Exxon, Chevron, and Other Oil Stocks Decline: Expect This Trend to Continue.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 08 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Market Outlook: The stock market is anticipated to experience a significant rally on Wednesday.
- Energy Sector Challenges: Despite the overall market optimism, the energy sector is expected to face difficulties.
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Analyst Views on FANG
Wall Street analysts forecast FANG stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 192.620
Low
158.00
Averages
180.94
High
218.00
Current: 192.620
Low
158.00
Averages
180.94
High
218.00
About FANG
Diamondback Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company, focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The Company's activities are primarily directed at the horizontal development of the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations in the Midland Basin and the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring formations in the Delaware Basin within the Permian Basin. Its subsidiary, Viper Energy, Inc., focuses on owning and acquiring mineral interests and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Permian Basin. The Company has approximately 890,496 net acres, which primarily consists of 797,074 net acres in the Midland Basin and 93,422 net acres in the Delaware Basin. Its subsidiaries include Diamondback E&P LLC, Rattler Midstream GP LLC, Rattler Midstream LP, Diamondback RE Holdco LLC, Eclipse Merger Sub II, LLC, and QEP Resources, Inc.
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.
Diamondback Energy Recent Performance Analysis
- Price Volatility Analysis: Diamondback Energy (FANG) has experienced a decline of about 1% over the past month, while gaining approximately 7% over the last three months, indicating a coexistence of short-term volatility and long-term growth potential.
- Annual Return Performance: Despite a 5.09% drop in share price in the short term, FANG boasts a year-to-date return of 26.44% and a total shareholder return of 40.57% over the past year, demonstrating the company's resilience and attractiveness in the market.
- Valuation and Market Expectations: With a current share price of $192.62, the market suggests a fair value near $232, indicating a 17% undervaluation that reflects strong expectations for medium-term cash flow and margin strength.
- Operational Efficiency Improvements: The company has consistently enhanced operational efficiency through optimized drilling times and workover programs, supporting stable net margins and robust free cash flow even in a volatile oil price environment.
See More
Mixed US Stock Market on Monday, AI Enthusiasm Boosts Chip Stocks
- Chipmaker Recovery: Following last Friday's selloff, chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks saw a modest recovery on Monday, with Intel (INTC) rising over 11% after Google placed an order for three million Tensor Processing Units, indicating sustained market demand for AI technology.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices initially surged over 4% on Monday due to Iran's announcement of an end to military operations against Israel, but later retreated, highlighting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks and affecting investor demand for safe-haven assets.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 bp rate hike at the upcoming FOMC meeting in June, reflecting investor concerns over slowing economic growth, which pushed the 10-year T-note yield to a two-week high of 4.580%, indicating tension over future monetary policy.
- Mixed International Market Performance: Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Monday, with the Euro Stoxx 50 falling to a two-week low while China's Shanghai Composite dropped 1.70%, demonstrating the impact of global economic uncertainty on market sentiment.
See More
US Stocks Rebound Led by Chipmakers Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Rebound: The S&P 500 Index rose by 1.01%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.46%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index climbed by 2.39%, indicating a recovery from last Friday's selloff, particularly driven by strong performances in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices initially surged over 4% due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel but retreated after Iran announced an end to its military operations, alleviating pressure on the stock market as expectations for a ceasefire emerged.
- Interest Rate Expectations: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike at the next FOMC meeting, reflecting a cautious outlook among investors, especially following robust nonfarm payroll data, which could influence bond market dynamics.
- Tech Stock Surge: Intel's stock surged by 11% after Google placed an order for three million Tensor Processing Units, driving a broader rally in chip stocks, highlighting the tech sector's critical role in the market recovery and potentially attracting more investor interest in related equities.
See More
Analysis of Oil Price Volatility and Market Sentiment
- Oil Prices and Market Reality: CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil warn that oil prices do not fully reflect the actual market situation, particularly as U.S. oil reserves drop to dangerously low levels, with Phillips 66 expressing concern, highlighting market sensitivity to supply shortages.
