These Stocks Could Gain From Venezuela's Upheaval

Core Insights - The U.S. plans significant changes for Venezuela's oil industry following the ousting of its president, with U.S. companies likely to benefit from the situation [2] - Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the U.S. will control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, redirecting proceeds to American banks and easing sanctions that have limited the country's crude exports [2] Companies Positioned for Gains - Chevron (CVX) is the only major U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela, managing joint ventures that account for about 25% of the country's oil output, producing approximately 140,000 barrels per day [7][10] - ConocoPhillips (COP) and Exxon Mobil (XOM) could potentially return to Venezuela to recover up to $12 billion and $1.4 billion in outstanding claims for expropriated assets [8] - Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) are positioned to benefit from reconstruction contracts due to the need for significant investment in Venezuela's aging oil infrastructure, estimated to cost at least $100 billion over a decade [9][10] Refiners Capable of Processing Venezuelan Heavy Crude - Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) operates 15 refineries with a capacity to process 3.2 million barrels per day of heavy crude, making it well-suited for Venezuelan oil [11] - Phillips 66 (PSX) has refineries in Louisiana and Texas capable of processing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day of Venezuelan grades, although full potential realization may take years [12] - Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has the largest heavy crude processor in the region, with analysts estimating it could capture 20% to 30% of any increased Venezuelan oil flows [13] Economic Considerations - The current oil price range of $57–$60 per barrel poses challenges for investment in Venezuela, with estimates suggesting it would cost $53 billion to maintain production levels of just under 1 million barrels per day over the next 15 years [14][15] - New projects in Venezuela require oil prices around $80 per barrel to be profitable, making investment less attractive compared to other regions with lower breakeven costs [15]