Logo of Saudi Aramco, which is prioritizing investment in international refining and chemical facilities Saudi Aramco has put three chemicals expansion projects on hold as weaker oil prices squeeze local spending and it prioritizes international investments, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the situation.   The company is delaying the start of major engineering and design work on the facilities, according to people with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be named because the i ...

LRT Capital Management, an investment management company, released its “LRT Global Opportunities Strategy” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The strategy leverages a systematic long/short approach to generate positive returns while effectively controlling downside risks and maintaining low net exposure to the equity markets. In September, the strategy returned -8.00% (net), and the YTD return was -0.17%. It was a challenging month for the strategy, as the marke ...

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway has acquired Occidental Petroleum's petrochemicals business for $9.7 billion, which will enable the company to reduce its debt levels [1] - The acquisition allows Berkshire to concentrate more on fossil fuel investments, aligning with its strategic focus [1]

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) ranks among the stocks with low beta that can beat market volatility. On September 23, UBS restated its Buy rating for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), with a $143 price target. According to analyst Josh Silverstein, absolute energy demand will continue to rise into 2050, driven primarily by developing nations, which will likely consume significantly more energy, despite a projected decrease in energy consumption per capita as technology evolves. justin-c-6bsVqTJna_o ...

Warren Buffett speaks during the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2025.Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is closing in on a deal to buy Occidental Petroleum's petrochemical unit OxyChem for roughly $10 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The potential deal, which could finalize within days per the Journal, could be Berkshire's largest since 2022 when it bought insurer Alleghany for $11.6 billion. That deal was announced in March of that year and c ...

HOUSTON, Sept. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE: KEX) will announce its 2025 third quarter results at 6:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (“CDT”) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. This announcement will be followed by an earnings conference call webcast at 7:30 a.m. CDT. For listeners who wish to participate in the question and answer session via telephone, please pre-register at Kirby Earnings Call Registration. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing the ...

Core Viewpoint - Occidental Petroleum is in discussions to sell its petrochemicals division, OxyChem, potentially valued at up to $10 billion, which would result in one of the largest independent petrochemicals companies globally [1][2]. Group 1: Divestment and Financials - The divestment talks could conclude within weeks, although there is a possibility of complications arising [2]. - Occidental has been selling off assets to reduce its debt, which currently stands at approximately $24 billion, down from $48.75 billion in September 2019 after acquiring Anadarko for $55 billion [3]. - The company’s debt increased again in 2023 following the $12 billion acquisition of CrownRock [3]. Group 2: Production and Market Position - Occidental was recognized as one of the top 10 shale operators, with a daily production of 1.22 million barrels of oil equivalent, ranking third behind Exxon and Expand Energy [4]. - For the current year, Occidental aims for an average daily production of 1.422 million barrels, although lower international oil prices have negatively impacted earnings [5]. - The stock price has decreased by 8% over the past year and 4.5% year-to-date, reflecting the challenges posed by international oil prices [5]. Group 3: Petrochemicals Industry Outlook - The petrochemicals division generated nearly $5 billion in revenue over the 12 months leading to June [6]. - The petrochemicals sector is increasingly becoming a focal point for the oil industry, with expectations that it will drive overall oil demand growth in the future [6].

Core Viewpoint - Dividend stocks that provide reliable income and growth over the next decade are rare, but Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and Enbridge (ENB) are highlighted as top choices for investors seeking dependable dividends in uncertain times [1] Group 1: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - EPD has a forward dividend yield of 6.8%, significantly higher than the energy sector average of about 4.2% [2] - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 billion for the quarter and distributable cash flow (DCF) of $1.9 billion, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase [4] - EPD declared a payout of $0.545 per unit, marking a 3.8% increase year-over-year, and has a payout ratio of just 57% of adjusted cash flow from operations [5] - The company has returned $4.9 billion to unitholders through distributions and unit repurchases over the past twelve months [5] - Management anticipates $6 billion in organic growth initiatives to come online in the next 18 months, including new gas processing plants in the Permian Basin [6] Group 2: Financial Performance and Stability - EPD's DCF covered the distribution 1.6 times, allowing the company to retain $748 million in extra cash during the quarter and $3.4 billion over the past year [4] - Despite a 0.5% dip in share price year-to-date, EPD's financial flexibility supports its long-term viability and growth in distributions [3]

Company Overview - PTT Public Company Limited is the largest state-owned oil and gas company in Thailand by revenue and the largest company in Thailand overall [1] - The company engages in a wide range of activities from exploration to downstream operations, including petrochemical manufacturing, electricity generation, and petrol retailing [1] - PTT is the sole owner of local gas pipelines [1] Performance Metrics - The company has a Profitable Growth rank of 8, which is unchanged from the previous period, indicating below-average performance compared to 310 large energy companies globally [5] - The Profitability rank is also 8, which has decreased from the previous period's rank of 7, reflecting below-average performance compared to peers [5] - The Growth rank of 8 has similarly declined from the prior period's rank of 7, again indicating below-average performance compared to peers [5]

Group 1: Chevron's Strategy in South Korea - Chevron Corporation aims to balance its refinery investments, focusing on petrochemicals and upgrading heavy oil in regions like South Korea [1][10] - South Korea is a core component of Chevron's long-term global strategy, with the GS Caltex joint venture being a cornerstone of this expansion [3][5] - The Yeosu refinery complex, operated by GS Caltex, is Chevron's largest refinery, processing 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and is one of the most advanced globally [3][10] Group 2: Capital Allocation and Operational Efficiency - Chevron is optimizing returns by reducing capital commitments and adopting a leaner investment strategy in locations like Singapore, focusing on asset efficiency [4][10] - The company is implementing a global restructuring initiative to streamline operations, aiming to reduce its workforce by 15-20% by 2025, equating to approximately 800 job cuts in the Permian Basin [11][12] Group 3: Market Position and Competitive Edge - Despite challenges in South Korea's petrochemical sector, Chevron remains well-positioned to capture market share due to its financial stability and technical expertise [8] - The Yeosu complex includes units for high-conversion refining and various petrochemical derivatives, providing Chevron with a competitive edge in producing higher-value products [6][10] Group 4: Regional Importance and Future Outlook - Korea's geographic proximity to key Asian markets and its advanced infrastructure make it an ideal hub for Chevron's regional ambitions [13][14] - Chevron's long-term commitment to South Korea is aimed at enhancing profitability and competitiveness, with expectations that its operations will play a central role in global success [15]