Core Insights - Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its stake in Valero Energy Corporation by 17.3% during Q3, owning 18,440 shares valued at $3,140,000 after acquiring an additional 2,721 shares [2] - Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.69% of Valero Energy's stock, with several firms adjusting their positions in the company during the third quarter [3] Institutional Activity - Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings by 2.0%, now owning 3,381 shares worth $576,000 after buying 65 additional shares [3] - Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings by 70.2%, now owning 160 shares valued at $27,000 after purchasing 66 shares [3] - Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its position by 17.0%, owning 476 shares worth $76,000 after acquiring 69 shares [3] - Sowell Financial Services LLC increased its stake by 0.6%, now owning 11,467 shares valued at $1,952,000 after purchasing 70 shares [3] Insider Activity - CFO Jason W. Fraser sold 9,933 shares at an average price of $174.02, totaling $1,728,540.66, resulting in a 6.89% decrease in his ownership [4] Analyst Ratings - Erste Group Bank initiated coverage with a "buy" rating [5] - Morgan Stanley downgraded from "overweight" to "equal weight" but raised the target price from $160.00 to $175.00 [5] - JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased the target price from $197.00 to $200.00 with an "overweight" rating [5] - Wells Fargo & Company raised the target price from $216.00 to $220.00, maintaining an "overweight" rating [5] - Jefferies Financial Group increased the target price from $181.00 to $194.00 with a "buy" rating [5] - The average rating is "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $183.00 [5] Financial Performance - Valero Energy reported Q3 EPS of $3.66, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.51 [7] - Revenue for the quarter was $32.17 billion, surpassing expectations of $28.80 billion, but down 2.2% year-over-year [7] - Analysts predict an EPS of 7.92 for the current fiscal year [7] Dividend Information - Valero Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $1.13, representing an annualized dividend of $4.52 and a yield of 2.4% [8] Company Overview - Valero Energy Corporation is an integrated downstream energy company based in San Antonio, Texas, focusing on refining crude oil into finished fuels and producing petrochemical feedstocks [9] - The company also has significant operations in renewable fuels, including ethanol and biofuels, and manages a logistics network for moving feedstocks and finished products [10]

09 Jan 2026 07:36:45 ET │ 28 pages Oil Monitor The White House is pushing Venezuelan oil to the US, rediverting crude flows, as geopolitical risks remain CITI'S TAKE As the situation in Venezuela continues to develop, the US is trying to move quickly to get oil to flow, to ease oil prices amid ongoing affordability concerns, among wider domestic political challenges ahead of US midterm elections in Nov'26. The first measure appears to be moving 30-50-m bbls of Venezuela oil to the US, which could divert oth ...

February WTI crude oil (CLG26) on Friday closed up +1.36 (+2.35%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG26) closed up +0.0203 (+1.15%). Crude oil and gasoline prices rallied on Friday, posting 1-month highs.  Rising tensions in Iran, the fourth-largest producer in OPEC, are supporting crude prices as protests against the government escalate.  Also, optimism in the US economic outlook is supportive for energy demand and crude prices after the US Dec unemployment rate fell and  Jan consumer sentiment increased.   ...

February WTI crude oil (CLG26) today is up +1.79 (+3.10%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG26) is up +0.0352 (+2.00%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are up sharply today, posting 1-month highs.  Rising tensions in Iran, the fourth-largest producer in OPEC, are supporting crude prices as protests against the government escalate.  Also, optimism in the US economic outlook is supportive for energy demand and crude prices after the US Dec unemployment rate fell and  Jan consumer sentiment increased.  Crude pri ...

Flash | 08 Jan 2026 12:40:03 ET │ 12 pages Sinopec (0386.HK) Group Restructuring: Potential LT Synergy Benefits, But Limited Near- Term Impact CITI'S TAKE SASAC announced on 8 Jan that Sinopec Group (386.HK's parent) will undergo restructuring with China National Aviation Fuel (CNAF) Group. We expect this could strengthen Sinopec's refining & marketing business for jet fuel & SAF and mitigate structural PRC gasoline / diesel demand decline. Sinopec's 9M25 refinery jet/kero yield was 13.8% (vs. >20% for TOP/ ...

据国家发改委网站消息，自2025年12月22日国内成品油价格调整以来，国际市场油价小幅波动，按现行 国内成品油价格机制测算，2026年1月6日的前10个工作日平均价格与2025年12月22日前10个工作日平均 价格相比，调价金额每吨不足50元。根据《石油价格管理办法》第七条规定，本次汽、柴油价格不作调 整，未调金额纳入下次调价时累加或冲抵。 编辑：李晓梅 编审：李雪 根据"十个工作日"原则，下一轮成品油零售限价调整时间为1月20日24时。 来源：国家发展改革委网站、中新经纬 刚刚过去的2025年，国内油价经历二十五轮调价，最后以三连跌收官。涨跌互抵后，国内汽、柴油价格 每吨较2024年底分别下调915元、880元。 ...

