US Natural Gas Futures Could Continue to Fall
Hedge funds’ net long positions in US natural gas futures (UGAZ) (UNG) and options contracts were at 5,318 for the week ending January 2, 2018.
Energy & Utilities
Stock news and analysis in the energy sector, including petroleum, natural gas, and green energy,
US Crude Oil Production Fell and Boosted Oil Futures
US crude oil production fell by 290,000 bpd (barrels per day) or 3% to 9,492,000 bpd between December 29, 2017, and January 5, 2018.
Why Utilities Could Keep Smashing in the Fourth Quarter
Despite valuation concerns, utility stocks seem relatively well placed at the moment, especially going into October, compared to broader markets.
Cushing Inventories Fell 33% from the Peak
Analysts expect that Cushing crude oil inventories could have declined on January 5–12, 2018. A fall in Cushing inventories is bullish for oil prices.
Traders Could Start Booking a Profit in Crude Oil Futures
On January 16, 2018, Goldman Sachs said that crude oil prices could exceed its forecast in the coming months.
Chesapeake Energy: Recommendations, Moving Averages
Of the 25 analysts tracking Chesapeake Energy (CHK), only three recommended a “buy” on the stock and 40% have a “sell” recommendation.
ExxonMobil and Chevron: Do Moving Averages Show a Breakout?
Leading energy stocks like ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) are facing bleak business conditions. Oil prices have been weaker in the third quarter.
Valero or Marathon Petroleum: Which Is a Better Buy?
Valero (VLO) and Marathon Petroleum’s (MPC) stocks have fallen 2.9% and 0.7%, respectively, so far in Q3. Here, we review which refiner is a better buy.
Why Does Valero Stock Have More Upside Potential?
Valero Energy (VLO) stock rose about 1.56% yesterday. We think this is because the company is restarting its crude processing units.
ExxonMobil and Chevron: Upstream Portfolio Positioning
Integrated oil companies ExxonMobil and Chevron have strong upstream portfolios, which play a vital role in determining their profitabilities.
BP Stock: Should You Buy It Now?
BP (BP) stock rose 3.9% on Monday due to higher oil prices. The drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s oilfield increased WTI crude oil by about 13%.
Dow Jones Index Falls after Rising for Eight Days
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index has fallen 0.4% or by 115 points today. The index is trading lower after rising for eight consecutive trading sessions.
Robotaxis: Voyage versus Ford, Waymo, and Tesla
Autonomous ride-sharing and robotaxi startup Voyage has raised about $31 million in the Series B round, according to its press release.
Will API Inventory Data Impact Energy Stocks?
Today, the API plans to release its oil inventory data for the week ended August 30. Gasoline inventories are expected to fall by 1.8 MMbbls.
The US Energy Sector: An Overview
To understand the US energy sector, it’s essential first to understand the country’s energy needs. The US uses various energy sources to meet its energy needs.
Where Is US Crude Oil Headed? An Energy Update
On August 30, US crude oil October futures settled at $55.1 per barrel. On a week-over-week basis, US crude oil prices rose 1.7%.
ExxonMobil or Chevron: Which Is the Better Buy?
ExxonMobil and Chevron slumped 7.9% and 4.9%, respectively, in August. The stocks took a beating due to weaker markets and tumbling crude oil prices.
Energy Stocks Fall: Right Time to Invest?
The recent slump in energy stocks provides investors with an opportunity to invest in well-placed stocks. Shell looks like an attractive investment option.
HP Stock Falls on Printing Woes, CEO Steps Down
HP stock fell over 6% in after-hours trading yesterday. Investors were disheartened after CEO Dion Weisler decided to leave the company.
PG&E Stock Fell 25% on Higher Risks from Tubbs Fire
PG&E (PCG) shares are trading more than 25% lower on Monday. A federal judge ruled that the utility must face victims of the Tubbs Fire.
First Solar: A key player in the global solar power industry
First Solar was the first solar power company to join the S&P 500 (SPY). We’ll take a look at the company’s operations before moving on to greater details.
Can the US-China Trade War Spiral into a Crude Oil War?
Although the US doesn’t export much crude oil to China, the additional supply of cheap Iranian oil could pressure both Brent and WTI crude prices.
Will Huawei’s Hongmeng OS Topple Google Android on Mobile?
Huawei has unveiled a new OS, Hongmeng, after being placed on a US trade blacklist. The new OS is a direct replacement of Google’s Android.
Crude Oil’s Outlook based on Chart Indicators
On Friday, WTI crude oil active futures rose 3.2% to $55.66 per barrel. The day before, they saw their largest single-day fall in more than four years.
