ZACKS·2025-05-29 17:21Industry Overview - The Zacks Oil & Gas – Integrated - United States industry presents a strong investment case due to energy security, solid infrastructure, and supportive regulations [1] - The U.S. shale boom has enhanced cost efficiency, scalable production, and access to high-quality pipelines and refineries, leading to improved profitability and resilience [1] - U.S. companies are well-positioned to meet long-term domestic natural gas demand, driven by power generation, coal-to-gas transition, and increasing LNG exports [1] Company Analysis: Occidental Petroleum (OXY) - Occidental Petroleum combines steady cash flow from its Permian Basin and global oil and gas assets with a growing focus on carbon management solutions [3] - The company is supported by Berkshire Hathaway, providing long-term value through a balanced approach to traditional energy production and scalable low-carbon technologies [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings decline of 32.66% for 2025, followed by growth of 14.38% for 2026 [6] - Current dividend yield for Occidental Petroleum is 2.33%, higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.6% [12] - Occidental's return on equity (ROE) is 16.6%, compared to the industry average of 16.94% [13] - The company's debt-to-capital ratio stands at 40.64% [14] - Occidental is trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 4.87X, which is lower than Hess Corporation's 7.23X [15] - In the last month, shares of Occidental Petroleum gained 4.5% [16] - Approximately 83% of Occidental's production comes from domestic assets, with stable international operations and ongoing debt reduction acting as tailwinds [19] Company Analysis: Hess Corporation (HES) - Hess Corporation is focused on sustainable growth and has invested in renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [4] - The company is undergoing a major transition with a pending acquisition by Chevron, currently under arbitration due to disputes over its Guyana assets [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings decline of 38.53% for 2025, followed by growth of 20.14% for 2026 [9] - Current dividend yield for Hess Corporation is 1.53% [12] - Hess's return on equity (ROE) is 21.78%, higher than Occidental's [13] - The company's debt-to-capital ratio is 41.48% [14] - Hess Corporation's trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA is 7.23X [15] - International operations, particularly in Guyana, are a significant source of oil and gas production for Hess [19] Conclusion - Based on the analysis, Occidental Petroleum is suggested for inclusion in oil and gas portfolios, while Hess Corporation is recommended to be avoided for the time being [20]