- Inventory Pressure Intensifies: As of the end of May, Cushing's inventory fell to 22.4 million barrels, down 4 million from February, with industry watchers warning that a drop to 20 million barrels could pose operational challenges for energy companies, increasing market uncertainty.
- Emotion-Driven Market: While oil prices rise due to Middle Eastern conflicts, Wall Street's emotional volatility leads investors to overreact to short-term price changes, with Chevron and Exxon emphasizing the need to focus on long-term trends rather than short-term fluctuations to avoid emotional decision-making.
- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Given the current market environment, investors are advised to tread carefully and consider investing in integrated energy giants like Chevron and Exxon for stable long-term returns while being prepared for potential price volatility.
See More
Middle East Conflict Causes Global Oil Price Volatility
- U.S. Oil Export Surge: In response to constrained supplies from the Middle East, U.S. oil exports have surged; however, with domestic reserves dwindling, this pace is unsustainable, potentially leading to future supply shortages that could impact global oil prices.
- Inventory Warning: As of late May, Cushing's inventory fell to 22.4 million barrels, down 4 million from February, with industry watchers warning that a drop to 20 million barrels could pose operational challenges for energy companies, highlighting the market's fragility.
- Emotion-Driven Market: Despite Chevron and Exxon executives indicating that oil prices do not fully reflect the market realities, investors are reacting swiftly to news from the Middle East, resulting in volatile price swings, demonstrating that market sentiment currently outweighs fundamentals.
- Cautious Investment Strategy: Given the dramatic fluctuations in oil prices, investors are advised to focus on integrated energy giants like Chevron and Exxon, which possess globally diversified portfolios and strong financials, providing a safety net during downturns while also benefiting from potential price increases.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Oil Prices Plunge
- Market Performance: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index rose by 0.02%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.36% to a new record high, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.09%, indicating a divergence in market sentiment amid enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and declining oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices plummeted over 5% to a five-week low due to optimism surrounding a US-Iran peace deal, which eased inflation expectations and pushed the 10-year Treasury yield down to a 1.5-week low of 4.45%, providing support for the bond market.
- Mortgage Application Decline: US MBA mortgage applications fell by 8.5% for the week ending May 22, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down 0.4% and the refinancing sub-index down 18.1%, reflecting the dampening effect of high interest rates on housing demand, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.65%.
- Corporate Earnings Outlook: As of Wednesday, 83% of the 475 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings exceeded expectations, with projected earnings growth of 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall earnings weakness.
See More
Diamondback Energy Recent Performance Analysis
- Price Volatility Analysis: Diamondback Energy (FANG) has experienced a decline of about 1% over the past month, while gaining approximately 7% over the last three months, indicating a coexistence of short-term volatility and long-term growth potential.
- Annual Return Performance: Despite a 5.09% drop in share price in the short term, FANG boasts a year-to-date return of 26.44% and a total shareholder return of 40.57% over the past year, demonstrating the company's resilience and attractiveness in the market.
- Valuation and Market Expectations: With a current share price of $192.62, the market suggests a fair value near $232, indicating a 17% undervaluation that reflects strong expectations for medium-term cash flow and margin strength.
- Operational Efficiency Improvements: The company has consistently enhanced operational efficiency through optimized drilling times and workover programs, supporting stable net margins and robust free cash flow even in a volatile oil price environment.
See More
Mixed US Stock Market on Monday, AI Enthusiasm Boosts Chip Stocks
- Chipmaker Recovery: Following last Friday's selloff, chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks saw a modest recovery on Monday, with Intel (INTC) rising over 11% after Google placed an order for three million Tensor Processing Units, indicating sustained market demand for AI technology.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices initially surged over 4% on Monday due to Iran's announcement of an end to military operations against Israel, but later retreated, highlighting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks and affecting investor demand for safe-haven assets.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 bp rate hike at the upcoming FOMC meeting in June, reflecting investor concerns over slowing economic growth, which pushed the 10-year T-note yield to a two-week high of 4.580%, indicating tension over future monetary policy.