ExxonMobil Stock: JPMorgan Chase Cut Its Target Price
ExxonMobil’s (XOM) earnings fell in the second quarter. After the earnings, JPMorgan Chase cut its target price on ExxonMobil stock from $85 to $83.
First Solar Disappoints in Q2 but Raises Guidance
First Solar (FSLR) reported its second-quarter earnings results yesterday. It reported EPS of -$0.18 for the quarter.
Utilities Are Back in Focus as the Trade War Escalates
Investors turned to defensive utilities intensified yesterday after President Trump announced 10% tariffs on another $300.0 billion worth of Chinese goods.
Why MPC Stock Fell despite Earnings Beat
MPC stock performed in line with the equity market and its peers on Thursday. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which represents the S&P 500 Index, fell 0.9%.
BP’s Earnings Beat Analysts’ Expectations
BP (BP) reported its second-quarter results today. Its earnings per American depositary share of $0.84 beat analysts’ estimate by about 7%.
Solar Stocks: Sunnova’s Debut, Q2 Earnings, and More
Solar stocks traded a little sluggish in the last few weeks. First Solar has risen more than 53%, while SunPower has risen more than 106% this year.
Why Valero Stock Slumped on Q2 Earnings
In the second quarter, Valero Energy’s refining earnings fell 28% YoY to $1.0 billion due to its weaker refining margin partly offset by higher throughput.
Total SA Stock Fell Marginally After Q2 Earnings
Total SA stock fell 0.9% on Thursday—its earnings release day. The stock was impacted by a 20% YoY fall in its earnings.
Suncor’s Earnings Rise but Miss Estimate in Q2
Suncor Energy (SU) posted its second-quarter earnings results on July 24. In the quarter, its revenue missed Wall Street’s estimate by 4%.
Why Is Delek Stock Falling?
Analysts expect Delek’s EPS to fall by 38% YoY and 45% quarter-over-quarter to $0.84 in the second quarter of 2019.
EPD, ETE, PAA, and MMP: What Do Analysts Recommend?
All of the analysts surveyed by Reuters covering Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and MPLX (MPLX) rated the stocks as “buy.”
ET, EPD, and KMI: Analysts’ Views and Target Prices
According to analysts’ estimates, Energy Transfer (ET) stock has a median target price of $21.24—compared to its current market price of $14.82.
How US Production Is Affecting WTI Crude Oil Prices
Between February 11, 2016, and July 15, 2019, WTI crude oil prices rose 127.3%. The United States Oil Fund LP (USO) gained 53.9% in the period.
Is Joe Biden’s Green New Deal Really Feasible?
Joe Biden has proposed a climate change framework that aims to zero down on carbon emissions and create millions of new jobs by 2050.
Why Utilities Underperformed the Broader Market Last Week
The defensives and utilities sector fell more than 2% last week while broader markets fell just 0.3%. Here’s why.
Oil Prices: Implied Volatility Suggests Upside Is Intact
On June 27, US crude oil’s implied volatility was 33.7%—12.7% below its 15-day average. Lower implied volatility might support oil prices.
Range Resources: What Do Analysts Recommend?
On June 14, BMO reduced its target price on Range Resources by $2 to $6. On June 12, Citigroup reduced its target price by $4.5 to $7.5.
How Strong is ExxonMobil’s Debt Position?
ExxonMobil’s (XOM) net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio was 1.0x in the first quarter—below the industry average of 1.2x.
Marathon Petroleum Expands with Its Capex and Acquisition
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) continues to march on its growth trajectory with its organic capex activities.
Where Cabot Oil & Gas’s Stock Price Could Be by May’s End
On May 24, Cabot Oil & Gas’s (COG) implied volatility was 28.6%, ~4.4% higher than its 15-day average.
Does Valero Have a Comfortable Debt Position?
Valero Energy’s (VLO) net debt-to-EBITDA ratio was 1.2x in the first quarter of 2019, lower than the peer average of 1.6x.
Which Institutions Raised Holdings in Integrated Stocks?
Institutional ownership in ExxonMobil and BP stands at ~56% and ~12%, respectively.
Where Does the United States Export Oil?
In this part, we’ll take a look at the top countries where the US exports its crude oil.
Why the United States Imports Oil
Several factors contributed to the rising crude oil exports in 2018.
How Utility Stocks Fared Last Week
Utilities were close to their all-time high and gained 0.4% last week, while broader markets also gained marginally.
Why the US Imposed Sanctions on Iran and Why They Matter
The United States first imposed restrictions on its activities with Iran in 1979, after the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran.
