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Credit Capital Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY – Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 8,000 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $443,000. Occidental Petroleum makes up 0.2% of Credit Capital Investments LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 27th largest position.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Hara Capital LLC bought a new stake in Occidental Petroleum during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. purchased a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in Occidental Petroleum in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. 88.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $68.00 price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $79.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, September 14th. Seaport Research Partners assumed coverage on Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $73.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 10th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $67.46.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on OXY Occidental Petroleum Price Performance NYSE:OXY opened at $64.18 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a 12 month low of $38.80 and a 12 month high of $67.45. The company has a market capitalization of $64.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.24. The business’s 50-day moving average is $59.86 and its 200 day moving average is $57.25.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The oil and gas producer reported $2.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.57. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 28.36% and a return on equity of 15.31%. The business had revenue of $8.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.07 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.39 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 53.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Occidental Petroleum Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 10th were paid a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 10th. This is a positive change from Occidental Petroleum’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.7%. Occidental Petroleum’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.34%.

Occidental Petroleum Profile (Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an energy company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, development and production. Its operations are focused primarily on the United States, including the Permian and DJ basins, as well as selected international regions in the Middle East and North Africa.

The company’s OxyChem subsidiary manufactures and markets chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls and other chemical products used in water treatment, construction, healthcare, packaging and industrial applications.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Occidental Petroleum Spotify Soars After Earnings as the Company Touts AI Benefits and Moderating Costs Lockheed Martin’s Record $292 Billion Backlog Comes With a Delivery Test Palantir’s Next Big Test Isn’t a Partnership—It’s the Numbers Kinder Morgan’s $4.7 Billion Pipeline Bet Could Be Bigger Than Its Earnings Beat Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OXY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY – Free Report).

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Key Takeaways Four value stocks stand out as AI spending fears, rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions rattle markets.Low P/CF ratios and attractive valuations make SIG, ARW, GAP and OXY worth considering.All four stocks have a Value Score of A, with projected EPS growth ranging from 13.2% to 204.1%.
Wall Street ended yesterday’s session on a mixed note as renewed concerns about artificial intelligence spending and escalating geopolitical tensions weighed on investor sentiment. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 2.6% to close at 26,008.86, while the S&P 500 fell 1.21% to 7,663.43. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 11.89 points, or 0.02%, to settle at 52,867.98.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East added to market uncertainty, triggering a surge in oil prices and intensifying inflation concerns. Houthi strikes against Saudi targets further heightened fears of regional instability and potential disruptions to energy markets. Investors remained concerned that a prolonged conflict in the region could keep oil prices elevated and inflationary pressures persistent. Such a scenario could compel the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates further.

Against this uncertain backdrop, value stocks may present an attractive opportunity for investors seeking to capitalize on market volatility. Companies trading at discounts to their intrinsic values, despite solid fundamentals and healthy growth prospects, could offer favorable entry points. As market sentiment stabilizes and investors increasingly prioritize underlying business strength and reasonable valuations, these stocks could see a valuation re-rating, paving the way for long-term capital appreciation.

When evaluating value stocks, one of the most effective valuation metrics is the Price-to-Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio. This metric measures a stock's market price relative to the cash flow the company generates on a per-share basis. A lower P/CF ratio indicates that the stock is trading at a better value, offering strong cash generation potential relative to its price. Companies — Signet Jewelers Limited (SIG - Free Report) , Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW - Free Report) , The Gap, Inc. (GAP - Free Report) and Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY - Free Report) — boast a low P/CF ratio.

Price to Cash Flow Reflects Financial HealthYou must be wondering why we consider the P/CF valuation metric when the most widely used valuation metric is Price/Earnings (or P/E). An important factor that makes P/CF a highly dependable metric is that operating cash flow adds back non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization to net income, truly diagnosing a company’s financial health.

Analysts caution that a company’s earnings are subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. Then again, cash flow is quite reliable. Net cash flow unveils how much money a company generates and how effectively management is deploying the same.

Positive cash flow indicates an increase in the company’s liquid assets. This gives the company the means to settle debt, meet its expenses, reinvest in the business, endure downturns and finally undertake shareholder-friendly moves. Negative cash flow implies a decline in the company’s liquidity, which, in turn, lowers its flexibility to support these endeavors.

What’s the Best Value Investing Strategy?An investment decision based solely on the P/CF metric may not yield the desired results. To identify stocks that are trading at a discount, you should expand your search criteria and also consider the price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio and price-to-sales ratio. Adding a favorable Zacks Rank and a Value Score of A or B to your search criteria should lead to even better results as these eliminate the chance of falling into a value trap.

Here are the parameters for selecting true-value stocks:

P/CF less than or equal to X-Industry Median.

Price greater than or equal to 5: The stocks must all be trading at a minimum of $5 or higher.

Average 20-Day Volume greater than 100,000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.

P/E using (F1) less than or equal to X-Industry Median: This parameter shortlists stocks that are trading at a discount or are equal to their peers.

P/B less than or equal to X-Industry Median: A lower P/B compared with the industry average implies that there is enough room for the stock to gain.

P/S less than or equal to X-Industry Median: The P/S ratio determines how a stock price compares to the company’s sales — the lower the ratio, the more attractive the stock is.

PEG less than 1: The ratio is used to determine a stock's value by taking the company's earnings growth into account. The PEG ratio gives a more complete picture than the P/E ratio. A value of less than 1 indicates that the stock is undervalued and that investors need to pay less for a stock that has robust earnings growth prospects.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.

Value Score of less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a Style Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential.

Here are four out of the 13 value stocks that qualified the screening:

Signet, a leading specialty jewelry retailer operating brands such as Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared and Diamonds Direct, sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 86.6%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Signet’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 0.8% and 21.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period. SIG has a Value Score of A. Shares of SIG have risen 12.8% over the past year.

Arrow Electronics sources and engineers technology solutions for thousands of leading manufacturers and service providers. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 34.4%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Arrow Electronics’ current financial-year sales and EPS calls for growth of 27.6% and 92.7%, respectively, from the year-ago period. ARW has a Value Score of A. ARW shares have surged 74.6% over the past year.

Gap, one of the largest specialty apparel companies in America, carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.1%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Gap’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 1% and 13.2%, respectively, from the year-ago period. GAP has a Value Score of A. Shares of GAP have fallen 2.3% over the past year.

Occidental Petroleum is an international energy company that produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 46.1%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Occidental’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 8.2% and 204.1%, respectively, from the year-ago period. OXY has a Value Score of A. OXY shares have advanced 46.8% over the past year.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page.

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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, founded in 1920 and based in Houston, TX, is an international energy company with significant oil and gas exploration and production exposure. Following the sale of OxyChem in January 2026, the company conducts continuing operations through two reportable segments: Oil and Gas and Midstream and Marketing. Occidental primarily operates in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. At 2025-end, its worldwide proved reserves totaled about 4.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe), compared with 4.61 billion Boe at the end of 2024. The company achieved organic reserve replacement of 107% in 2025.

