oil pumpjacks in silhouette at sunset, panoramic frame (XXXL)gettyWe are—unequivocally—bullish on the US economy. We’re also big fans of the 6.1% dividend we’re going to discuss below, which trades for less than half its annual sales.That’s pretty much the opposite of the nosebleed 26 times sales (and 0.03% yield—not a typo!) over at NVIDIA (NVDA), even after last week’s panic over Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek.US Stocks Are Wealth-Building Machines …Fact is, it’s easy to be bullish on the US these days, with ...

In our view, the story for BP p.l.c. (NYSE: BP ) and the wider group of European energy majors has always been about value, yet valuations for the stock have continued to drop over the course of last year, currentlyAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other tha ...

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]

Core Viewpoint - A New York state court has dismissed the city's lawsuit against major oil companies, representing a significant setback for climate accountability efforts [1][10] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell of misleading the public regarding the environmental impact of their products, alleging deceptive marketing tactics that portrayed them as climate-friendly while investing heavily in fossil fuels [1][2] - The city claimed that these companies engaged in "greenwashing," marketing their products as cleaner alternatives while downplaying their contributions to climate change [2] Group 2: Court Ruling Highlights - Justice Anar Patel dismissed the lawsuit, citing contradictions in the city's arguments, stating that New York City could not claim consumers were aware of fossil fuels' environmental risks while also accusing the companies of misleading them [3] - The court found the allegations of "greenwashing" insufficient, ruling that vague advertising slogans and general claims about sustainability were not actionable under consumer protection laws [3] Group 3: Companies Involved - ExxonMobil is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies globally, fully integrated in energy operations from production to marketing [4] - BP, established in 1866, operates across oil production, natural gas, refining, and low-carbon energy, handling 1.6 million barrels daily [5] - Shell's long-term strategy focuses on liquefied natural gas (LNG), aligning with the global shift towards cleaner energy sources [6] Group 4: Industry Implications - The ruling serves as a robust defense for the oil and energy industry against climate liability lawsuits, establishing a precedent that vague marketing claims are not grounds for legal action [7] - Industry representatives argue that such lawsuits undermine energy policy and economic stability by shifting policy debates into the courtroom [7] Group 5: Reactions and Future Outlook - Critics of the ruling argue it undermines corporate accountability for environmental impacts, with New York City officials expressing disappointment over the decision [8] - Approximately 30 similar cases remain pending in state courts, indicating that legal battles over climate accountability are ongoing [10]

Core Viewpoint - BP plc has resumed gas production at its Shah Deniz Alpha platform in the Caspian Sea after resolving a technical issue that previously halted operations, which is crucial for maintaining output and reinforcing Azerbaijan's role in global energy markets [1][6]. Group 1: Production Resumption - Gas production from the Shah Deniz Alpha platform was temporarily suspended on January 10, 2025, due to a malfunction in a subsea condensate export pipeline [1]. - The company confirmed that the technical issue caused no environmental harm or safety risks, and production and export operations have restarted and are being gradually ramped up [2]. Group 2: Impact on Regional Gas Supplies - The malfunction affected regional gas supplies, leading to a daily suspension of 1.7 million cubic meters of gas to Serbia, while Bulgaria faced interruptions starting January 7, 2025, with an expected resolution by January 11, 2025 [3]. - Despite these disruptions, Azerbaijan maintained gas supplies to Serbia [3]. Group 3: Shah Deniz Field Overview - The Shah Deniz gas-condensate field, discovered in 1999, is one of the world's largest, with estimated reserves of 1 trillion cubic meters of gas and 243 million tons of condensate [4]. - The field has been developed in two phases, with Phase 1 initiated in 2006 and Phase 2 considered one of the largest and most complex gas projects globally, enhancing Azerbaijan's role as a key gas supplier to Europe and Asia [5]. Group 4: BP's Commitment and Future Projects - BP remains committed to enhancing hydrocarbon production in Azerbaijan and is also working on other projects in the region, including giant oil field operations initiated in April 2024 [6]. - The resumption of operations at Shah Deniz Alpha is a crucial step in maintaining the field's output and reinforcing Azerbaijan's position in global energy markets [6].

