Prices fell in five of six segments, most notably in Chemicals and Materials due to competitive pressure. Surface Technologies was the exception, where BASF increased prices primarily due to higher precious metal prices. Currency effects burdened sales across divisions, which management attributed mainly to depreciation of the U.S. dollar, Chinese renminbi, and Indian rupee. Portfolio effects slightly dampened sales growth, largely linked to the sale of the decorative paints business.Chairman of the Board o ...

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is included among the Goldman Sachs Dividend Stocks: Top 14 Stock Picks. Wells Fargo Increases Exxon Mobil (XOM) Price Forecast, Maintains Bullish View On February 24, Wells Fargo analyst Sam Margolin raised the price recommendation on Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) to $183 from $156. He maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm said Exxon’s stock has helped lead the broader index higher and is undergoing a re-rating. Wells Fargo views this multiple ex ...

Core Viewpoint - Westlake Corporation reported disappointing earnings for Q4 2025, with a significant GAAP EPS loss, but adjusted EPS exceeded market expectations, indicating some resilience despite revenue declines [1][5]. Financial Performance - The company reported a GAAP EPS of -$4.22 for Q4 2025, while the adjusted EPS was -$0.25, surpassing the consensus estimate of -$1.44 [1][5]. - Revenue for the period was $2.53 billion, falling short of the estimated $2.57 billion, and represents a decrease from $2.8 billion in both the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year [2][5]. - For the full year 2025, net sales totaled $11.2 billion, down from $12.5 billion in 2024, indicating a consistent decline in sales performance [2]. Valuation Metrics - Westlake's trailing twelve-month (TTM) P/E ratio stands at 69.52, reflecting the market's valuation of its positive full-year earnings of $1.22 per share [3]. - The price-to-sales ratio is 1.04, indicating that investors are willing to pay $1.04 for every dollar of sales [3]. - The enterprise value to sales ratio is 1.32, and the enterprise value to EBITDA ratio is 31.41, reflecting the company's valuation relative to its sales and cash flow generation [3]. Financial Ratios - The TTM earnings yield is approximately 1.44%, highlighting the company's positive full-year earnings situation [4]. - The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.54, indicating a moderate approach to leveraging equity [4][5]. - The current ratio is 1.99, suggesting adequate liquidity and the ability to cover short-term liabilities with current assets [4].

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is included among the 14 Best Warren Buffett Dividend Stocks to Buy. Chevron (CVX) Gains Bullish Outlook as Exploration Spending Rises On February 17, Melius Research said Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) could see upside as exploration activity picks up and the market overlooks its potential in Venezuela. The firm upgraded the stock to Buy and raised its price target to $205. That target suggests about 13% upside from current levels. Analyst James West pointed to Chevron’s r ...

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil has a strong history of increasing its annual dividend payouts, having done so for 43 consecutive years, positioning itself as a reliable option for passive income investors [1] Group 1: Dividend and Investment Appeal - The current dividend yield of ExxonMobil is 2.7%, meaning an investment of $10,000 would yield $273 in annual dividends [2] - The company is well-positioned to continue delivering dividends due to its efficient operations and strategic investments [9] Group 2: Business Operations and Efficiency - ExxonMobil operates an integrated business model that includes both upstream (exploration and drilling) and downstream (refining and production of fuels and petrochemicals) operations [3] - The company is shifting its portfolio towards advantaged assets, which are expected to make up 65% of its upstream production by 2030, up from 59% in 2025 [4] - ExxonMobil employs advanced technology, such as cube development in the Permian Basin, to enhance recovery and efficiency, with plans to increase the use of proprietary proppant technology from 25% to 50% of its wells by late 2026 [6] Group 3: Production and Future Outlook - Production in the Permian Basin reached a record of 1.6 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, with projections to exceed 2.5 million by 2030 due to improved drilling productivity and recovery efficiency [8] - The company has achieved $15.1 billion in cumulative structural cost savings since 2019, allowing it to maintain lower costs and higher returns compared to competitors [7]

HOUSTON, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE: KEX) today announced the appointment of Tracy A. Embree as a new independent member of the Kirby Board of Directors effective February 16, 2026. She will stand for election at the annual meeting of the corporation in April of this year. Ms. Embree is the retired President of Otis Americas, a division of Otis Worldwide Corporation, and brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience across industrial operations, manufactu ...

​Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) is among the Best Affordable Stocks Under $40 to Buy. Analysts have been raising price targets on Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) since the company released its fiscal Q4 2025 earnings on February 3. Recently, on February 5, Michael Blum from Wells Fargo raised the firm’s price target from $36 to $38, while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. Earlier, on February 4, Brandon Bingham from Scotiabank also reiterated a Hold rating on the stock and ...

Market Overview - The market is currently experiencing a rotation period, with a significant surge in value stocks compared to growth stocks, marking the largest shift in over four years [3] - Despite recent slowdowns, the market outlook remains promising as it navigates through key challenges, including changes in Federal Reserve leadership and government negotiations [2] Company Analysis: Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. reported fiscal Q4 2025 earnings on February 3, achieving $13.79 billion in revenue, which is a 2.87% decrease year-over-year but exceeded consensus estimates by $1.43 billion [11] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $0.75, surpassing estimates by $0.06, driven by growth in the Natural Gas and Petrochemical & Refined Products segments, although offset by lower oil prices [11] - Analysts have raised price targets for EPD, with Wells Fargo increasing its target from $36 to $38 and Scotiabank from $35 to $37, while both maintained a Hold rating due to discrepancies between operational data and financial outcomes [9][10][12] Company Analysis: Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET) - Energy Transfer LP released fiscal Q4 2025 earnings on February 17, reporting revenue of $25.32 billion, a 29.57% year-over-year increase, but an EPS of $0.25 fell short of estimates by $0.11 [14] - The company experienced volume growth in the fourth quarter, with NGL and refined product terminal volumes up 12% and NGL transportation volumes increasing by 5%, driven by demand from data centers and power generation [15] - Energy Transfer has set its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance between $17.45 billion and $17.85 billion, an increase from the previous range of $17.3 billion to $17.7 billion [16]

Company Overview - Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the largest integrated energy companies globally, involved in oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and the production of fuels, petrochemicals, lubricants, and specialty plastics. The company is also investing in lower-emission businesses such as carbon capture and lithium development [5]. Financial Performance - In 2025, Exxon reported earnings of $28.8 billion and generated $52 billion in operating cash flow, maintaining its position at the top of the industry. Since 2019, the company's earnings per share have grown at a compound annual rate of 21%, while operating cash flow has increased at a 10% annual pace [2]. - The company achieved $3 billion in structural savings last year, bringing total savings since 2019 to $15.1 billion, which exceeds the combined total savings of other international oil companies during the same period [4]. Production Highlights - Exxon reached a production level of 4.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, the highest output in over four decades. Significant production records were set in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana, where the company has focused its capital on high-margin barrels [3]. Analyst Ratings - Mizuho raised its price target for Exxon Mobil from $132 to $140 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. This adjustment followed the company's Q4 report, which led to a revision of Mizuho's financial model [1].

Core Insights - BP reported operational achievements including the startup of seven new major projects and a record in upstream plant reliability, leading to broadly flat underlying production compared to 2024 and exceeding prior guidance [1] - The company has decided to suspend share buybacks to strengthen its balance sheet, reallocating excess cash for this purpose [2] - BP's CFO highlighted a focus on safety, noting four fatalities in 2025, and emphasized the company's commitment to reducing process safety events [5][6] Financial Performance - BP's adjusted free cash flow increased by approximately 55% in 2025 on a price-adjusted basis, with net debt decreasing by $800 million compared to the end of 2024 [10] - The company reported a group underlying replacement cost profit of $1.5 billion for the fourth quarter, impacted by a weaker price environment [14] - Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $7.6 billion, with capital expenditures of $4.2 billion, including $600 million related to a deferred payment for a previous transaction [16] Strategic Actions - BP concluded a strategic review of Castrol, agreeing to sell a 65% stake for expected net proceeds of around $6 billion, which will be used to reduce net debt [8] - The company has completed over $11 billion in divestments, more than halfway toward a $20 billion disposal program within a year [8] - BP's Boomerang discovery is noted as the largest in 25 years, with an initial estimate of around 8 billion barrels of liquids in place [7] Future Guidance - For 2026, BP expects reported upstream production to be slightly lower, with capital expenditures projected between $13.0 billion and $13.5 billion [18] - Divestment proceeds for 2026 are anticipated to be between $9 billion and $10 billion, significantly weighted to the second half of the year [18] - The company expects net debt to increase in the first half of 2026 before falling significantly in the second half, depending on macroeconomic conditions and prices [18]