OXY is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Oils-Energy stock. OXY has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 9.6% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2026, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.34 to $6.43 per share. OXY boasts an average earnings surprise of +46.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, OXY should be on investors' short list.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving.

The rising trend in estimate revisions, which is a result of growing analyst optimism on the earnings prospects of this oil and gas exploration and production company, should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core.

The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.

For Occidental Petroleum, strong agreement among the covering analysts in revising earnings estimates upward has resulted in meaningful improvement in consensus estimates for the next quarter and full year.

The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsThe company is expected to earn $1.45 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of +126.6%.

Over the last 30 days, four estimates have moved higher for Occidental compared to no negative revisions. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 21.07%.

Current-Year Estimate RevisionsFor the full year, the earnings estimate of $6.56 per share represents a change of +196.8% from the year-ago number.

In terms of estimate revisions, the trend for the current year also appears quite encouraging for Occidental. Over the past month, four estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revisions, helping the consensus estimate increase 5.83%.

Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, Occidental currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.

Bottom LineInvestors have been betting on Occidental because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 6% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.

Warren Buffett’s bet on Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) is seemingly paying off, with the stock rising over 50% in the past year. 

Notably, OXY shares reached a 52-week high of $67.45 on March 31 before retreating and recovering, settling at $62 as of press time, up 52% over the past year. 

OXY one-year stock price chart. Source: Google Finance Occidental’s recovery reflects improving fundamentals and higher oil prices amid US-Iran tensions and concerns about disruptions to crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Its average realized crude oil price rose 32.6% year over year in the third quarter.

Berkshire’s Hathaway’s (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B) investment gives it exposure to Occidental’s production assets and cash flows. 

Berkshire stake in Occidental The relationship also deepened when Berkshire completed its $9.7 billion cash acquisition of Occidental’s OxyChem business on January 2, 2026, giving the oil producer greater flexibility to reduce debt and focus on its core operations.

At the same time, Berkshire’s first-quarter filing showed a 26.9% stake, excluding the potential effect of outstanding warrants. 

Occidental’s 2025 annual filing separately listed Buffett and affiliated entities as holding 348.9 million shares and warrants, equivalent to 32.43% of outstanding common stock under that disclosure’s methodology.

Meanwhile, Occidental’s second-quarter 2026 results reported net income of $2.8 billion, or $2.75 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings of $2.40 per share. Operating cash flow reached $5.1 billion, while free cash flow before working capital hit $3 billion, its highest level since Q3 2022.

Production averaged 1.433 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, exceeding the high end of guidance. Occidental also reduced principal debt by $1.9 billion to $11.8 billion, moving closer to its $10 billion target.

Further debt reduction could lower interest expenses and free up cash for dividends, share repurchases and production investments.

OXY third quater outlook Third-quarter pricing data reinforced the favorable operating environment. Occidental’s average realized crude oil price rose 32.6% year over year to $85.91 per barrel, while Brent averaged $89.27, up 31.2%. Realized natural gas liquids prices increased nearly 26% to $24.63 per barrel.

However, production at some Gulf of America facilities was temporarily curtailed in September because of a third-party gas pipeline constraint and maintenance. 

Production was partially restored, with the remaining affected output expected to return as the issue was resolved.

Oil-price volatility remains the main risk. In this case, easing geopolitical tensions, weaker demand, increased competing supply, or changes in OPEC+ output could pressure crude prices and Occidental’s margins. 

Other risks include debt obligations, production costs, exploration uncertainty, environmental regulations and operational disruptions.

OXY investment case  Overall, after its 52% rally, Occidental is no longer an obvious bargain. Its investment case depends on sustained cash generation, disciplined spending and further debt reduction. 

Berkshire’s substantial stake supports investor interest but does not guarantee future returns, particularly given its longer investment horizon.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY – Free Report) by 67.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,849,248 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,146,828 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.29% of Occidental Petroleum worth $157,620,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum in the second quarter valued at approximately $12,868,205,000. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 46,141,269 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $2,252,271,000 after buying an additional 2,870,472 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 84.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 10,643,916 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $516,975,000 after buying an additional 4,882,834 shares in the last quarter. Amundi increased its stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 2,979,380 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $193,660,000 after acquiring an additional 78,335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum in the 2nd quarter worth $172,413,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.70% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Occidental Petroleum Here are the key news stories impacting Occidental Petroleum this week:

Positive Sentiment: Occidental reported a third-quarter oil gain, a potentially favorable sign for production and operating performance ahead of its results. Occidental Petroleum reports third-quarter oil gain Positive Sentiment: Zacks said Occidental has a strong history of exceeding earnings estimates and currently has the factors supporting another potential earnings beat. This could improve sentiment ahead of the next quarterly report. Will Occidental Beat Estimates Again? Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $71 from $69, while Truist lifted its target to $64 from $63. Although both firms maintained equal-weight or hold ratings, the higher targets indicate increased valuation support. Positive Sentiment: Occidental has pointed to higher energy prices as a factor benefiting third-quarter results, providing a potential boost to revenue and profitability. Occidental points to higher energy prices impacting Q3 results Occidental Petroleum Trading Down 1.3% Shares of NYSE OXY opened at $60.61 on Friday. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a twelve month low of $38.80 and a twelve month high of $67.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $57.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.59 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.24. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The oil and gas producer reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.57. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 15.31% and a net margin of 28.36%. The firm had revenue of $8.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.39 EPS. Occidental Petroleum’s revenue was up 53.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Occidental Petroleum Corporation will post 6.20 earnings per share for the current year.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 10th were given a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 10th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleum’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Occidental Petroleum’s dividend payout ratio is 17.34%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $63.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $79.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, September 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $68.00 price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Wednesday. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fifteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $66.08.

View Our Latest Stock Report on OXY

Occidental Petroleum Profile (Free Report)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, commonly known as Oxy, is an energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas. Its upstream operations are concentrated in the United States, including the Permian and Denver-Julesburg basins, and in selected international regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.

The company also operates midstream and marketing businesses that support the gathering, processing, transportation and sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Occidental Petroleum ASML Can’t Keep Up With AI Demand—Why That’s a Good Thing Enovix’s 100,000-Battery Drone Order Sets Up a Test of Its Production Plans AMD’s Support Could Help Fermi Stock Overcome Its Biggest Hurdle Beyond the GPU: Credo Paves the Next AI Data Superhighway Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OXY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY – Free Report).

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Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This oil and gas exploration and production company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 44.04%.

