Signs indicate that Nicolas Maduro’s presidency in Venezuela is in serious peril, as may be the reign of his United Socialist Party. The past couple of weeks have seen several major events that indicate an inauspicious scenario for the regime that has led South America’s fifth largest population to economic failure. If the United Socialist Party falters, and if Maduro is deposed, the consequences for the world oil market could be significant. After all, Venezuela does control the world’s largest known oil reserves and still produces two million barrels per day.
Opposition members stage a sit-in on a highway during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, April 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
As of April 25, a reported 26 Venezuelans have died in political protests against the current regime. Reporting last week showed that perhaps the protests are not larger only because many Venezuelans are simply too hungry to participate. Though the protests do not make the global news every day, they continue.
Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2018: Halliburton Company(HAL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Brett Hershman]
Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) talked about the acceleration of data and services integration, an increased focus on improving margins and made no commitment toward price increases in the first quarter.
- [By WWW.KIPLINGER.COM]
But what really differentiates SLB from rivals such as Halliburton Company (HAL) is its client list.
Instead of focusing on North America, Schlumberger has a global portfolio, and thus its revenues are well, worldlier. Thats important, because state-owned energy firms can have a different mandate than publicly traded energy stocks. They often drill despite losses. Plus, the multitude of operating regions means some could be profitable, covering for when others are not.
- [By Lee Jackson]
These companies also reported insider buying last week: Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Revlon Inc. (NYSE: REV), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX) and U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X).
Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2018: Range Resources Corporation(RRC)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) dropped about 12.8% Wednesday to register a new 52-week low of $17.71 after closing at $20.30 on Tuesday. The 52-week high is $43.60. Volume was nearly 20 million, nearly 4 times the daily average. The natural gas producer missed estimates this morning and revised its growth projections downward. It was one of several energy companies that took some price target cuts from analysts.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) is rated Buy with a lowered price target of $43. The 2017 EPS estimate has been lowered from $0.85 to $0.68, and the 2018 estimate waslowered from $1.60 to $1.52. Shares closed at $27.34 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $27.07 to $46.96, and the consensus price target is $46.42. Range Resources is a Jefferies Franchise Pick.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Talk about a Barron’s bounce!Range Resources (RRC) has soared to the top of the S&P 500 today after Barron’s touted it in the pages of the magazine this weekend.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Range Resources gained 4.1% to $28.47, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% to2,375.31.
Barron’s Andrew Bary called Range Resources “an unappreciated energy play.” He explains why:
With major market indexes at record highs, natural-gas stocks are among the few depressed industry groups. Blame a warm winter and weakening gas prices.
Range Resources (ticker: RRC), a leading U.S. gas producer, looks undervalued. Its shares, at $27, are down 20% this year and are much below their 52-week high of $47, set last June. Range drilled the first well in the now-prolific Marcellus region of Pennsylvania more than a decade ago and amassed one of its largest land positions there610,000 acres. Its $4.2 billion purchase of Memorial Resource Development last September gave it access to what the company views as a prolific and underappreciated gas region: northern Louisiana
Range Resources’ market capitalization rose to $7 billion today from $6.8 billion on Friday. It reported net income of $521 million on sales of $1.4 billion in 2016.
Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2018: ConocoPhillips(COP)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Dustin Parrett]
Specifically, the oil supermajors are ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM), BP Plc. (NYSE: BP), Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (NYSE ADR: RDS.A), Conoco Phillips (NYSE: COP), Eni SpA (NYSE ADR: E), and Total SA (NYSE ADR: TOT).
- [By Jayson Derrick]
Other stocks that were net sold include ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI). Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) was also sold by clients after the electric vehicle maker saw its stock hit a new all-time high in the middle of the month.
- [By Zacks]
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Zacks Investment Research - [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
The contract awards are for the jack-ups West Elara and West Linus with ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS (COP) for work in the Greater Ekofisk area. The total additional backlog for the new contract awards is estimated to be about $1.4 billion, excluding performance bonuses.
- [By Shanthi Rexaline]
Phillips 66 is a multi-national company headquartered in Westchase, Houston. It was spun off from ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) in 1917.
Stock Return (Since 2012): 144.1 percent.
Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2018: Crescent Point Energy Corp (16)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Kana Nishizawa]
China Coal Energy Co., the countrys second-largest producer of the fuel, sank 3.1 percent after the government said it will cut coal consumption. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (16), the worlds second-biggest developer, fell 1.4 percent after trimming its sales target. Gold producers led materials companies lower as the precious metal headed for its steepest weekly loss since June amid expectations the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee will next week decide to reduce stimulus.
Top 5 Oil Stocks To Own For 2018: Apache Corporation(APA)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the AAP team say Apache’s (APA) mixed results are a buying opportunity. Find out what they’re telling their investment club members with a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the Action Alerts PLUS team say they still believe in their embattled Permian names, Cimarex (XEC) and Apache (APA) , both of which have benefited from a slow rotation in recent weeks. These names can produce and profit here. Schlumberger (SLB) remains best in class and Magellan Midstream Partners just might be the best way to play oil given that the pipelines will be needed to transport the new wave of oil able to be drawn out of the ground from increasingly efficient American producers. Get in on the discussion by getting a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By Lee Jackson]
These companies also reported insider buying last week: Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Revlon Inc. (NYSE: REV), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX) and U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X).
- [By Chris Lange]
The stock posting the largest daily percentage gain in the S&P 500 ahead of the close Friday Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) which rose about 5.7% to $44.22. The stocks 52-week range is $38.14 to $69.00. Volume was5 million compared to its average volume of 3.3 million.
