Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Occidental Petroleum Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) has experienced significant underperformance compared to the broader market and its sector peers over the past year, despite a recent uptick in share price following mixed quarterly earnings results [2][3][4]. Company Overview - Occidental Petroleum Corporation is based in Houston, Texas, and operates in the energy sector, focusing on the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The company has a market capitalization of $40.6 billion and also manufactures and markets essential chemical products, diversifying its operations across energy and industrial sectors [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, OXY shares have declined by 17.9%, while the S&P 500 Index has gained 17.7%. Year-to-date, OXY is down 16.6%, in contrast to the S&P 500's 16.6% increase [2]. - OXY has also underperformed the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP), which saw a 3.7% drop over the past year and a 4.2% decline year-to-date [3]. Quarterly Earnings Results - On August 6, Occidental Petroleum reported mixed Q2 earnings, with revenue declining 6.1% year-over-year to $6.5 billion, missing consensus estimates. The adjusted EPS was $0.39, down 62.1% from the previous year but exceeding analyst expectations by 39.3% [4]. - The company has repaid $3 billion in debt this year through asset sales, healthy cash flow, and warrant exercises, which may have improved investor confidence [4]. Future Earnings Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project OXY's EPS to decline by 36.7% year-over-year to $2.19. The company has a strong earnings surprise history, having surpassed consensus estimates in the last four quarters [5]. - Among 25 analysts covering OXY, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with four "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," 17 "Hold," and three "Strong Sell" ratings [5]. Analyst Ratings and Price Target - The analyst configuration has shifted recently, with three analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy" and two recommending "Strong Sell." On October 21, Piper Sandler maintained a "Neutral" rating on OXY but lowered its price target to $47, indicating a potential upside of 14.1% from current levels [6].