Energy Stocks Shift Direction in Premarket Trading as Oil Prices Drop 13% Following Trump's Delay of Strikes on Iran
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy COP?
Source: moomoo
Energy Stocks Decline: Energy stocks have experienced a significant drop of 13% following recent developments in the market.
Trump's Decision: The decline in energy stocks is attributed to former President Trump's postponement of strikes on Iran, which has affected market sentiment.
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Analyst Views on COP
Wall Street analysts forecast COP stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 123.620
Low
98.00
Averages
115.67
High
133.00
Current: 123.620
Low
98.00
Averages
115.67
High
133.00
About COP
ConocoPhillips is an exploration and production company. Its Alaska segment primarily explores for, produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations located in the 48 contiguous states in the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. Canadian operations consist of the Surmont oil sands development in Alberta, the liquids-rich Montney unconventional play in British Columbia and commercial operations. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations principally located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, Qatar, Libya, Equatorial Guinea and commercial and terminalling operations in the United Kingdom. Asia Pacific segment has exploration and production operations in China, Malaysia, Australia and commercial operations in China, Singapore and Japan. Other International segment includes interests in Colombia as well as contingencies associated with prior operations in other countries.
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.
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 has erased all declines since the onset of the Iran war and is nearing an all-time high, reflecting investor optimism about potential progress in US-Iran negotiations, which could drive further stock market gains.
- Economic Blockade Impact: The full implementation of the US blockade on Iranian ports has cut off international sea trade that powers about 90% of Iran's economy, potentially leading to further economic deterioration in Iran while also creating ripple effects in the global energy market.
- International Relations Strain: The US's maximum pressure campaign not only affects Iran but also strains relationships with China and India, particularly as nearly all Iranian oil exports are directed to China, complicating regional dynamics.
- Corporate Developments: European chip manufacturing giant ASML has exceeded first-quarter revenue expectations with sales topping 8.8 billion euros, indicating that the tech sector continues to show robust growth amid global economic uncertainties, likely attracting more investor interest.
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- Stock Market Surge: The S&P 500 index has rallied for nine out of the last ten trading sessions, nearing its all-time high, driven by investor optimism regarding U.S.-Iran negotiations, indicating strong confidence in future economic recovery.
- Strait of Hormuz Blockade: President Trump announced a new blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting about 20% of global oil supply, with over 10,000 U.S. military personnel and several warships enforcing it, further complicating the uncertain situation in the Middle East.
- Aviation Industry Crisis: Experts warn that if the blockade persists, Europe's airline industry could face a
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- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose by 1.18%, reaching a two-month high, while the Nasdaq 100 increased by 1.81%, reflecting strong investor optimism ahead of the earnings season, particularly as major banks prepare to report.
- Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude oil prices fell over 7% due to potential US-Iran ceasefire extensions, which will lower jet fuel costs for airlines, thereby boosting profitability and further supporting stock market gains.
- Inflation Data Impact: The March PPI report showed a 4.0% year-over-year increase, below the expected 4.6%, indicating easing inflation pressures that could influence the Fed's rate hike decisions, leading to more cautious market expectations regarding future monetary policy.
- Airline Stocks Surge: American Airlines Group saw its stock rise over 8% as a result of falling oil prices, demonstrating market confidence in the airline industry's recovery and reflecting investor optimism about the profitability potential from lower fuel costs.
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- Strong Market Performance: The S&P 500 rose by 0.77%, the Dow Jones by 0.59%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.98%, reflecting optimism about economic recovery, particularly with the potential extension of the US-Iran ceasefire.
- Significant Oil Price Drop: WTI crude oil prices fell over 5% due to optimistic expectations surrounding US-Iran negotiations, which not only alleviates inflationary pressures but may also support the stock market, indicating confidence in future economic growth.
- Inflation Data Impact: The US March PPI rose 4.0% year-over-year, below the expected 4.6%, suggesting that rising fuel prices are slowly filtering into inflation statistics, potentially prompting the Fed to adopt a more dovish stance in upcoming policy meetings.
- Earnings Season Approaches: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to increase by 12% year-over-year, although the growth is only 3% when excluding the tech sector, indicating a mix of expectations and caution among investors that could influence decision-making.
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- Airbnb Cash Flow Advantage: Airbnb boasts a trailing 12-month free cash flow margin of 37.7%, driven by rising nights and experiences booked, allowing the company to increase revenue without incurring additional customer acquisition costs, thus providing returns to investors.
- MercadoLibre Profitability Surge: With a free cash flow margin of 37.3%, MercadoLibre has seen its average revenue per user grow by 107% over the past two years, and share buybacks have propelled its annual earnings per share growth to 60.4%, showcasing strong capital deployment capabilities.
- ConocoPhillips Market Share Growth: ConocoPhillips has achieved an impressive 26.2% annual revenue growth over the last five years, indicating robust market share expansion, while its free cash flow margin of 17.5% enables consistent capital reinvestment or shareholder returns.
- Investment Timing Analysis: Stocks of Airbnb, MercadoLibre, and ConocoPhillips trade at forward EV/EBITDA ratios of 14.6x, 17.8x, and 15.2x respectively, indicating attractive investment potential in the current market environment.
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- Market Sentiment Recovery: U.S. stocks have rebounded, erasing all losses related to the Iran war, with the S&P 500's recovery indicating a reassessment of risk by investors amid hopes for diplomatic solutions, despite ongoing tensions.
- Diplomatic Progress Hopes: Vice President Vance stated that the next move lies with Iran following unsuccessful negotiations, suggesting that this optimistic outlook could influence market sentiment, even though actual progress remains limited.
- Significant Rate Impact: CNBC's Jim Cramer emphasized that low interest rates are a key driver behind the market's resilience, as investors focus on the impact of rates on stock valuations despite escalating geopolitical tensions, showcasing the market's strength.
- LVMH Sales Decline: Luxury conglomerate LVMH reported quarterly sales that missed expectations, with a 1% negative impact on organic growth attributed to the Middle East conflict, highlighting the potential adverse effects of the conflict on consumer markets.
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