For the most recent quarter, Occidental was expected to post earnings of $1.92 per share, but it reported $2.4 per share instead, representing a surprise of 25.00%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.65 per share, while it actually produced $1.06 per share, a surprise of 63.08%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For Occidental, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Occidental currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.25%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on November 9, 2026.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Energy markets are shifting as traditional giants navigate a low carbon future while maximizing oil output. Choosing between Chevron (CVX +1.61%) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY +0.33%) requires weighing massive scale against concentrated upstream potential.

Chevron is a fully integrated powerhouse, managing everything from oil wells to gas stations. Occidental focuses primarily on exploration and production, and has recently gained attention for its low-carbon ventures. While both profit from fossil fuels, their financial structures and approaches to the energy transition differ enough to impact your investment strategy.

The case for ChevronChevron operates as a massive integrated energy company, managing both oil production and refining. It produces crude oil and natural gas globally, with major operations in the Permian Basin and Australia. The company is also growing its presence in renewable energy stocks to diversify its long-term portfolio as it integrates its acquisition of Hess.

In its latest annual report for FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $184.4 billion, down roughly 4.6% from the prior year. This resulted in a net income of close to $12.3 billion for the year. The company reported a net margin of approximately 6.7%, which measures how much profit is kept from every dollar of sales after all expenses are paid.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 0.2x. This ratio compares total debt to shareholder equity, suggesting the company carries a light debt load. The current ratio, which measures the ability to pay short-term debts with short-term assets, is nearly 1.2x, while free cash flow reached approximately $16.6 billion in FY 2025.

Occidental Petroleum focuses primarily on oil and gas exploration and production in the United States and the Middle East. The company is a dominant player in the Permian Basin and operates a large chemical manufacturing business. It is also investing heavily in carbon capture technology to reduce its environmental footprint and create new revenue streams.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $21.6 billion, down roughly 20.3% from the previous fiscal year. The company generated a net income of approximately $2.4 billion during this period. It maintained a net margin of roughly 11%, indicating a higher percentage of revenue converted to profit than many of its larger integrated peers.

As of the December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio stands at approximately 0.7x. The current ratio, which compares short-term assets to short-term debts, is nearly 0.9x, suggesting that short-term liabilities slightly exceed liquid assets. Free cash flow for FY 2025 was close to $4.1 billion, representing the cash left after capital investments.

Risk profile comparisonChevron faces risks from commodity price volatility, as its profits depend heavily on global crude oil and natural gas prices. Operational hazards such as spills or mechanical failures are also constant concerns for a company of this scale. Additionally, the company must successfully integrate its acquisition of Hess to achieve its projected financial benefits and operational synergies.

Occidental Petroleum is sensitive to price fluctuations, which can impact its cash flows and debt repayment plans. The company faces catastrophic risks in the Gulf of Mexico, including potential well blowouts or severe weather disruptions. Furthermore, its carbon management strategy entails high costs and the risk that these technologies may not become commercially successful despite backing from major investors such as Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.96%).

Valuation comparisonOccidental Petroleum carries a lower Forward P/E, which compares the stock price to future earnings estimates. Chevron has a lower P/S ratio, which measures the company's value against its sales over the past twelve months.

MetricChevronOccidental PetroleumForward P/E12.7x9.4xP/S ratio2.0x2.4xValuation metrics include those sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from those of other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?To compare Chevron and Occidental Petroleum, investors should consider a few key factors. Let's have a look at them and see what that tells us about each stock.

First, there's profitability. Due to the volatility of energy prices, both companies' overall profitability tends to swing wildly. However, over the last five years, Occidental's operating margin has averaged 38%, while Chevron's has been 16.5%. That gives Occidental an edge in profitability, although Chevron is much larger, with a total net income of $21 billion, far higher than Occidental's $4.3 billion.

Another factor to consider is each company's valuation. Here, again, Occidental can claim a slight edge. Its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.4x is less than Chevron's 12.7x. For value-conscious investors, this valuation discount could serve as another reason to prefer Occidental stock over Chevron.

Finally, there are each company's shareholder returns. Chevron has a solid dividend yield of 3.4%, while Occidental's is 1.8%. Moreover, Chevron has increased its dividend payouts for 39 consecutive years, while Occidental has only done so for the last 5.

To close, both stocks are worthy of consideration for investors seeking to add energy exposure to their portfolio. However, the choice between the two will likely come down to investor preferences. Those who prioritize income generation will likely favor Chevron, given its larger dividend and long history of dividend increases. On the other hand, investors who favor value-based investing may be tempted by Occidental's lower valuation multiple and higher profit margins.

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).

Editor’s Note: Neuralink might be the most astonishing thing in Elon Musk’s entire empire. And of course, it’s the one piece of his domain you can’t buy – no IPO, no ticker, nothing.

Trading veteran Jonathan Rose has a workaround, and it’s one that regular readers will recognize: when the company making headlines is private, go find the public companies connected to it. Today, he’s sharing two names from his brain-interface watchlist – one with a signed agreement in the field, one a more speculative research-tools play – and he’s just as clear about the risks as the upside.

He’s teaching his full approach this Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. Eastern, at his free $10K to $100K Challenge – how he catches unusual trading activity, like the 7x volume spike he flags in today’s piece, and turns it into trades with the maximum loss defined before he enters. You can reserve your seat right here.

Enjoy this one. Here’s Jonathan.

In 2024, a man was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The ALS – often called Lou Gehrig’s disease – took away his ability to speak.

The subject, Terry, was desperate to find an answer that would allow him to regain his speech.

Then he joined a clinical trial at Neuralink, Elon Musk’s company developing devices that let the brain communicate directly with a computer.

These devices are called brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs. In Terry’s case, the goal was to turn the brain signals involved in speaking into words a computer could say aloud.

And it worked. Using the implant and a computer-generated voice, Terry was able to tell his wife, “I love you.” ALS hadn’t restored his ability to speak naturally; the technology was speaking for him. But he could communicate those words again. Think about what that means for someone who has lost his voice. 

If you’d like to invest in this medical innovation, though, you run into a problem: You can’t buy Neuralink on the stock market. It’s still private.

So where else can we look?

That’s the question I’ve been working through on my free show, Masters in Trading LIVE. Back in April, I shared a basket of 14 public companies to research around this developing field. Some make medical equipment. Others provide tools scientists use in their research. Their connections to brain-computer interfaces vary, and that matters when you’re deciding what to buy.

And there’s real money going into the field. OpenAI is backing Merge Labs, another company developing brain-computer interfaces. Synchron raised $200 million to advance its technology toward commercial use. Neuralink is getting plenty of attention, but other businesses are working on different ways to connect the brain to a machine. 

Two Public Stocks With Very Different BCI Connections Today, I’ll show you two public companies on my watchlist: one with a direct connection to a brain-interface developer, and another that makes research tools I’m following as a more speculative idea. I’ll explain why each interests me, what could drive the stock’s price, and the risks you need to understand.

You don’t have to wait for a Neuralink IPO to start researching opportunities around this field. But you do need to know what you own and why you own it.

