Italy's PM Meloni Backs Eni CEO Descalzi for Fifth Term
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy E?
Source: seekingalpha
- Leadership Endorsement: Italy's Prime Minister Meloni is preparing to support Eni (E) CEO Claudio Descalzi for a new three-year term, which, if successful, would make him the longest-serving leader in the company's history, reflecting the government's commitment to state-owned enterprises.
- Shareholder Meeting Authority: With Meloni's administration controlling nearly 32% of Eni, they will dictate the management team's appointments at the shareholder meeting in May, ensuring alignment between corporate strategy and national interests, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Other Executive Extensions: Meloni is also expected to extend CEO mandates at other key Italian state-backed companies, including defense contractor Leonardo (FINMF) and energy firm Enel (ENLAY), indicating a focus on stability within the leadership of state enterprises.
- Future Challenges: Analysts highlight that Descalzi's primary challenge over the next three years will be to drive growth in the company's new units while ensuring that promised returns to investment partners are delivered, which will directly impact the company's long-term development and market performance.
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Analyst Views on E
Wall Street analysts forecast E stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 42.880
Low
17.25
Averages
18.24
High
19.23
Current: 42.880
Low
17.25
Averages
18.24
High
19.23
About E
Eni SpA (Eni) is an Italy-based company engaged in the exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons, in the supply and marketing of gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and power, in the refining and marketing of petroleum products, in the production and marketing of basic petrochemicals, plastics and elastomers and in commodity trading. The Company's segments include Exploration & Production, Gas & Power, and Refining & Marketing. Its Exploration & Production segment engages in oil and natural gas exploration and field development and production, as well as LNG operations in over 40 countries, including Italy, Libya, Egypt, Norway, the United Kingdom, Angola, Congo, Nigeria, the United States, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Australia, Venezuela, Iraq, Ghana and Mozambique. Its Gas & Power segment engages in supply, trading and marketing of gas, LNG and electricity, international gas transport activities and commodity trading and derivatives.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Shareholder Meeting Authority: With Meloni's administration controlling nearly 32% of Eni, they will dictate the management team's appointments at the shareholder meeting in May, ensuring alignment between corporate strategy and national interests, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Other Executive Extensions: Meloni is also expected to extend CEO mandates at other key Italian state-backed companies, including defense contractor Leonardo (FINMF) and energy firm Enel (ENLAY), indicating a focus on stability within the leadership of state enterprises.
- Future Challenges: Analysts highlight that Descalzi's primary challenge over the next three years will be to drive growth in the company's new units while ensuring that promised returns to investment partners are delivered, which will directly impact the company's long-term development and market performance.
See More
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See More
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- Successful Track Record: This discovery marks the 22nd successful find in Block 15/06, showcasing the exceptional effectiveness of the petroleum system in the region, which boosts investor confidence in the joint venture's future development prospects.
- Drilling Details: Drilling operations commenced on January 10 at a water depth of 667 meters, approximately 18 kilometers from the Olombendo floating production, storage, and offloading vessel, and were successfully concluded on January 26, demonstrating the project's technical capabilities and execution efficiency.
- Strategic Reaffirmation: The CEO of Azule Energy noted that this discovery reaffirms the high potential of the Lower Congo Basin, indicating that the ongoing exploration strategy will continue to drive oil and gas development in the region, potentially yielding long-term economic benefits.
See More
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- Project Milestone: Argentina's YPF, Italy's Eni, and Adnoc's investment arm XRG signed a joint development agreement on Thursday aimed at unlocking Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale basin, positioning the country as a long-term global liquefied natural gas supplier.
- Investment Decision Outlook: The agreement is seen as a significant milestone for the project, with an expected final investment decision in H2 2023, marking a critical phase in project implementation.
- Engineering Design Initiation: Under the joint development agreement, partners will commence front-end engineering and design, along with other key technical, commercial, and financing workstreams to ensure smooth project progression.
- Capacity Projections: The Argentina LNG project is expected to deliver 12 million tons per year of LNG capacity through two floating LNG facilities, each with a capacity of 6 million tons per year, further solidifying Argentina's position in the global LNG market.
See More
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- Arbitration Outcome: Shell and Eni lost an international arbitration case regarding the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan, making them liable for up to $4 billion in compensation, highlighting increased risks in the international investment landscape.
- Compensation Range: While the final compensation amount is yet to be determined, external legal advice suggests that the consortium may need to repay between $2 billion and $4 billion, potentially impacting future financial planning and investment decisions.
- Contractual Changes: The arbitration ruling upheld the Kazakh government's position that the companies recovered unapproved cost overruns, which is expected to lead to changes in the oil distribution formula within the field's production sharing contract, affecting the project's profitability model.
- Consortium Structure: Shell and Eni each hold a 29.25% stake in the project, with other partners including Chevron at 18%, Russia's Lukoil at 13.5%, and KazMunayGaz at 10%, illustrating the diversified investment structure of the consortium.
See More
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- Weak Upstream Performance: Analysts noted that Repsol's production in Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. Eagle Ford fell short of expectations, indicating challenges in production capacity in these key markets that could impact future revenue growth.
- Stable Downstream Performance: Despite the weak upstream results, Repsol's downstream and industrial customer segments performed broadly in line with expectations, suggesting the company can maintain profitability amid an improved refining environment.
- Export License Applications: Repsol, along with European partner Eni, has applied for U.S. licenses to export oil from Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, indicating the company's strategic positioning in international markets.
See More
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- Leadership Endorsement: Italy's Prime Minister Meloni is preparing to support Eni (E) CEO Claudio Descalzi for a new three-year term, which, if successful, would make him the longest-serving leader in the company's history, reflecting the government's commitment to state-owned enterprises.
- Shareholder Meeting Authority: With Meloni's administration controlling nearly 32% of Eni, they will dictate the management team's appointments at the shareholder meeting in May, ensuring alignment between corporate strategy and national interests, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Other Executive Extensions: Meloni is also expected to extend CEO mandates at other key Italian state-backed companies, including defense contractor Leonardo (FINMF) and energy firm Enel (ENLAY), indicating a focus on stability within the leadership of state enterprises.
- Future Challenges: Analysts highlight that Descalzi's primary challenge over the next three years will be to drive growth in the company's new units while ensuring that promised returns to investment partners are delivered, which will directly impact the company's long-term development and market performance.
See More
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- Resource Potential: U.S. government studies suggest that the Arctic could hold up to 90 billion barrels of oil and nearly 1,700 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which, if successfully developed, could have a profound impact on the global energy market.
- Strategic Investment Plan: March GL plans to raise hundreds of millions through an upcoming SPAC merger, with drilling of the first well at Jameson Land set for 2026, budgeting $40 million for the first well and approximately $20 million for the second, demonstrating confidence in future oil and gas markets.
- Geopolitical Implications: As the U.S. seeks to reduce dependence on Russian oil, the development of Greenland's oil resources could inject new supply into U.S. and European markets, potentially altering the current energy landscape.
- Operational Challenges: Due to Greenland's harsh climate, March GL faces delays in transporting equipment, with plans to begin road construction to drilling sites only after thawing in spring, reflecting the complexities of operating in the region.
See More
