Operational Update In Ghana, the second producer well (J-74) in the 2025-2026 Jubilee field development campaign has been successfully drilled and completed, and is expected online shortly. The well encountered approximately 50 meters of net pay, in line with Kosmos' expectations and has been completed in three zones, similar to the J- 72 well, which began producing in summer 2025. Based on the flowback of the well to the rig, production from J-74 is expected to be over 10,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), ...

We recently published 10 Big Names Crumbling Before 2026. ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ:ISP) is one of the worst performers on Tuesday. ASP Isotopes extended its losing streak to a third day on Tuesday, shedding 5.08 percent to close at $5.42 apiece as investors mirrored a key executive’s disposition of a significant stake in the company. In a regulatory filing on Monday, ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ:ISP) said that its chief finance officer, Heather Kiessling, disposed of 80,000 shares at a weighted average pri ...

Maksim Safaniuk / Shutterstock.com Quick Read Exxon Mobil (XOM) reached a new 52-week high despite WTI crude falling nearly 20% in 2025. The stock recovered fully from April’s 16% drop. Exxon generated $25.4B in upstream earnings in 2024. Guyana operations remain profitable at oil prices around $30 per barrel. Exxon raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years and now yields 3.3%. The company targets $30 per barrel breakeven costs by 2030. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Ame ...

Oil and gas storage tanks glow at sunset highlighting energy infrastructure tied to fuel supply and commodity markets. Key Points Downward pressure on the price of oil has been a headwind for many companies in the energy sector, and this may continue into 2026. It's possible to find value plays in the sector given the close links between share prices and resource prices. Expand Energy, Mach Natural Resources, and Archrock may be worth a closer look. Interested in Expand Energy Corporation? Here are fi ...

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer has decided to suspend the development of its Lake Charles LNG project, which has faced numerous challenges over the past decade, despite having secured commercial agreements and nearing a Final Investment Decision (FID) [1][2][4]. Group 1: Project Challenges - The Lake Charles LNG project was designed to liquefy and export 16.5 million metric tons per annum but has encountered obstacles such as difficult marketing conditions, loss of joint venture partner Shell, intense competition, and permitting issues [4]. - The company aimed to sell down 80% of its interest to equity partners before moving forward, but has only secured a 30% stake from MidOcean Energy, leaving 50% interest unsold [7]. Group 2: Strategic Focus - Energy Transfer is shifting its focus to capital allocation for its growing backlog of natural gas pipeline infrastructure projects, which present better risk/reward profiles compared to Lake Charles LNG [8]. - The company has announced an increase in the transportation capacity of the Transwestern Pipeline's Desert Southwest expansion project, now planning a 48-inch pipeline with a capacity of up to 2.3 billion cubic feet per day at a cost of $5.6 billion [9]. Group 3: Financial Outlook - Energy Transfer expects its 2026 capital spending to rise to $5.2 billion, an increase of $200 million from its initial budget, allowing for multiple expansions including the Hugh Brinson Pipeline [10]. - The company is also working on several other projects, including potential expansions of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is on track for an FID by mid-next year [11]. Group 4: Investment Discipline - The company is adopting a more disciplined approach to project approvals, focusing on the best investment opportunities to avoid financial strain, which has led to the suspension of the Lake Charles LNG project [13].

​Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) is one of the Undervalued Stocks with Biggest Upside Potential. On December 10, Jean Ann Salisbury from the Bank of America Securities reiterated a Buy rating on Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG), but lowered the firm’s price target from $15 to $11. ​The analyst noted that the valuations of the refiners surprised him in 2025, mainly due to temporary drivers including Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian infrastructure and tighter sanctions reducing Russian fuel exports, higher p ...

Core Insights - The Platts Global Energy Awards recognized excellence in the energy and chemicals industries, celebrating innovation, leadership, and performance across 21 categories [2][3][9] - Cheniere was awarded Energy Company of the Year, Chief Executive of the Year, and Excellence in Energy – LNG, highlighting its significant operational scale and leadership in the LNG sector [3][10] - The event emphasized the importance of sustainability and innovation in the energy sector, with a focus on companies and individuals driving change through technology and strategic initiatives [3][8] Award Winners - **Energy Company of the Year**: Cheniere (USA) [10] - **Lifetime Achievement Award**: Zhenguo Li (LONGi Green Energy Technology Company, China) and Alan Armstrong (Williams, USA) [10] - **Chief Executive of the Year**: Jack Fusco (Cheniere, USA) [10] - **Chief Trailblazer of the Year**: Shu Fei Zeng (KH Marque, Singapore) [10] - **Rising Star Award - Individual**: Katie Aittola (Duke Energy, USA) [10] - **Excellence in Energy - LNG**: Cheniere (USA) [11] - **Corporate Impact Award – Targeted Program Global East**: LONGi Green Energy Technology Company (China) for its Solar for Safe Births program [11] Industry Trends - The awards highlighted the role of artificial intelligence and innovative practices in steering the energy sector towards a sustainable future [3][8] - The recognition of individual achievements, such as Zhenguo Li's work in solar technology and Shu Fei Zeng's contributions to biofuels, underscores the industry's shift towards sustainability and circular economy practices [4][7] - The event showcased a diverse range of companies from 37 countries, reflecting the global nature of the energy industry and its collaborative efforts towards innovation and sustainability [9]