Quantum-Si: A Speculative Research-Tools Play The first company I have my eye on is a small, highly volatile name that has already experienced some serious moves over the last year.

When I discussed it on my recent livestream, the stock had climbed from $0.72 to $1.20 in roughly two weeks. That’s about 67%. These small companies can move really quickly.

But a stock moving higher is only the start of the research. What does the company do? What’s changing? What could give it another reason to move?

Quantum-Si Inc. (QSI) makes equipment that helps scientists identify proteins by reading their building blocks. Proteins do much of the work inside our cells, and studying them helps researchers understand disease and develop treatments.

That puts QSI on the biological-research side of my watchlist. It’s a broader, more speculative idea than a company developing brain-interface hardware. I’m following its research tools and upcoming product launch. I’m not counting on a Neuralink contract or assuming that progress in brain interfaces will produce sales for QSI.

On the show, I also pointed out a jump in trading activity. About 20.5 million shares changed hands on September 29, compared with a daily average of about 2.85 million over the preceding 100 trading days. That’s more than seven times the usual activity.

That kind of change in volume is exactly the sort of thing I pay attention to.

When the volume changes, I want to know why. It doesn’t tell me that everyone buying is right, or that the stock will keep going up. But it does tell me there’s more activity to investigate. 

And you need to understand how early this business still is. QSI reported just $344,000 in revenue last quarter It had roughly $170 million in cash and investments at the end of June, but the launch of its next-generation protein-analysis equipment, called Proteus, has already slipped from late 2026 to the second quarter of 2027. It still has to deliver the equipment and build sales.

It’s an early, high-risk, high-reward bet. (Full disclosure: I hold a personal position in QSI.)

My approach with a company this small is to keep the position small enough that losing the entire investment wouldn’t hurt my financial plans. There’s room for significant growth if the business succeeds. There’s also a real chance it doesn’t.

Butterfly Network: A Direct Supplier to BCI Developers The second stock I want to show you has a direct connection to brain-computer interfaces – and has been one of my favorite small-cap healthcare names for a while now. 

I’ve been walking through this one on Masters in Trading LIVE, because there’s more to the business than you might realize at first glance.

Here’s what makes Butterfly Network Inc. (BFLY) so interesting…

Butterfly puts ultrasound technology on a chip. That lets it make handheld scanners doctors can use to look inside the body, instead of relying on a large machine wheeled around a hospital.

But medical scans are only one use for that technology.

On Sept. 1, Butterfly announced an agreement with Merge Labs – the brain-interface company backed by OpenAI that I mentioned earlier. Merge will use Butterfly’s ultrasound chips to develop its own ways to communicate with the brain.

That’s the connection I want you to understand. Butterfly has an actual agreement with a company developing brain interfaces. The deal includes payments for access to its technology, hardware purchases, and potential royalties if future products reach commercial sales. Butterfly can also license its technology to other companies in the field. 

And Merge isn’t the only one.

On Oct. 6, Bridge Neurotech announced a multiyear agreement to use Butterfly’s Ultrasound-on-Chip technology as it develops a fully non-invasive brain-computer interface. The deal includes technology-access and development payments, plus commitments to purchase Butterfly hardware.

Two BCI developers have now chosen Butterfly’s platform. That doesn’t guarantee either product reaches commercialization, but it gives us something important to watch: whether Butterfly can turn this technology into a repeatable licensing business across the emerging brain-interface market.

So we have a public company that could earn money helping other businesses build their devices. We can research it today, even while those developers remain private.

And Butterfly already has customers putting its chips to work beyond its handheld scanners.

Back in June, BFLY revealed that its chip is powering Midjourney’s new full-body imaging platform. That’s a scanner designed to use ultrasound to create images throughout the body.

Butterfly previously disclosed that the partnership could generate up to $74 million in payments over five years. That’s meaningful potential revenue from a single deal.

We’re also seeing progress in the numbers. Butterfly reported second-quarter revenue of $32.6 million, up 39% from a year earlier. Licensing its technology helped drive that growth. The company still reported a loss, so growing sales and becoming profitable are two separate things we need to watch. 

That gives me something concrete to follow: Are its partners moving forward? Is Butterfly signing more agreements? And are those agreements turning into revenue?

And there’s another catalyst on the calendar: its next earnings report, expected on October 30. On my recent livestream, I showed viewers that traders were pricing in a substantial move around earnings. 

But an expected move doesn’t tell you the direction. The stock can move sharply lower, too.

Stocks move when they have a reason to move. With Butterfly, we have business developments and an earnings report to investigate. Then we have to decide whether the opportunity is worth the risk and how much we’re comfortable putting into the trade.

A Good BCI Story Still Needs a Good Trade This is the work I do on Masters in Trading LIVE. We take an interesting story and start asking questions. What does the company actually sell? What could change its business? Why is trading activity picking up? And what are we risking if we’re wrong?

Finding a company worth watching is the beginning. Then we have to work through the trade.

That’s what I’ll be showing you on October 14 at 8 p.m. Eastern. I’m holding my free $10K to $100K Challenge, where I’ll explain the strategy behind some of my biggest trading opportunities and how you can start putting that method to work.

Click here to reserve your free spot for the $10K to $100K Challenge.

We’ll go deeper into how I spot unusual activity that can reveal where big investors are placing their bets and then use that information to identify specific trades. I’ll also explain how you can participate without starting with $10,000, including opportunities that involve risking less than $500.

This is the strategy behind past recommended trades with gains like 779% on Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) and 1,076% on Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY). Those are individual past results, but they show why I’m so excited to teach you the process.

I’ve spent 28 years in professional trading, starting at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and later working as a market maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. What I want to do now is make those lessons useful to you.

The Bottom Line: The BCI Market Is Already Bigger Than Neuralink For Terry, the promise of this technology is deeply personal: communicating again after ALS took away his ability to speak. His experience shows why researchers keep working on these devices and why investors are paying attention.

Our job as traders is to figure out which businesses can turn that progress into sales, and which trades make sense for us. You can start doing that work while Neuralink is still private.

Join me on October 14, and I’ll show you how I approach the next step.

Remember, the creative trader wins…

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Over the past month, shares of this oil and gas exploration and production company have returned -1.4%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, which Occidental falls in, has lost 2.8%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Occidental is expected to post earnings of $1.37 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +114.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +2.4%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $6.2 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +180.5%. This estimate has changed +1.4% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.21 indicates a change of -32.1% from what Occidental is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +2.9%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Occidental.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Occidental, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $6.61 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -1.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $26.89 billion and $24.78 billion estimates indicate +5.7% and -7.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOccidental reported revenues of $8.33 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +29%. EPS of $2.4 for the same period compares with $0.39 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.18 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +16.03%. The EPS surprise was +25%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Occidental is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Occidental. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

 | Source: Occidental

HOUSTON, Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Occidental (NYSE: OXY) will announce its third quarter 2026 financial results after close of market on Monday, November 9, 2026, and will hold a conference call to discuss the results on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern/12 p.m. Central.

