Occidental Petroleum Starts 2026 Strong with 10.4% Share Surge
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 06 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Oil Price Rebound: In January 2026, Occidental Petroleum's shares surged 10.4%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% increase, primarily driven by a 16% rise in Brent crude and a 14% increase in WTI, showcasing the company's strong performance amid recovering oil prices.
- Asset Sale Boosts Cash Flow: Occidental sold its chemicals business, OxyChem, to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion in early January, with plans to use $6.5 billion of that cash to reduce debt, thereby lowering its debt level below $15 billion and enhancing financial flexibility.
- Contract Structure Optimization: The company amended its Delaware Basin natural gas gathering contract with Western Midstream Partners, transitioning from a cost-of-service agreement to a fixed-fee structure, which is expected to save costs and improve flexibility in developing oil and gas assets while reducing its ownership stake from 42% to 40%.
- Improved Financial Position: With rising oil prices and reduced debt, Occidental is poised to generate more cash flow in 2026, further strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing long-term investment appeal, even after last month's significant share price rally.
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Analyst Views on OXY
Wall Street analysts forecast OXY stock price to fall
16 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
9 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 55.020
Low
38.00
Averages
47.27
High
64.00
Current: 55.020
Low
38.00
Averages
47.27
High
64.00
About OXY
Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. The Company is an oil and gas producer in the United States, including a producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and the offshore Gulf of Mexico. It operates through three segments: oil and gas, chemical and midstream and marketing. The oil and gas segment explores for, develops, and produces oil (which includes condensate), natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas. The chemical segment primarily manufactures and markets basic chemicals and vinyls. The midstream and marketing segment purchases, markets, gathers, processes, transports, and stores oil (which includes condensate), NGL, natural gas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and power. The midstream and marketing segment provides flow assurance and maximizes the value of its oil and gas. It also optimizes its transportation and storage capacity and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
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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- Future Price Potential: He warned that despite current high prices, there remains room for further increases due to supply concerns, with Brent potentially surging to between $134 and $150 if another spike occurs, highlighting market uncertainty.
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See More
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- Oil Price Volatility: Despite the boost in market confidence from Trump's remarks, U.S. crude oil prices closed lower after surging above $100 per barrel, indicating ongoing concerns about the oil supply disruption.
- New Investment Opportunities: Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's hedge fund, Pershing Square, has filed to list on the New York Stock Exchange, with $2.8 billion in secured commitments expected, enhancing public confidence in its investment platform.
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See More
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- Inflation Concerns Intensify: Economist Mark Zandi warns that if oil prices remain around $100 per barrel, gasoline could approach $4 per gallon by next week, exacerbating the decline in consumer purchasing power and negatively impacting consumer spending and GDP.
- Rising Unemployment Rate: The U.S. economy lost jobs in February, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.4%, indicating a softening labor market that intensifies the affordability crisis and places greater economic pressure on consumers.
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