- Mixed International Market Performance: Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Monday, with the Euro Stoxx 50 falling to a two-week low while China's Shanghai Composite dropped 1.70%, demonstrating the impact of global economic uncertainty on market sentiment.
See More
US Stocks Rebound Led by Chipmakers Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Rebound: The S&P 500 Index rose by 1.01%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.46%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index climbed by 2.39%, indicating a recovery from last Friday's selloff, particularly driven by strong performances in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices initially surged over 4% due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel but retreated after Iran announced an end to its military operations, alleviating pressure on the stock market as expectations for a ceasefire emerged.
- Interest Rate Expectations: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike at the next FOMC meeting, reflecting a cautious outlook among investors, especially following robust nonfarm payroll data, which could influence bond market dynamics.
- Tech Stock Surge: Intel's stock surged by 11% after Google placed an order for three million Tensor Processing Units, driving a broader rally in chip stocks, highlighting the tech sector's critical role in the market recovery and potentially attracting more investor interest in related equities.
See More
Analysis of Oil Price Volatility and Market Sentiment
- Oil Prices and Market Reality: CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil warn that oil prices do not fully reflect the actual market situation, particularly as U.S. oil reserves drop to dangerously low levels, with Phillips 66 expressing concern, highlighting market sensitivity to supply shortages.
- Inventory Pressure Intensifies: As of the end of May, Cushing's inventory fell to 22.4 million barrels, down 4 million from February, with industry watchers warning that a drop to 20 million barrels could pose operational challenges for energy companies, increasing market uncertainty.
- Emotion-Driven Market: While oil prices rise due to Middle Eastern conflicts, Wall Street's emotional volatility leads investors to overreact to short-term price changes, with Chevron and Exxon emphasizing the need to focus on long-term trends rather than short-term fluctuations to avoid emotional decision-making.
- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Given the current market environment, investors are advised to tread carefully and consider investing in integrated energy giants like Chevron and Exxon for stable long-term returns while being prepared for potential price volatility.
See More
Middle East Conflict Causes Global Oil Price Volatility
- U.S. Oil Export Surge: In response to constrained supplies from the Middle East, U.S. oil exports have surged; however, with domestic reserves dwindling, this pace is unsustainable, potentially leading to future supply shortages that could impact global oil prices.
- Inventory Warning: As of late May, Cushing's inventory fell to 22.4 million barrels, down 4 million from February, with industry watchers warning that a drop to 20 million barrels could pose operational challenges for energy companies, highlighting the market's fragility.
- Emotion-Driven Market: Despite Chevron and Exxon executives indicating that oil prices do not fully reflect the market realities, investors are reacting swiftly to news from the Middle East, resulting in volatile price swings, demonstrating that market sentiment currently outweighs fundamentals.
- Cautious Investment Strategy: Given the dramatic fluctuations in oil prices, investors are advised to focus on integrated energy giants like Chevron and Exxon, which possess globally diversified portfolios and strong financials, providing a safety net during downturns while also benefiting from potential price increases.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks as Oil Prices Plunge
- Market Performance: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index rose by 0.02%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.36% to a new record high, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.09%, indicating a divergence in market sentiment amid enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and declining oil prices.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Crude oil prices plummeted over 5% to a five-week low due to optimism surrounding a US-Iran peace deal, which eased inflation expectations and pushed the 10-year Treasury yield down to a 1.5-week low of 4.45%, providing support for the bond market.
- Mortgage Application Decline: US MBA mortgage applications fell by 8.5% for the week ending May 22, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down 0.4% and the refinancing sub-index down 18.1%, reflecting the dampening effect of high interest rates on housing demand, as the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.65%.
- Corporate Earnings Outlook: As of Wednesday, 83% of the 475 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings exceeded expectations, with projected earnings growth of 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall earnings weakness.
See More