Core Insights - Venture Global's Q3 2025 earnings report showed diluted earnings per share of 16 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 22 cents, but improved from a loss of 15 cents in the same quarter last year [2] - Total revenues for the quarter reached $3.3 billion, significantly up from $926 million year-over-year, and exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.2 billion [2] - The company experienced a 12% decline in share price over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about future performance leading up to the next earnings release [1] Financial Performance - Operating income for Q3 2025 was $1.32 billion, a substantial increase from $189 million in Q3 2024, driven by higher LNG sales volumes from the Plaquemines project [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $1.5 billion, up 273% from $283 million year-over-year, primarily due to increased LNG sales volumes [6] - The cost of sales rose to $1.4 billion from $272 million in the previous year, with total operating expenses increasing to $2 billion from $737 million [7] LNG Export Activity - Venture Global exported 100 cargoes in Q2 2025, a significant increase from 31 cargoes in the same period last year, with total LNG volumes exported reaching 373 trillion British thermal units (TBtu), up from 100 TBtu year-over-year [5] Balance Sheet - As of September 30, 2025, the company had $1.9 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with a net long-term debt of $31.7 billion [8] Future Outlook - For the full year 2025, the company has narrowed its Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $6.35-$6.5 billion, down from a previous range of $6.4-$6.8 billion, and expects total cargoes across all projects to be between 382-386 [9] - Recent estimate revisions have shown a downward trend, with a consensus estimate shift of -6.19%, leading to a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) for the stock [10][12] Industry Context - Venture Global operates within the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, where another player, Coterra Energy, has seen a slight gain of 0.3% over the past month [13]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry consists of companies that own and operate midstream energy infrastructure assets, including extensive pipeline networks for transporting crude oil, liquids, and natural gas [3] - Companies in this industry are also involved in processing and storing natural gas, with interests in natural gas distribution utilities serving millions of retail customers across North America [3] - Some firms are increasing investments in renewable energy and power transmission, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects, allowing for additional cash flow generation alongside stable fee-based revenues from transportation assets [3] Business Model and Financial Stability - Midstream companies benefit from stable fee-based revenues due to long-term contracts, primarily take-or-pay contracts, which ensure predictable cash flow generation [4][2] - The industry is less vulnerable to oil and natural gas price volatility, making it an attractive investment option [1][4] - Despite significant debt loads, many companies have a favorable average cost of debt and a long average lifespan for their debt, reducing vulnerability to rising debt capital costs [6] Market Demand and Growth Potential - There is a rising demand for clean energy from data centers, positioning natural gas transportation companies to benefit as they can transport natural gas to gas-fired power plants supplying electricity to these centers [5] - Key players in the industry include Kinder Morgan, Enterprise Products Partners, and The Williams Companies, all of which are well-positioned to capitalize on this growing demand [2][15][21] Industry Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector but has lagged behind the S&P 500 Composite over the past year, with a 17.7% increase compared to the S&P 500's 17.8% [9] - The industry currently trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio of 14.01X, which is lower than the S&P 500's 18.74X but above the sector's 5.50X [12] Key Companies - **Kinder Morgan (KMI)**: A major North American midstream energy company with stable fee-based revenues and strong growth potential from increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand globally [15] - **Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)**: A midstream energy giant with over 50,000 miles of pipeline assets and a strong focus on stable fee-based earnings, which are the largest contributor to its gross operating margin [17][18] - **The Williams Companies (WMB)**: A leading midstream player with a vast network of natural gas transportation pipelines, transporting approximately 33% of the total natural gas used in the U.S., well-positioned to meet rising power demand from expanding data centers [21]

Core Insights - California Resources has established a strong position in California's independent exploration and production sector, holding significant mineral rights and a diverse portfolio of oil and gas plays, with 81% of its proved reserves located in the San Joaquin Basin [1][6] - Wells Fargo analysts have initiated an Overweight rating on California Resources and Tamboran Resources, highlighting their unique asset mixes and upcoming catalysts for 2026 [3][14] - The energy sector is experiencing a complex evolution driven by decarbonization efforts and local economic factors, impacting investment strategies [5] California Resources - The company produced 137,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the second and third quarters of the year, with crude oil making up approximately 78% of this total [6] - California Resources reported a revenue of $855 million in 3Q25, down over 36% year-over-year, but beat earnings expectations with a non-GAAP EPS of $1.46, up from $1.10 in 2Q25 [8] - The company is involved in carbon capture and storage through its Carbon TerraVault project, partnering with Brookfield Renewable to develop CCS opportunities [7][10] - Analyst Margolin believes CRC shares are trading at their PDP value, with potential for significant upside, setting a price target of $58, indicating a 21.5% increase [10] Tamboran Resources - Tamboran operates in the unconventional natural gas sector in Australia's Northern Territory, with a focus on tapping into the Beetaloo/MacArthur basin [11][12] - The company has not yet begun commercial production and is currently operating at a loss, raising $56.1 million through a public offering and planning additional fundraising [13] - Analyst Margolin highlights the potential for high output and earnings from Tamboran's assets, with a price target of $35 suggesting a 36% upside [14]