The conference call may be accessed by calling 1-866-871-6512 (international callers dial 1-412-317-5417) or via webcast at oxy.com/investors. Participants may pre-register for the conference call at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10212000/104e317d980.

Third quarter 2026 financial results will be available through the Investor Relations section of the company’s website. A recording of the webcast will be posted on the website within several hours after the call is completed.

About Occidental

Occidental is an international energy company that produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas to maximize value and provide resources fundamental to life. The company leverages its global leadership in carbon management to advance lower-carbon technologies and products. Headquartered in Houston, Occidental primarily operates in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. To learn more, visit oxy.com.

Contacts

Goldman points to debt reduction and dividend growth four months into Richard Jackson's tenure Summary

Goldman Sachs upgraded Occidental Petroleum to Buy and raised its target to $69, citing debt reduction, dividend growth potential and a discounted valuation.

Occidental Petroleum OXY rose 0.87% in premarket after Goldman Sachs (GS) upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral and lifted its price target to $69 from $63. The call came about four months into Richard Jackson's tenure as chief executive, after he succeeded Vicki Hollub on June 1.

Goldman cited Occidental's differentiated advanced recovery approach, along with a strong outlook for debt reduction and room for dividend growth. It also flagged a self-help program targeting $4 billion in cash flow improvement by 2030, and said the stock's discounted valuation offered attractive risk-reward.

Goldman noted that its oil exploration and production coverage had gained 34% year-to-date on elevated oil prices. Occidental shares had risen by about the same amount, despite the capital efficiency and deleveraging gains the company has made under its new chief executive.

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in OXY over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $56.10, moving -1.34% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.77%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.67%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.92%.

Coming into today, shares of the oil and gas exploration and production company had lost 3.79% in the past month. In that same time, the Oils-Energy sector gained 1.13%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.96%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Occidental Petroleum in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $1.37, reflecting a 114.06% increase from the same quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $6.61 billion, indicating a 1.58% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $6.2 per share and revenue of $26.89 billion, which would represent changes of +180.54% and +5.71%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Occidental Petroleum. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 1.71% increase. Occidental Petroleum currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In the context of valuation, Occidental Petroleum is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 9.18. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 19.95.

Also, we should mention that OXY has a PEG ratio of 0.89. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.76.

The Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 168, placing it within the bottom 32% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, founded in 1920 and based in Houston, TX, is an international energy company with significant oil and gas exploration and production exposure. Following the sale of OxyChem in January 2026, the company conducts continuing operations through two reportable segments: Oil and Gas and Midstream and Marketing. Occidental primarily operates in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. At 2025-end, its worldwide proved reserves totaled about 4.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe), compared with 4.61 billion Boe at the end of 2024. The company achieved organic reserve replacement of 107% in 2025.

OXY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 9.37; value investors should take notice.

Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.54 to $6.20 per share. OXY also boasts an average earnings surprise of +46.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, OXY should be on investors' short list.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) shares are trading lower Monday afternoon as a broad sell-off in global crude oil benchmarks erases recent geopolitical risk premiums following the stabilization of Middle Eastern supply routes.

Here’s what investors need to know.

Occidental Petroleum shares are under pressure. Why are OXY shares declining? Upstream Leverage and Commodity DecompressionThe primary headwind causing Monday’s drop stems from West Texas Intermediate crude pricing slipping to near $97.98 per barrel during early market hours. Investors are potentially actively discounting the geopolitical supply fears that spiked after Saturday’s Houthi missile and drone strikes near Riyadh, reacting to indicators showing Saudi export capacities quickly recovered and stabilized.

Because the enterprise operates with a highly concentrated upstream production profile heavily weighted toward the Permian Basin, this sudden benchmark decline structurally squeezes projected near-term free cash flow.

This revenue reduction is particularly impactful for the firm, as management heavily relies on elevated crude realizations to aggressively fund its corporate debt reduction targets following the recent integration of large-scale regional acquisitions.

OXY Stock Falls Monday AfternoonOXY Price Action: Occidental Petroleum shares were down 2.89% at $57.15 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Fluctuating oil prices and the global transition to cleaner power are creating a complex environment for energy investors in 2026. Chevron (CVX -0.97%) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY -0.76%) are both large, well-established energy companies, but deciding between the two requires weighing stability against innovation.

Chevron is an integrated giant with operations spanning the entire globe and a very robust balance sheet. Occidental Petroleum is a more focused explorer that is betting its future on massive carbon capture projects and domestic production. Both companies are major players, but they offer different risk-and-reward profiles for investors.

The case for ChevronChevron is an oil and gas major that also operates a low-carbon business. It manages everything from exploration and drilling to refining and marketing its own fuel products. It uses Hess Midstream (HESM +0.17%) to manage its midstream needs and meet massive natural gas delivery commitments worldwide.

In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $184.4 billion, 4.6% lower than the previous year. Despite the lower revenue, the company reported net income of nearly $12.4 billion for the period. This resulted in a net margin of about 6.7%, reflecting the impact of fluctuating commodity prices on its bottom line.

As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 0.3x. This metric compares total debt to the value of shareholder equity, indicating how much the company relies on borrowing. The current ratio, which measures the ability to cover its immediate financial obligations using its short-term assets, was roughly 1.2x, while free cash flow reached nearly $16.6 billion.

Occidental Petroleum focuses heavily on oil and gas exploration while building a massive presence in carbon management. The company relies on Western Midstream Partners (WES +0.28%) for essential transportation and processing services. Its strategy includes developing direct air capture technology through specialized ventures to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

During FY 2025, the company generated revenue of approximately $21.6 billion. It was 20.3% lower year over year, highlighting the sensitivity of its business model to market prices. Net income for the fiscal year was roughly $2.4 billion, yielding a net margin of about 11%.

On its December 2025 balance sheet, Occidental reported a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.7x. A higher ratio in this category indicates the company uses more debt to finance its operations and growth. The current ratio was nearly 0.9x, and the company generated roughly $4.1 billion in free cash flow, which is the cash remaining after paying for operations and capital improvements.

Risk profile comparisonChevron faces significant risks from commodity price volatility, which is often driven by geopolitical tensions and global production levels. The company also deals with operational hazards such as well blowouts or spills, for which it is largely self-insured. Additionally, integrating a massive acquisition like Hess poses challenges to meeting production targets and achieving cost savings.

Occidental is highly sensitive to price fluctuations in oil and natural gas, which are beyond its control. The company carries a higher level of indebtedness, which could limit its flexibility if economic conditions worsen. Furthermore, its heavy investment in carbon management involves technological uncertainty and depends on the development of new commercial-scale markets.

