Core Viewpoint - U.S. energy company stocks experienced a decline in pre-market trading on February 2, with notable drops across major companies in the sector [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Occidental Petroleum saw a decrease of 3.1% [2] - ConocoPhillips dropped by 2.6% [2] - Halliburton's stock fell by 4.1% [2] - Schlumberger experienced a decline of 2.9% [2] - ExxonMobil's shares decreased by 1.5% [2] - Chevron's stock was down by 1.7% [2]

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices have dropped by 5%, leading to significant pre-market declines in the stock prices of major U.S. energy companies [1] Group 1: Company Stock Performance - Occidental Petroleum (OXY.US) shares fell by 3.1% [1] - ConocoPhillips (COP.US) shares decreased by 2.6% [1] - Halliburton (HAL.US) stock dropped by 4.1% [1] - Schlumberger (SLB.US) shares declined by 2.9% [1] - ExxonMobil (XOM.US) saw a decrease of 1.5% in its stock price [1] - Chevron (CVX.US) shares fell by 1.7% [1]

The bullish case for oil stocks received a significant boost earlier this month when U.S. forces captured the now former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, sparking hope that the petroleum-rich country will eventually be open to Western oil majors. Count ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) among the domestic oil equities in rally mode to start 2026. January isn't over yet, but this stock is higher by more than 8%. How much, if any, of that move is attributable to Venezuela is up for debate. Where to invest $1,000 ...

Core Viewpoint - ConocoPhillips stock is experiencing a significant rise at the start of 2026, driven by broader market trends and potential opportunities in Venezuela, although investors should consider other factors beyond this geopolitical situation [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - ConocoPhillips stock has increased by more than 8% in January 2026, indicating strong market performance [2]. - The stock's rise is part of a broader rally among domestic oil equities [2]. Group 2: Venezuela Context - The capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has raised hopes for U.S. oil companies, including ConocoPhillips, to invest in Venezuela [1]. - ConocoPhillips, like ExxonMobil, was expelled from Venezuela in 2007 due to nationalization policies, which may affect its willingness to return [5]. - ConocoPhillips has legal claims against Venezuela totaling $12 billion, making it one of the largest non-sovereign creditors of the country [6]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - The Trump administration encourages U.S. oil companies to invest in Venezuela but does not intend to act as debt collectors for past claims [7]. - ConocoPhillips maintains a low-risk profile by focusing on stable production regions, which may delay any potential investment in Venezuela [8][10].

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is included among the 10 Best American Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy. ConocoPhillips (COP) Price Target Raised to $115 ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is one of the world’s largest independent E&P companies based on oil and natural gas production and proven reserves. On January 26, Susquehanna raised its price target on ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) from $110 to $115, while maintaining a ‘Positive’ rating on the shares. The revised target, which still indicates an upside of almost 10% from c ...

Group 1: Company Analysis - ConocoPhillips is focusing on increasing its production capacity and has plans to invest significantly in new projects to enhance its operational efficiency [1] - Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc reported a strong quarterly performance, driven by higher copper prices and increased production levels [1] - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited is expanding its mining operations and has announced new exploration projects aimed at increasing its gold reserves [1] Group 2: Industry Trends - The mining industry is experiencing a resurgence due to rising commodity prices, particularly in copper and gold, which are expected to drive profitability for major players [1] - There is a growing emphasis on sustainable mining practices within the industry, as companies seek to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining production levels [1] - The overall market sentiment is positive, with analysts predicting continued growth in the mining sector as demand for metals increases globally [1]

Group 1 - Oil stocks experienced a broad rally, with Occidental Petroleum (OXY.US) rising over 4%, ConocoPhillips (COP.US) increasing more than 3%, and ExxonMobil (XOM.US) and Chevron (CVX.US) both gaining over 2% [1] - Brent crude oil futures surged more than 4% during the day, strongly breaking through the $70 per barrel mark, driven by market concerns over escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran [1] - President Trump continues to apply pressure on Iran to terminate its nuclear program, threatening military action and deploying naval forces to the region [1] Group 2 - Reports indicate that Trump is considering options that include precise strikes against Iranian security forces and leaders to incite protests and potentially overthrow the current Iranian regime [1] - Analysts warn that if Iran retaliates, such as by closing the Strait of Hormuz, it could have catastrophic effects on the transportation of over 20 million barrels of oil per day [1]

