ConocoPhillips has a more impressive plan.Occidental Petroleum (OXY 0.28%) is a popular oil stock. That's due in part because Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns a sizable stake. The conglomerate owns nearly 265 million shares (27% of its outstanding shares) worth $10.5 billion (its seventh-largest position at 3.4% of its investment portfolio). While Occidental Petroleum is a great company, I think investors should take a closer look at ConocoPhillips (COP 0.31%). Here's why. Held back by deb ...

Core Viewpoint - Tamboran Resources Corporation (NYSE:TBN) has shown significant stock price appreciation and positive analyst coverage, indicating strong potential for growth in the natural gas sector in Australia [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - The share price of Tamboran Resources surged by 9.96% between November 28 and December 5, 2025, ranking it among the top-performing energy stocks for that week [1]. - Wells Fargo initiated coverage of Tamboran Resources with an 'Overweight' rating and a price target of $35, suggesting an upside potential of nearly 34% [2]. Group 2: Development Strategy - The company's outlook is supported by a three-phase development plan aimed at enhancing local energy security in the Northern Territory, addressing gas market shortfalls on Australia's East Coast, and facilitating energy transition through LNG exports to Asia Pacific partners [3]. - Tamboran Resources is positioned as an international shale gas exploration and production company, actively operating in the Beetaloo Basin, controlling 2.9 million net acres [4].

Core Viewpoint - Puerto Rico is expected to experience lower energy prices due to a deal with New Fortress Energy, which has garnered positive reactions from investors and officials [1][2]. Company Overview - New Fortress Energy's shares rose by 10.48%, closing at $1.37, with a market cap of $0 billion and a 52-week range of $0.98 to $16.66 [2]. - The company has a gross margin of 19.59% and is currently not offering a dividend [2]. Deal Significance - The deal with New Fortress Energy is viewed as a crucial step towards achieving system stability in Puerto Rico's energy sector, as expressed by officials from the governor's office [2]. - The Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) has conditionally approved New Fortress to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Puerto Rico, although this approval is not final [3]. Financial Challenges - New Fortress Energy is facing significant financial difficulties, with substantial debt that it is struggling to manage. The company has received a temporary reprieve from creditors, which will end on December 15, when it must resume interest payments [4]. - A finalized deal is essential for New Fortress to meet its financial obligations, but the risk of bankruptcy remains a concern [4].

Core Viewpoint - ConocoPhillips is generating substantial free cash flow, driven by low-cost operations and growth initiatives, allowing for significant returns to shareholders and a strong financial position [1][2][12]. Financial Performance - In the second quarter, ConocoPhillips generated $4.7 billion in cash from operations despite a 19% decline in average realized prices per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) [4]. - The company increased its production to nearly 2.4 million BOE per day, up 446,000 BOE per day from the previous year, aided by the acquisition of Marathon Oil and a 3% increase in legacy operations [4]. Capital Allocation - ConocoPhillips allocated $3.3 billion for capital expenditures, paid $1 billion in dividends, repurchased $1.2 billion in shares, and reduced $200 million in debt during the quarter [5]. - Year-to-date totals include $2.7 billion in share repurchases, $2 billion in dividends, and $700 million in debt reduction [5]. Cash Position - The company ended the quarter with $5.7 billion in cash and short-term investments, and $1.1 billion in long-term investments, supporting its strong balance sheet [6]. - ConocoPhillips has exceeded its asset sale target of $2 billion following the Marathon acquisition, closing $700 million in non-core asset sales during the quarter and $1.3 billion in the first half of the year [6]. Future Cash Flow Growth - ConocoPhillips anticipates an increase in free cash flow, expecting an additional $7 billion annually by 2029 from growth initiatives and cost savings [2][10]. - The company expects to achieve $1 billion in cost savings from the Marathon acquisition by the end of this year, with an additional $1 billion in cost and margin enhancements expected by the end of next year [9][13]. Long-term Investments - Investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Alaska are projected to contribute $6 billion in free cash flow through 2029, with several LNG projects set to come online in the coming years [10][13]. - ConocoPhillips plans to sell another $2.5 billion in non-core assets by the end of next year to further strengthen its balance sheet [11]. Shareholder Returns - The company aims to deliver dividend growth within the top 25% of S&P 500 companies and plans to repurchase over $20 billion of its stock in the first three years post-Marathon acquisition [12].

