropyl alcohol.

--

This blog once showed that data Flotek provided for pitching their complex nano-fluid was either (a) made up or (b) did not support the idea that their fluid was particularly effective.

We were right. Flotek put out a press release effectively admitting all of our allegations.

In other words their key claims were BS.

At the time Flotek claimed they had a software sales tool (that ran on an iPad) called FracMax which was critical to demonstrating their fluid effective - but we could not find a working copy of FracMax and could not find anyone who had ever seen one.

This was problematic. Flotek told the market that FracMax was their main selling tool.

Whatever FracMax has disappeared from Flotek's literature.

So their main selling tool was also BS.

--

All this should have been the death-knell for the stock. But it wasn't. Sure the stock is lower but not much (given the decline in oil and gas volumes) and somehow people still believe the "complex nano-fluid" story. I have never met a serious Flotek owner - so the stock price remains a mystery to me.

--

Today FourWorld Capital Management (an outfit I had never heard of) put out an updated and more thorough analysis of Flotek.

Its darn good - so go read it.

Why this stock trades above pennies I do not understand.

It will trade at pennies one day. I remain short.





John Hempton

6 comments:

CrocodileChuck said...

A tincture of d-limonene in isopropyl isn't a surfactant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant#Classification_of_surfactants

It sounds like this stuff works as a wetting agent, in order to maximise the volume of sand that is jammed into the cracks under pressure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting

Tincture of d-limonene: It smells nice. You can even use it as a furniture polish [AKA 'Pledge']

Unknown said...

I can't believe more people aren't talking about this. I've been fracking for 5 years, I've used their product and have first hand experience it doesn't perform. It didn't take us long to discontinue it's use. Haha, I'm seriously surpised that the latest exposing report has yet to effect FTK. I agree with Bronte, this stock is a ticking time-bbmb. I'm surprised they've made it this far.

ADL said...

Ever take a look at Wins Finance (WINS on US NASDAQ)? Something weird going on there.

Kiwi.Hobbit said...

What can we expect when FTK reports next week????

Kiwi.Hobbit said...

What can we expect when FTK reports next week????

Anonymous said...

John, wondering whether you had any thoughts on the class action being dismissed?

General disclaimer

The content contained in this blog represents the opinions of Mr. Hempton. You should assume Mr. Hempton and his affiliates have positions in the securities discussed in this blog, and such beneficial ownership can create a conflict of interest regarding the objectivity of this blog. Statements in the blog are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors. Certain information in this blog concerning economic trends and performance is based on or derived from information provided by third-party sources. Mr. Hempton does not guarantee the accuracy of such information and has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such information or the assumptions on which such information is based. Such information may change after it is posted and Mr. Hempton is not obligated to, and may not, update it. The commentary in this blog in no way constitutes a solicitation of business, an offer of a security or a solicitation to purchase a security, or investment advice. In fact, it should not be relied upon in making investment decisions, ever. It is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author. In particular this blog is not directed for investment purposes at US Persons.