U.S. shale producer Diamondback Energy flagged on Monday lower prices for its oil production in the fourth quarter, compared to the preceding three months. ...

Core Viewpoint - Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) has experienced a significant decline in share price, with analysts adjusting their price targets while maintaining positive ratings, indicating potential upside despite recent challenges [1][3][4]. Group 1: Share Price Movement - The share price of Diamondback Energy fell by 6.57% between December 31, 2025, and January 7, 2026, marking it as one of the energy stocks that lost the most during that week [1]. - Over the past year, the share price has decreased by more than 18% [5]. Group 2: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Citi reduced its price target for Diamondback Energy from $180 to $178 while maintaining a 'Buy' rating, suggesting an upside of nearly 27% from the current share price [3]. - Bernstein lowered its price target from $199 to $190 but kept its 'Outperform' rating, highlighting Diamondback as its 'top oil idea' due to its low-risk inventory and de-leveraging strategy [4].

Company Overview - Viper Energy, Inc. is a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. focused on owning, acquiring, and exploiting oil and natural gas properties in North America, particularly in the Permian Basin [3] - Diamondback Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas, specializing in the acquisition, development, exploration, and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin [4] Upcoming Financial Results - Viper Energy plans to release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on February 23, 2026, after the market closes [1] - A conference call and webcast will be held on February 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the fourth quarter results with investors and analysts [2]

Group 1 - Diamondback Energy, Inc. plans to release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on February 23, 2026, after market close [1] - A conference call and webcast will be held on February 24, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT to discuss the financial results [2] - Diamondback Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration, and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas [3]

Group 1 - The article provides a market analysis focusing on major players in the oil industry, specifically Chevron Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp, and Diamondback Energy Inc, along with insights on Crude Oil WTI Futures [1] Group 2 - Chevron Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp are highlighted as leading companies in the oil sector, with their performance being closely monitored due to fluctuations in crude oil prices [1] - The analysis includes a review of Crude Oil WTI Futures, indicating trends and potential impacts on the market [1] - Diamondback Energy Inc is also discussed, emphasizing its role and performance within the energy sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - Diamondback Energy's stock has underperformed compared to the broader market and its sector, with a notable decline in both monthly performance and upcoming earnings projections indicating significant challenges ahead [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Diamondback Energy's stock closed at $146.99, down 3.51%, lagging behind the S&P 500's gain of 0.64% [1] - The stock has decreased by 3.95% over the past month, while the Oils-Energy sector gained 1.8% and the S&P 500 increased by 0.55% [1] Group 2: Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings per share (EPS) for Diamondback Energy is projected at $2.49, representing a 31.59% decrease from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is estimated to be $3.38 billion, reflecting a 9.04% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year [2] - For the entire year, earnings are forecasted at $12.98 per share, indicating a 21.67% decrease, while revenue is expected to remain flat at $14.51 billion [3] Group 3: Analyst Revisions and Ratings - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts are crucial as they reflect near-term business trends, with upward revisions indicating positive sentiment towards the company's operations [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which evaluates estimate changes, currently rates Diamondback Energy at 3 (Hold), with a recent 2.55% decrease in the consensus EPS estimate [6] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - Diamondback Energy is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 14.48, which is higher than the industry average of 10.57, suggesting a premium valuation [7] - The Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry ranks in the bottom 27% of all industries, according to the Zacks Industry Rank [7][8]

