Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of XOM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any in ...

EOG Resources holds a dominant position in the Delaware Basin, utilizing advanced drilling techniques to maximize well productivity and returns. In 2024, its Permian assets drove 3% oil production growth and an 8% increase in total volumes. By leveraging proprietary technology and self-sourced materials, EOG maintains a breakeven price in the low-$50s, ensuring consistent free cash flow and attractive shareholder returns. ExxonMobil has doubled its Permian production since 2019, further solidifying its pres ...

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's backing of Occidental Petroleum (OXY) has led to increased interest from investors, but alternatives like ExxonMobil and Chevron may offer better long-term value and income stability [1][8]. Group 1: Occidental Petroleum (OXY) - Occidental Petroleum won the bidding war for Anadarko Petroleum in 2019 with financial support from Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway, outbidding Chevron [2]. - The acquisition left Occidental heavily in debt, and it cut its dividend during the early COVID-19 pandemic, which has not yet returned to pre-cut levels [3]. - Despite efforts to expand, such as acquiring CrownRock, Occidental's approach may not serve long-term investors focused on reliable income streams [3]. Group 2: Comparison with ExxonMobil and Chevron - ExxonMobil and Chevron are more attractive for income investors due to their consistent dividend increases, with ExxonMobil increasing dividends for 42 consecutive years and Chevron for 37 years [4]. - Occidental's debt-to-equity ratio remains significantly higher than that of ExxonMobil and Chevron, limiting its financial flexibility during downturns [5]. - ExxonMobil and Chevron's diversified operations across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors provide stability against energy market fluctuations, with market caps of $500 billion and $290 billion respectively, compared to Occidental's $45 billion [6]. Group 3: Dividend Yields - Occidental offers a modest dividend yield of 2%, below the average energy stock yield of 3.1%, while ExxonMobil and Chevron yield 3.4% and 4.1% respectively [7]. - For income-focused and conservative investors, replacing Occidental with either ExxonMobil or Chevron is advisable for better income generation [7]. Group 4: Buffett's Portfolio - Warren Buffett also owns Chevron in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, suggesting that investors can still align with Buffett's support by choosing Chevron over Occidental [8].

Market Overview - As market uncertainty and volatility increase, investor sentiment is shifting towards defensive and value-oriented sectors, leading to underperformance in high-growth areas like technology, semiconductors, and AI [1] - Energy has emerged as a leader in 2025, up 8.8% year-to-date, while Financials have gained 4.9%, both outperforming the broader market [2] Energy Sector - Energy stocks are trending higher as investors seek cash-generating assets in an uncertain market, similar to trends observed in 2022 [3] - Chevron (CVX) has generated over $15 billion in free cash flow in the trailing 12 months, resulting in a 5.1% free cash flow yield [4] - CVX has recently broken out from a three-year consolidation phase, indicating a major capital rotation from institutional investors into the stock [5] Insurance Sector - The insurance sector has gained 14% year-to-date, contrasting with the broader market index, which is down a few percent [8] - HCI Group has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and boasts a 19.7% free cash flow yield, significantly above the industry average [9] - HCI Group anticipates sales growth of 17.5% this year and earnings growth of 102%, currently trading at 9.9x forward earnings [9] Investment Opportunities - In a shifting market, CVX and HCI are highlighted as compelling investment opportunities due to their strong fundamentals and technical performance [12]

Core Viewpoint - Chevron Corp (CVX) has reached a new 52-week high at $168.96, with a year-to-date increase of 14.49% and a monthly rise of 7.21%, prompting investors to consider whether to invest now or wait for a potential pullback [1] Group 1: Investment Sentiment - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holds 118.6 million shares of CVX, representing 6.42% of its portfolio and 6.60% of Chevron's outstanding shares, indicating strong confidence in the company [1] - The stock's technical indicators are bullish, supported by Buffett's long-term conviction and solid upward momentum [4] Group 2: Technical Analysis - CVX stock is trading at $167.97, above key moving averages, with a Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) of 3.25, suggesting a bullish trend [2] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 70.38, indicating that the stock is in overbought territory, which may suggest a cooling off period ahead [2] - Despite being above the five-, 20-, and 50-day exponential moving averages, there are signs of slight selling pressure, indicating that traders may be locking in profits [3] Group 3: Investment Strategy - While Chevron shows bullish technical indicators, the overbought RSI suggests that waiting for a slight pullback could provide a better entry point for investors [4] - CVX remains a strong contender for those looking to invest in the energy sector, but caution is advised when chasing highs due to potential risks [4]