Core Viewpoint - Oil stocks experienced a significant rally, driven by rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which have led to a surge in Brent crude oil prices above $70 per barrel [1] Group 1: Oil Stocks Performance - Occidental Petroleum (OXY.US) rose over 4% - ConocoPhillips (COP.US) increased by more than 3% - ExxonMobil (XOM.US) and Chevron (CVX.US) both saw gains exceeding 2% [1] Group 2: Market Dynamics - Brent crude oil futures surged more than 4% in a single day, breaking the $70 mark - The market is concerned that escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran are a primary driver of rising oil prices [1] Group 3: Geopolitical Factors - President Trump is intensifying pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear program, threatening military action and deploying naval forces to the region - Reports indicate that Trump is considering options for precise strikes against Iranian security forces and leaders to incite protests and potentially overthrow the current regime [1] Group 4: Potential Risks - Analysts warn that if Iran retaliates, such as by closing the Strait of Hormuz, it could have catastrophic effects on the transportation of over 20 million barrels of oil per day [1]

Core Viewpoint - A severe winter storm has impacted the entire United States, leading to significant reductions in oil and gas production, with a peak daily decrease of 2 million barrels, representing a 15% drop in national output [2][11]. Oil Production Impact - The Energy Aspects consultancy reported that the peak reduction in U.S. oil production occurred on Saturday, with an average daily decrease of 2 million barrels, primarily from the Permian Basin, which accounted for approximately 1.5 million barrels of the reduction [2][11]. - By Monday, the reduction eased, with the Permian Basin's shutdown scale dropping to an average of 700,000 barrels per day, and full recovery is expected by January 30 [2][11]. - ConocoPhillips reported a reduction of 175,000 barrels per day in the Permian Basin due to the severe weather [2][11]. Operational Challenges - Chevron reported issues at its Midland, Texas facility due to frozen equipment, and the Texas Oil and Gas Association noted significant challenges in third-party transportation, particularly in water transport and technician scheduling [3][11]. - Over twenty companies, including Western Oil and Targa Resources, reported operational failures at their natural gas processing plants and compressor stations in Texas, although the number of failures was significantly lower than during the severe winter storm in 2021 [3][11]. Natural Gas Production - North Dakota's oil production is expected to decrease by 80,000 to 110,000 barrels per day, with associated natural gas production dropping by 240 to 330 million cubic feet [4][12]. - The average daily natural gas production in the U.S. has fallen to 10.69 billion cubic feet, down from a historical high of 10.97 billion cubic feet in December [5][13]. Refinery Operations - Several refineries along the Gulf Coast faced operational issues due to the freezing weather, including ExxonMobil, which closed parts of its facility in Baytown, Texas [5][13]. - The IIR reported that the Suncor refinery in Lima, Ohio, with a capacity of 172,000 barrels per day, experienced mechanical failures, delaying full restart until later in the week [6][14]. Electricity Supply and Demand - The winter storm has caused power outages for over 1 million households and businesses, with approximately 810,000 customers still without power as of Monday [7][16]. - The PJM Interconnection expects a generation interruption of 22.4 gigawatts, about 16% of its total committed capacity, primarily affecting the Mid-Atlantic region [8][17]. - Electricity prices surged, with wholesale prices reaching around $200 per megawatt-hour, having previously exceeded $3,000 [8][17]. Prices in New England spiked by approximately 82% to $313 per megawatt-hour, while prices in Pennsylvania and Maryland surged by about 360% to around $413 per megawatt-hour, the highest since January 2014 [8][17].

Company Overview - ConocoPhillips (COP) is a major upstream-only oil company with a market capitalization of $120 billion [2] - The company is focused on future growth, producing millions of barrels per day and engaging in several capital projects [2] Investment Strategy - The Value Portfolio specializes in building retirement portfolios using a fact-based research strategy that includes extensive analysis of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations [2] - The Retirement Forum offers features such as model portfolios, macroeconomic overviews, in-depth company analysis, and retirement planning information to help maximize capital and income [2]