Financial Performance - Shell reported adjusted earnings of $4.26 billion for Q2 2025, exceeding analyst expectations of $3.87 billion [1][2] - The company's Q2 2025 earnings were lower than the $6.29 billion reported in the same period last year and $5.58 billion in Q1 2025 [2] Strategic Focus - In March, Shell announced plans to prioritize shareholder returns, increase cost savings, and enhance its liquefied natural gas (LNG) initiatives, aiming for value creation while focusing on performance and simplification [3] - The strategic update has positively impacted investor sentiment, with Shell's share price rising by 8% this year, outperforming competitors like BP (up 3%), TotalEnergies (down 2%), and Exxon Mobil (up 4%) [3] Market Position - Shell dismissed rumors of a potential takeover bid for BP, stating in late June that it had "no intention" of making an offer for its struggling rival [4]

Core Viewpoint - New Fortress Energy has experienced a significant decline in stock value, dropping 78% in the first half of 2025, raising questions about whether this is an overreaction or a serious issue for the company [1] Company Overview - New Fortress Energy is an energy infrastructure company focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and was positioned to benefit from the growing U.S. LNG export market, which is expected to see a 60% increase in global demand by 2040 according to Shell [2] Financial Troubles - The company has faced mounting debt issues, leading to a delayed dividend payment in September of the previous year and a going concern warning in November, indicating insufficient cash to meet 2025 debt obligations [4] - New Fortress Energy reported a 31% year-over-year revenue decline in the first quarter, with a net loss of $0.73 per share, significantly missing analysts' expectations [5] Regulatory and Operational Challenges - The company delayed its regulatory 10-Q filing, resulting in a delisting warning from Nasdaq, and reiterated its going concern warning in its SEC filing on June 30, indicating liquidity issues [6] - A recent setback occurred when Puerto Rico's finance regulator rejected a proposed $20 billion LNG supply contract, citing contract inconsistencies and concerns over potential monopoly, further straining relations with the Puerto Rican government [7]

Industry Overview - The liquified natural gas (LNG) market is rapidly growing as Asian countries transition from coal to natural gas to reduce emissions [1] - The U.S. LNG export market is expanding due to an abundance of natural gas, with Shell predicting a 60% increase in LNG demand by 2040 [1] Company: Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer operates one of the largest integrated midstream energy systems in the U.S., with a strong position in natural gas transportation and storage [2][4] - The company is investing $5 billion in capital expenditures by 2025 to capture AI-driven power demand and increase LNG export volumes [3] - Energy Transfer has a well-covered distribution with over 2x coverage last quarter, and 90% of its EBITDA comes from fee-based contracts, providing stable cash flows [4] Company: Williams Companies - Williams owns the Transco pipeline system, connecting Appalachian gas fields to high-demand centers, benefiting from the shift from coal to gas and rising LNG exports [8] - The company has eight major expansions planned for Transco through 2030, supported by long-term contracts, and is also focusing on data center projects [9] - Williams is expanding its position in the Haynesville Basin, which is well-positioned for future LNG export growth [10] Company: Cheniere Energy - Cheniere Energy is the largest LNG exporter in the U.S., owning the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals [11] - The company operates on a business model of long-term, take-or-pay contracts, with 95% of its capacity contracted until the mid-2030s [12] - Cheniere is expanding its capacity through the CCL Stage 3 project, with expectations of producing 47 million to 48 million tons of LNG in 2025 [13][14]