Core Insights - Chevron Corporation (CVX) is actively pursuing hydrocarbon exploration off the coast of Crete, indicating a strategic focus on the Mediterranean's untapped energy reserves [1][5][12] - The Greek government has accepted Chevron's interest in two offshore blocks, expanding the area available for exploration to 47,000 square kilometers [2][4] - Greece's energy strategy aims to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources, particularly Russian natural gas, and is expected to enhance its competitive position in the global energy market [3][8] Chevron's Strategic Moves - Chevron's renewed interest in Greek waters follows a pattern of targeting high-potential energy markets, with the offshore blocks adjacent to existing ExxonMobil-led exploration areas [5][11] - The geological features around Crete are similar to successful oil and gas fields in the region, increasing the likelihood of commercially viable discoveries [6][11] - Chevron's involvement is indicative of a larger shift in the global energy landscape, as countries like Greece become key players in the pursuit of new hydrocarbon reserves [11][12] Greece's Energy Landscape - Greece's energy exploration strategy has transformed, with a focus on energy independence and diversification of resources, particularly in light of EU policies [3][8] - The Greek energy ministry is optimistic that the new exploration blocks will lead to commercially exploitable hydrocarbon reserves, contributing to the country's energy security [8][10] - Greece's strategic location positions it as a potential energy hub in the Mediterranean, further spurred by discoveries in nearby regions like Egypt [7][12]

Group 1 - Chevron's stock has underperformed over the past three years, while other energy stocks, including ExxonMobil, have seen significant gains [1][2] - The uncertainty surrounding Chevron's pending acquisition of Hess, valued at $53 billion, has contributed to its stock stagnation [2][3] - The acquisition of Hess is expected to enhance Chevron's U.S. onshore position and operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia, making it a strategic fit [4] Group 2 - Closing the Hess deal could enable Chevron to more than double its free cash flow by 2027, driven by growth from both its existing operations and Hess' cash flow [5]

Group 1 - Chevron Corporation has received a 30-day extension from the U.S. government to continue its operations in Venezuela, following lobbying efforts to ensure energy stability [1][2] - Chevron's operations in Venezuela have been crucial, providing a steady revenue source through royalties and tax payments, which have positively impacted the country's economy, particularly in the oil and banking sectors [2][4] - The extension comes with conditions, requiring that taxes and royalties from Chevron's operations be allocated for funding migrant deportations rather than supporting the Maduro regime [3] Group 2 - Chevron accounts for nearly 20% of Venezuela's oil output, significantly aiding the country's economy by controlling inflation and providing hard currency [4] - The political landscape remains tense, as the Maduro government briefly suspended U.S. deportation flights in response to actions against Chevron, although flights resumed shortly after [4] - Chevron maintains compliance with U.S. laws and regulations, regularly engaging with government officials in Washington to address business-related issues [5] Group 3 - Chevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies, involved in all aspects of energy from production to refining and marketing [6] - Investors in the energy sector may consider other top-ranked stocks such as Delek Logistics Partners, Archrock, and Canadian Natural Resources, with varying growth estimates for 2025 earnings [7][8][9]

Core Viewpoint - Chevron is a strong investment option in the energy sector due to its integrated business model and consistent dividend growth, making it suitable for long-term holding [1][5]. Company Overview - Chevron operates as an integrated energy company, engaging in upstream (drilling), midstream (pipelines), and downstream (chemicals and refining) activities, which helps mitigate the impact of volatile oil and natural gas prices [2][3]. Financial Performance - The financial performance in the upstream segment is heavily influenced by energy prices, while the midstream segment generates revenue through tolls, and the downstream benefits from low oil prices [3]. - Chevron has maintained a strong financial foundation with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2, allowing for investment during downturns and dividend payments [8]. Dividend Policy - Chevron has increased its dividend for 37 consecutive years, showcasing resilience in a volatile sector [5][6]. - The current dividend yield is 4.2%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 1.2% and the average energy stock's 3.1%, indicating an attractive return for investors [7]. Global Presence - Chevron's global portfolio allows it to invest in high-opportunity areas and sell in regions with strong demand, smoothing out financial results over time [4]. Acquisition Plans - Chevron is attempting to acquire Hess, but the deal faces complications due to Hess' dealings with competitors, which could impact Chevron's production plans if not successfully closed [9]. Market Conditions - Current market uncertainty presents a potential opportunity for long-term investors, as historically, well-managed companies can provide attractive entry points during challenging times [10]. - Chevron is not currently at its cheapest valuation, as the best buying opportunities have historically occurred during significant oil downturns [11]. Investment Strategy - For contrarian and deep value investors, waiting for a more challenging oil market may be prudent, while others may consider Chevron a solid long-term addition to a dividend portfolio [12].

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment positions of Parkev Tatevosian, CFA, and mentions that The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron [1] Company and Industry Summary - Parkev Tatevosian has no position in any of the stocks mentioned [1] - The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy regarding its investment positions [1] - The Motley Fool may compensate affiliates like Parkev Tatevosian for promoting its services [1]