Key Takeaways Crude draws, high refinery runs, and import surges are sending mixed signals to energy markets.Gasoline and distillate builds raise concerns over soft demand and refining margin pressure.PSX, WTI, and OII are seen as strong buys despite near-term oil price weakness and volatility.Energy markets are facing another choppy week as oil prices move lower despite a notable draw in U.S. crude inventories. Conflicting signals from supply data, refinery activity and imports have kept investor sentiment ...

Summary of Key Points from the Energy Sector Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the energy sector, particularly oil and natural gas, with insights into market dynamics and future trends for 2026 and beyond [1][2][3]. Core Themes and Insights 1. **Affordability and Inflation**: The U.S. administration is prioritizing lower oil prices and inflation control, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms. Gasoline, diesel, and electricity prices are key focus areas [4][24][30]. 2. **Oil Market Outlook**: A bearish consensus on oil prices is expected to hold in the first half of 2026, driven by OPEC's production adjustments and modest U.S. shale growth. The market is characterized by rising inventories, indicating a well-supplied environment [4][37]. 3. **U.S. Shale Production**: U.S. shale is facing challenges in sustaining production levels due to maturing core acreage and the need for higher prices to support growth. Efficiency gains are being leveraged by larger operators to offset declines [5][38][42]. 4. **Natural Gas Volatility**: The natural gas market is expected to experience increased volatility as demand outpaces storage capacity. The projected rise in power demand for gas in 2026 is significant, with a forecasted increase of approximately 4% [5][53]. 5. **M&A Activity**: The energy sector is likely to see increased mergers and acquisitions, driven by the need for scale and efficiency. Integrated models combining upstream, midstream, and downstream operations are becoming more attractive [6][54][59]. 6. **LNG Market Dynamics**: The global LNG market is adjusting to oversupply concerns, with U.S. LNG capacity projected to reach approximately 264 million tons per annum by 2030. However, project delays and lower utilization rates may pressure margins [9][68]. 7. **Refining and Marketing Sector**: The refining sector is expected to face volatility in 2026, with lower crack spreads year-over-year. Underinvestment in the sector may support long-term stability, but short-term revisions are likely downward [10][12]. 8. **Offshore and Deepwater Growth**: Offshore capital expenditures are expected to remain flat in 2026, with a cautious outlook for deepwater growth. Investment in subsea technology is anticipated to improve utilization rates [11][12]. Key Companies Mentioned - **Top Picks**: OVV, SLB, EQT, CVX, XOM, COP, CRC, CVE CN, BKR, FLOC, GPOR, SOBO CN, SOC, WMB [3][15][17]. - **Specific Company Insights**: - **Chevron (CVX)**: Conservative growth outlook with potential upside from various projects [19]. - **ExxonMobil (XOM)**: Strong upstream and downstream assets, operational excellence driving growth [19]. - **ConocoPhillips (COP)**: High-quality assets with competitive returns [19]. - **EQT Corporation (EQT)**: Positioned well for long-term growth in the Appalachian basin [19]. - **Baker Hughes (BKR)**: Strong positioning in diverse end markets with a focus on long-term earnings [20]. Additional Important Insights - **Market Sensitivity**: The natural gas market's sensitivity to weather and LNG flows is increasing due to limited storage capacity, which could lead to price volatility [50][51]. - **Technological Advancements**: Companies are increasingly adopting AI and other technologies to enhance operational efficiency, with significant potential for further deployment across the sector [45]. - **Geopolitical Factors**: Ongoing international tensions, particularly in oil-producing regions, could impact market dynamics and pricing strategies [3][37][27]. This summary encapsulates the key themes and insights from the energy sector conference call, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing the industry as it heads into 2026.

President Trump is tightening the screws around the communist regime of Delcy Rodgriguez and her husband, and the rest of the Chavista state in Venezuela, by ordering them to turn over up to 50million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States of America. The oil will be sold on the market, and the money will be controlled by Mr. Trump. I love that. He’s kind of like the landman in the great TV series. He’s making a great deal, and he’s turning around the only leverage that Venezuela has, and that’s oil ...

Crude oil inventories in the United States posted a sharp draw last week, even as gasoline and distillate stockpiles recorded sizable builds, according to new data released Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). U.S. commercial crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 3.8 million barrels in the week ending January 2, bringing total stockpiles to 419.1 million barrels. Crude inventories remain roughly 3% below the five-year average for this time of y ...