Company Overview - Diamondback Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company, primarily operating in the hydrocarbon-rich Permian Basin, utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods [1][2][3] - The company was founded in 2007 and has a market capitalization exceeding $42 billion, with its headquarters in Midland, Texas [3] Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter (3Q25), Diamondback generated a revenue of $3.92 billion, marking a 48% increase year-over-year and surpassing estimates by $394.3 million [6] - The non-GAAP EPS for the same quarter was $3.08, exceeding expectations by 14 cents per share [6] Dividend and Share Repurchase - Diamondback declared a dividend of $1 per share on November 20, resulting in an annualized rate of $4 per share, which gives a forward yield of 2.7% [7] - The company has an active share repurchase policy and recently entered an agreement to repurchase up to 3 million shares from its largest shareholder, SGF FANG Holdings [7] Analyst Ratings and Market Outlook - Mark Lear from Piper Sandler has rated Diamondback as a top large-cap exploration and production (E&P) company, citing its low-cost operations and strong asset performance [8] - The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 21 recent analyst reviews, with 20 Buys and 1 Hold, and is currently priced at $146.31, with a price target of $219 indicating a potential upside of 50% [8] Industry Trends - The energy sector is experiencing downward pressure on hydrocarbon prices due to global supply gluts, rising inventories, and lower-than-expected demand, leading to expectations of lower prices in 2026 [4] - The near-term opportunity in the energy sector is perceived to favor gas equities over oil, primarily due to the significant pullback in gas prices [4]

Group 1 - Diamondback Energy Inc. is considered one of the most profitable value stocks currently, with UBS raising its price target to $194 from $174 while maintaining a Buy rating [1] - The Energy sector is expected to experience a breakout in 2026, driven by a positive outlook for oil and gas prices, M&A activity, and disciplined capital spending [1] - In Q3 2025, Diamondback Energy reported adjusted earnings of $3.08 per share, exceeding analyst estimates of $2.94, with revenues of $3.92 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 48.36% [3] Group 2 - JPMorgan has lowered its price target for Diamondback Energy to $159 from $166, while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing supply-side risks for oil and liquids [2] - JPMorgan believes that a demand inflection for natural gas is underway, despite warnings of potential downward pressure on oil prices due to crude oil oversupply [2] - Diamondback Energy's operational efficiency has improved, with average oil production reaching 503,800 barrels per day, and management has set a new production baseline of 510,000 barrels per day for 2026 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Conduit Power, LLC has secured financial agreements with Diamondback Energy, Inc. and Granite Ridge Resources for the development of 200 megawatts of new natural gas power generation assets aimed at supplying energy and ancillary services to ERCOT, Texas's largest power grid operator [1]. Group 1 - Conduit Power is developing 200 megawatts of new natural gas power generation assets [1]. - The agreements involve collaboration with Diamondback Energy and Granite Ridge Resources [1]. - The energy produced will be sold to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) [1].

Core Argument - The article discusses concerns regarding the sustainability of the "circular economy" surrounding artificial intelligence investments, particularly focusing on OpenAI's financial practices and potential risks of a market collapse similar to past financial crises [2][4]. Group 1: AI Investment Risks - OpenAI is raising significant capital to fund hardware and services but lacks sufficient revenue to cover these expenses, creating a precarious financial situation [2][3]. - The interdependent relationships among major tech companies and startups could lead to a collapse if funding dries up, resulting in a market crash [4][2]. - Companies are depreciating NVIDIA GPU chipsets over six years, despite rapid technological advancements that could render them obsolete sooner [3]. Group 2: Hedging Strategies - Porter & Co. recommends hedging against potential market downturns, specifically suggesting buying put options on the Nasdaq 100 to protect investments [5][6]. - The cost of put options can be substantial, with a potential 1,000% return if the market declines significantly [6][28]. - The article outlines various options trading strategies, including selling call options for income and buying put options for protection against declines [11][14]. Group 3: Investment Opportunities - After establishing protective measures, investors may consider opportunities arising from increased tech capital expenditures, including a specific recommendation for Viper Energy, which has strong profit margins and a solid dividend yield [43][44]. - Viper Energy focuses on mineral and royalty interests in the Permian Basin, with plans for growth through acquisitions and increased production [44][46]. - The company is primarily oil-focused, with a significant portion of its revenue derived from oil production rather than natural gas, which may limit its appeal as a direct play on AI-related energy demands [48][49].