Valuation comparisonOccidental Petroleum offers a lower entry point based on future earnings estimates, but Chevron remains highly competitive when looking at its total sales volume.

MetricChevronOccidental PetroleumForward P/E12.6x9.6xP/S ratio2.2x2.7xValuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

Which stock would I buy in 2026?Chevron is among the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world. Because its operations span upstream exploration, midstream transport, and downstream refining, its cash flows are less vulnerable to commodity-price volatility than those of a pure-play oil exploration company.

Chevron's $53 billion acquisition of Hess last year has significantly expanded its asset base, especially in Guyana's massive offshore Stabroek Block.

The oil giant projects 10% annualized growth each in earnings per share and adjusted free cash flows each through 2030 at a Brent crude oil price of $70 per barrel. It is committed to dividends and regular share repurchases. Chevron has increased dividends for 39 consecutive years. In a latest major development, Chevron has committed $7 billion to Venezuela.

Occidental is a predominantly upstream producer, so its cash flows are tied more closely to commodity price that Chevron's. Occidental Petroleum stock has been an underperformer in recent years, but things have turned around this year after the company started repaying debt that it piled on with the 2019 Anadarko acquisition and the 2024 CrownRock acquisition.

It recently sold its chemicals division, OxyChem, to Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA -0.04%)(BRKB +0.11%) for roughly $9.7 billion. Those proceeds went into repaying debt, and Occidental is in a much stronger financial position now. Once the company hits its debt target, I expect bigger dividends and share repurchases. Berkshire Hathaway is a major stakeholder, with a 26.5% stake in Occidental.

While Occidental is making every effort to strengthen its balance sheet, Chevron already has one. A rock-solid asset base, strong cash flows, and dividend discipline make Chevron a better oil stock to buy for 2026 and beyond.

It hasn't even been a year since Warren Buffett made Greg Abel chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.84%) (BRKB +0.59%). Already, Abel has made a number of major portfolio overhauls, including trimming or eliminating stakes in many smaller positions, catapulting Alphabet (GOOG -0.61%) (GOOGL -0.61%) to a top-five holding, and identifying Apple (AAPL +0.32%), American Express (AXP -3.70%), Coca-Cola (KO -0.95%), and Moody's (MCO -0.40%) as companies Berkshire expects to compound for decades.

Abel's approach is a testament to Buffett's philosophy of finding exceptional businesses and holding concentrated positions in them, rather than over-diversifying into companies Berkshire deems lower-quality.

Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America (BAC -2.72%), Alphabet, Chevron (CVX -2.86%), Occidental Petroleum (OXY -6.55%), and Mitsubishi (MSBHF +6.59%) (MTSUY +0.35%) make up a combined 75% of Berkshire's $365.2 billion public equity portfolio. With the exception of credit-card company American Express, all of these core holdings have outperformed the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.45%) during the past year.

Here's why American Express is lagging behind the index, and why it could be one of the best Berkshire stocks to buy in September.

Image source: Getty Images.

Solid earnings and guidance from American Express American Express outperformed the S&P 500 for five consecutive years heading into 2026 -- putting pressure on the company to continue delivering impeccable results.

In the six months ended June 30, the company's revenue and net income rose by double-digit percentages, including a 14% increase in diluted earnings per share (EPS). It also reduced its share count by 3% through buybacks, which helped EPS gains outpace net income growth.

The company continues to increase its total number of cardholders. And spending among existing members is at its highest level in three years, adjusted for foreign exchange rates. American Express also raised its full-year outlook, and it now forecaste 10% year-over-year revenue growth for full year 2026.

AAPL Total Return Level data by YCharts

Given the excellent results and forecast, you may be wondering why American Express has produced a total return of less than 1% during the past year while the other seven largest Berkshire positions and the S&P 500 have generated sizable gains. The answer is likely the cost of attracting and retaining members through generous cardholder perks.

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Why American Express stock is under pressure In fiscal 2025, American Express spent twice as much on cardmember rewards as it collected in net card fees. So in theory, the average American Express Gold Card member pays $325 in annual fees to American Express for the card, but American Express spends $650 on average on their rewards. American Express wins the loyalty of the cardmember through the value the rewards provide, and makes up for the loss through swipe fees from merchants -- which it refers to as discount revenue -- as well as interest on credit card and loan balances.

Still, consolidated expenses in the second quarter of 2026 rose 12% year-over-year, which outpaced consolidated revenue growth of 10%.

Expenses outpacing revenue can lead to lower margins. And as you can see in the following chart, America Express' sales and EPS have reached all-time highs -- but its gross margin is also at its lowest level in a decade.

AXP Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

Granted, part of the margin compression is due to the timing of American Express' refreshed U.S. Platinum cards, which feature a relatively high annual fee of $895 but also more generous rewards and one-time point bonuses. In its Form 10-Q filing for Q2 2026, American Express noted that "Marketing expense increased 6% year-over-year as we continued to invest to acquire, engage and retain high-spending, high credit-quality customers."

Unlike Visa (V -1.25%) and Mastercard (MA -0.96%) -- which are pure-play payment processors that partner with financial institutions to issue cards and bear credit risk -- American Express is both a payment processor and a card issuer. So while American Express wants to attract high-spending, affluent clients to maximize its swipe fees, it also doesn't want customers to spend to the point where they lose their credit quality. In this vein, the high marketing budget is somewhat justifiable because of the lifetime value of acquiring and retaining a quality American Express cardholder. This is especially true for younger generations like millennials and Gen Z, who are American Express' largest and fastest-growing cohort.

Aside from its lower margins and higher expenses, another reason American Express may be under pressure is concern about slowing economic growth and, in turn, lower discretionary spending -- even among affluent consumers. Or possibly artificial intelligence (AI) hitting the job market, especially among high-salary corporate employees. However, neither of those factors has yet to show up in America Express' results.

American Express can continue rewarding long-term investors American Express will be more vulnerable than Visa and Mastercard amid economic uncertainty and shifts in consumer spending on discretionary goods. But investors who believe in the American Express ecosystem, the company's risk management, and its ability to attract and retain cardholders are getting an excellent opportunity to buy the stock at a compelling valuation of 19.7 times trailing-12-month earnings.

The durability of American Express' business model, paired with its attractive valuation, makes it arguably the best buy among Berkshire's eight largest holdings in September.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, founded in 1920 and based in Houston, TX, is an international energy company with significant oil and gas exploration and production exposure. Following the sale of OxyChem in January 2026, the company conducts continuing operations through two reportable segments: Oil and Gas and Midstream and Marketing. Occidental primarily operates in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. At 2025-end, its worldwide proved reserves totaled about 4.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe), compared with 4.61 billion Boe at the end of 2024. The company achieved organic reserve replacement of 107% in 2025.