BP (BP) closed at $31.69 in the latest trading session, marking a -0.28% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 1% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.78%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.51%.The oil and gas company's stock has climbed by 11.86% in the past month, exceeding the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 3.79% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.14%.The upcoming earnings release of BP will be of great interest to investors. The company's upcoming EPS is projecte ...

BP plc (BP) , the British oil and gas giant, has announced job cuts to reduce its global workforce as part of its cost-cutting initiatives to restore investors’ confidence in the energy stock. The company will reduce its global staff by 5%, including almost 4,700 employees and 3,000 contractor positions. Per Reuters, the job cuts were announced in an internal memo.BP’s CEO Auchincloss has mentioned that the company aims to reduce costs by at least $2 billion by the end of 2026. Auchincloss also mentioned th ...

Group 1: Workforce Reduction - BP will cut over 5% of its global workforce, amounting to approximately 4,700 employees and 3,000 contractor positions, from a total workforce of around 90,000 [1][4] - This decision is part of CEO Murray Auchincloss' strategy to reduce costs and rebuild investor confidence following a scandal [1][2] Group 2: Cost-Cutting Measures - Auchincloss aims to cut costs by at least $2 billion by the end of 2026 to enhance returns and address investor concerns regarding BP's energy transition strategy [2] - The company has paused or halted 30 projects since June to focus on those with the highest profitability [7] Group 3: Leadership Changes and Scandal - Former CEO Bernard Looney resigned in September 2023 due to failure to disclose past personal relationships, which violated the company's code of conduct [3][5] - Looney's departure has created uncertainty in BP's leadership and future direction, leading to a shift back toward traditional oil and gas investments under Auchincloss [6] Group 4: Market Position and Performance - BP's market capitalization is currently at $84.58 billion, valued at less than half of Shell, and has fallen behind other oil majors [7] - The company's stock has decreased nearly 20% over the last five years, trading at $31.30 as of the market close on Wednesday [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - BP announced nearly 8,000 job cuts as part of a corporate cost-cutting initiative, which includes a reduction of 4,700 staff and 3,000 contractor positions, representing over 5% of its total workforce of approximately 90,000 personnel [1][2]. Group 1: Job Cuts and Workforce Reduction - The company confirmed the reduction of 4,700 staff and 3,000 contractor positions, with around 2,600 contractors having already left the business [1][2]. - BP did not specify the number of cuts by country, although it employs 16,000 staff in the U.K. [2]. Group 2: Cost Reduction Strategy - The job cuts follow a review of all divisions, initiated by CEO Murray Auchincloss, who aims to simplify BP's business and implement cost reductions of approximately $2 billion by the end of Q4 2026, with one-fourth of this amount targeted for this year [3]. - Auchincloss emphasized the need for ongoing improvements and competitiveness to adapt to customer and societal demands [8]. Group 3: Shift in Business Strategy - BP has scaled back its previous commitment to reduce oil and gas production by 2030, now targeting a 20-30% cut in emissions instead of the previously promised 35-40% [5]. - The CEO defended the need for new investments in oil and gas to maintain supply, despite potential demand stabilization in the coming years [6]. Group 4: Market Response and Share Performance - Following the announcement, BP's shares saw a positive market response, trading at 428.65p, up 1.34% from the previous day [7]. - The company's share price has been underperforming compared to its peers, having decreased by 5% since last year, with a notable drop from a high of 541p in April to a low of 365p in November [6][7].

Market Overview - The S&P 500 has declined by -2.78% and the Nasdaq has fallen by -3.64% in the first week of 2025, indicating significant market volatility prior to the new administration taking over [1]. Investment Strategy - The focus is on growth and dividend income, with a strategy aimed at creating a portfolio that emphasizes compounding dividend income and growth [1]. - The portfolio is structured to provide monthly dividend income that grows through dividend reinvestment and yearly increases [1].