OXY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Oils-Energy stock. OXY has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 6.2% over the past four weeks.

Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.54 to $6.20 per share. OXY boasts an average earnings surprise of +46.1%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, OXY should be on investors' short list.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this oil and gas exploration and production company have returned +4.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2% change. During this period, the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, which Occidental falls in, has gained 5.4%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Occidental is expected to post earnings of $1.37 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +114.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +6.6%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.2 points to a change of +180.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +6.7%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.21 indicates a change of -32.1% from what Occidental is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +4.7%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Occidental is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Occidental, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $6.69 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -0.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $26.89 billion and $24.78 billion estimates indicate +5.7% and -7.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOccidental reported revenues of $8.33 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +29%. EPS of $2.4 for the same period compares with $0.39 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.18 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +16.03%. The EPS surprise was +25%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Occidental is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Occidental. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Berkshire Hathaway sat completely still on three dividend-paying positions last quarter, collecting checks without making a single trade. Here is what that unusual stillness signals for income investors building their own quarterly cash flow.

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Warren Buffett doesn’t chase yield, but his disclosed equity book at Berkshire Hathaway still throws off a steady stream of quarterly checks. Three of those names — Chevron (NYSE:CVX | CVX Price Prediction), Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) — pay dividends on a quarterly cadence that anyone with a brokerage account can plug into. That is the practical hook for readers at or near retirement: the same routine income, from the same routine payers, sitting inside one of the most watched portfolios on Wall Street.

The positions discussed here come from Berkshire’s 13F for the period ended June 30 filed on Aug. 14 (SEC filing). A 13F covers U.S.-listed long equity only, so this is Berkshire’s disclosed common-stock book, not its cash, wholly owned businesses, private stakes, or fixed-income holdings. Positions are disclosed roughly 45 days after quarter end and may have changed since. Nothing here should be read as what Berkshire owns today.

What stands out across all three names is stillness. Share counts were unchanged from the prior quarter in every case. No trims, no adds, no exits. For income-focused readers, that is arguably the more interesting signal: these are the payers Berkshire left alone while collecting the checks.

Coca-Cola: The 400 Million Share Anchor Berkshire disclosed 400 million shares of Coca-Cola, representing 10.86% of the disclosed portfolio, with the share count unchanged from the prior filing. Coca-Cola is the beverage concentrate and syrup business famous for its namesake brand and a global bottling network.

The dividend is the whole story for holders. Coca-Cola pays a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, with the next payment dated Oct. 1 following a Sept. 15 ex-dividend date. The annualized forward amount is $2.12, and the payment stepped up from $0.51 in 2025 to $0.53 in 2026, extending a long streak of annual increases. Current yield sits at 2.32%.

Fundamentals under the payout look sturdy. Q2 FY2026 delivered adjusted EPS of $0.97, revenue of $13.38B (up 6.7% year over year), and net income of $4.43 billion (up 16.1%), and management raised full-year guidance to organic revenue growth of about 5% and comparable EPS growth of 9% to 10%. Trailing P/E of 26 and forward P/E of 25 reflect defensive-consumer premium, not a bargain. Analyst consensus target is $94.70, with the rating breakdown showing seven Strong Buy ratings, 12 Buy ratings, four Hold ratings, zero Sell ratings and one Strong Sell rating. Shares are up 27.69% YTD.

Chevron: The Integrated Oil Dividend Berkshire disclosed 84,375,856 shares of Chevron, representing 4.67% of the disclosed portfolio, with the share count unchanged. Chevron is an integrated energy company covering exploration, production, refining, marketing, and chemicals.

The dividend picture is straightforward. Chevron paid $1.78 per share on September 10, 2026, matching the prior two quarterly payments and stepping up from $1.71 through 2025. The annualized forward amount is $7.12, and the yield runs at 3.05%. The dividend history file shows steady quarterly cadence stretching back over two decades.

Q2 FY2026 was a stronger quarter than the ratios suggest. Chevron reported adjusted EPS of $6.06, revenue of $67.20B (up 51.4% year over year), and free cash flow of $18.10B (up 272%), with worldwide net oil-equivalent production hitting 4,070 MBOED, up 20% year over year on the Hess Corporation acquisition. The company also cut total debt by $8.41B in the quarter and signed a 20-year 2.67 GW power purchase agreement with Microsoft for a West Texas AI data center. Trailing P/E is 21 with a forward P/E of 16. The consensus target is $221.21, with six Strong Buy ratings, 14 Buy ratings, four Hold ratings, one Sell rating and zero Strong Sell ratings. Shares are up 37.45% YTD.

Occidental Petroleum: The Smaller E&P Slice Berkshire disclosed 264,941,431 shares of Occidental, representing 4.30% of the disclosed portfolio, with the share count unchanged. Berkshire also holds Occidental preferred stock and warrants that do not appear in the 13F common-stock row, so the common position understates the full relationship. Occidental is a hydrocarbon exploration and production company with petrochemical operations across the Americas.

The common-stock dividend was 28 cents per share with a Sept. 10 ex-dividend date and an Oct. 15 payment date, up from 26 cents earlier in 2026 and 24 cents across 2025. Annualized forward runs to $1.12, with a yield of 1.65%. The company describes the increase as 8% higher this year.

Q2 FY2026 came in hot, with adjusted EPS of $2.40, beating consensus of $1.85, revenue of $8.33 billion (up 31.8% YoY), and free cash flow of $3.02 billion (up 214% YoY). Occidental retired $1.90 billion of debt in the quarter, bringing principal debt to $11.8 billion against a $10 billion target. Trailing P/E is 18 with a forward P/E of 16. The consensus target is $67.08, and analyst posture is more cautious: Two Strong Buy ratings, seven Buy ratings, 15 Hold ratings, zero Sell ratings and zero Strong Sell ratings. Shares are up 44.05% YTD.

What the Steady Hand Says About Berkshire’s Approach Three dividend payers, three unchanged share counts. Coca-Cola sits at 10.86% of the disclosed portfolio, dwarfing Chevron at 4.67% and Occidental at 4.30%, with the beverage stake serving as the long-duration anchor and the two energy names as a paired bet on production, cash returns, and deleveraging. The disclosed book here leans consumer defensive at the top and layered energy below, and the through-line across all three is a payout backed by real free cash flow generation.

Doing nothing was the decision of the quarter. For income-focused readers, that inaction is instructive. For a dividend book, the compounding math works when share counts stay put and the payments keep landing. Coca-Cola raised its dividend in 2026, Chevron raised its dividend in 2026, and Occidental raised its dividend in 2026. Three payers, three raises, zero trades.

What Readers Can Actually Take From This The takeaway is that the same quarterly checks are available on the same schedule to any investor willing to buy the same tickers, rather than mirroring Berkshire’s weightings. The next visible catalysts are Coca-Cola’s Oct. 1 payment, Occidental’s Oct. 15 payment and Berkshire’s next 13F filing, which will show whether these steady positions stayed steady through the September quarter. 13F disclosures are backward looking, price targets and forecasts are projections rather than guarantees, and none of this is investment advice.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Válka mezi Spojenými státy, Izraelem a Íránem má vedle geopolitických dopadů a razantního zvýšení cen energetických komodit také významný (pozitivní) efekt na investiční portfolio amerického prezidenta Donalda Trumpa. Analýza CNBC, jež zkoumala veřejně dostupná finanční přiznání a firemní reporty, naznačuje, že hodnota Trumpových největších investic do ropného a plynárenského sektoru během prvních šesti měsíců konfliktu výrazně vzrostla.

Podle výpočtů se tržní hodnota devíti největších energetických pozic v Trumpově portfoliu mezi 27. únorem a 31. srpnem zvýšila přibližně o 1,5 až 4,4 milionu dolarů. Prezident v té době držel podíly ve společnostech Chevron, Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Valero Energy, Kinder Morgan a Williams Companies.

Trumpovy účty uváděly nákupy a nejméně 23 prodejů, jež se týkaly zmíněných devíti společností, do 29. června, což je nejnovější datum, kdy Trump zveřejnil jakékoliv transakce. Jelikož ovšem podání neukazují přesné počty akcií, realizační ceny ani to, které akcie byly prodány, tak přesný rozsah zisků nelze určit, upozorňuje server CNBC.

Bílý dům jakékoliv spekulace o možném střetu zájmů odmítá. Podle jeho vyjádření nemá prezident ani členové jeho rodiny možnost ovlivňovat investiční rozhodnutí týkající se jejich portfolia. Veškeré transakce mají být prováděny nezávislými správci aktiv bez zásahů klienta.

To ale podle kritiků nestačí. „Když prezident dokáže pohnout trhem prostřednictvím oficiálních rozhodnutí a osobně z toho těžit, tak veřejnost zůstává v nejistotě, kde končí národní politika a kde začíná soukromý finanční zájem," řekl CNBC Donald Sherman, prezident a generální ředitel organizace Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, liberálně orientované organizace pro vládní etiku.

Navzdory Trumpovým výrokům, že jeho účty mají externí manažery, odborníci na etiku tvrdí, že outsourcing denního obchodování neodstraní elementární střet zájmů. „Diskreční účet je jen zástěrka, nikoliv slepý trust," řekl Scott Greytak, zástupce výkonného ředitele Transparency International U.S., nestranné, neziskové organizace bojující proti korupci.

„Někdo jiný možná provádí obchody, ale (Trump) stále ví, že je silně investováno do energií. Trump pravděpodobně ví, kde má uložené peníze a vidí růst, když kroky jeho administrativy posunou (energetické) akcie nahoru,“ dodal Greytak.

Načasované transakce

Akcie energetického sektoru reagovaly na jednotlivé fáze konfliktu velmi citlivě. Prudké růsty cen ropy střídaly výrazné poklesy pokaždé, když se objevily náznaky eskalace nebo naopak možnost dosažení mírové dohody.

První obchodní den po zahájení společné americko-izraelské operace proti Íránu (2. března) provedly Trumpovy účty podle zveřejněných záznamů nákupy akcií osmi hlavních ropných a plynárenských společností, včetně akcií Exxonu v hodnotě mezi 100 001 a 250 000 USD. Tato společnost přitom představovala jednu z největších prezidentových energetických investic už tehdy. Akcie Exxonu následně během války výrazně posílily.

Tři týdny po nákupech z 2. března, tedy 23. března před otevřením trhu Trump odložil hrozby útoků na íránskou energetickou infrastrukturu. Cena ropy Brent klesla díky vyhlídce na deeskalaci až o 11 procent. V ten den Trumpovy účty uváděly 16 nákupů akcií v oblasti ropného a plynárenského průmyslu a žádné prodeje, v celkové hodnotě přibližně 163 000 až 570 000 dolarů.

„Trumpova práce na dosažení příměří přímo ovlivnila investiční rozhodnutí, která jeho účty prosazovaly a která prezidentovi přinášela prospěch,“ řekl Greytak CNBC.

Pozornost vyvolaly také jiné „šikovně“ načasované transakce. Například začátkem dubna jeden z investičních účtů prodal balík akcií Exxonu v hodnotě až jednoho milionu dolarů. O několik hodin později prezident oznámil dvoutýdenní příměří s Íránem, po němž akcie Exxonu oslabily o více než šest procent.

Na Trumpovy obchody upozorňují také demokraté, kteří ve své srpnové zprávě uvedli, že prezidentovo portfolio zaměřené na ropu a plyn nabobtnalo o desítky milionů dolarů. „Donald Trump držel na konci roku 2025 miliony akcií ropných a plynárenských společností. Dnes mají tyto akcie hodnotu až o 15,5 milionu dolarů vyšší. Co se stalo? Letos zahájil válku s Íránem a vystřelil akcie ropných společností vzhůru,“ napsala na sociální síti X senátorka Elizabeth Warrenová, demokratka z Massachusetts.

Rekordní zisky firem

Devět hlavních energetických společností zastoupených v Trumpově portfoliu vykázalo za letošní druhé čtvrtletí souhrnný čistý zisk ve výši téměř 48 miliard dolarů. O rok dříve přitom vydělaly přibližně „jen“ 16 miliard dolarů. Výsledky táhly vzhůru především vyšší ceny ropy a mimořádně silné rafinerské marže.

Největší podíl na ziscích připadl dvojici Exxon Mobil a Chevron. Výrazně profitovaly ale i rafinerské společnosti Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 a Valero Energy.

Manažeři energetických firem navíc investorům signalizovali, že napjatá situace na trhu nemusí rychle skončit ani v případě politického urovnání konfliktu. Podle nich zůstává globální rafinerská kapacita vzhledem k poptávce velmi omezená, což vytváří tlak na udržení vysokých cen pohonných hmot.

To je zároveň jeden z důvodů rostoucí nespokojenosti amerických domácností. Benzin v průběhu války výrazně zdražil, přičemž průměrná národní cena za galon se vyšplhala nad čtyři dolary a o víkendu předcházejícím Svátku práce (letos 7. září) byla podle dat organizace AAA dokonce nejvyšší v historii.

Náklady na dopravu se tak pochopitelně staly jedním z nejcitlivějších ekonomických témat před listopadovými volbami. Podle průzkumu agentur Reuters a Ipsos ze začátku srpna představují životní náklady nejdůležitější volební téma pro 48 procent Američanů. Hned 70 procent respondentů přitom vyjádřilo nespokojenost s tím, jak administrativa zvládá otázku cenové dostupnosti.

The oil market is unlikely to return to normal levels anytime soon.

*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Sept. 5, 2026. The video was published on Sept. 7, 2026.

Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

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