Natural Gas Prices Surge, Heating Costs Rise 9.2% for American Households
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6d ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Heating Cost Increase: The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects a 9.2% rise in home heating costs for American households, more than three times the inflation rate, severely impacting low-income families and pushing many into utility debt.
- Extreme Weather Demand Impact: An exceptional cold wave across 40 states is driving natural gas demand sharply higher, with Henry Hub futures surging past $5 per MMBtu, highlighting the market's heavy reliance on energy during severe weather conditions.
- Infrastructure Bottlenecks Amplify Price Spikes: Pipeline constraints in the Northeast limit gas delivery to densely populated areas, resulting in disproportionately higher energy costs in these regions, especially as cold weather increases the risk of equipment failures.
- Global Market Influence on Local Prices: U.S. LNG exports are closely tied to global demand, with Europe accounting for 53% of U.S. LNG exports in 2024, which further tightens local supply and raises domestic natural gas prices, impacting heating costs for consumers.
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Analyst Views on CVX
Wall Street analysts forecast CVX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CVX is 176.95 USD with a low forecast of 158.00 USD and a high forecast of 206.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 171.190
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
Current: 171.190
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
About CVX
Chevron Corporation is an integrated energy company. The Company produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance its business and industry. The Company’s segments include Upstream and Downstream. Upstream operations consist primarily of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation and regasification associated with LNG; transporting crude oil by major international oil export pipelines; processing, transporting, storage and marketing of natural gas; carbon capture and storage; and a gas-to-liquids plant. Downstream operations consist primarily of the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants; manufacturing and marketing of renewable fuels, and transporting of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car.
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.
Chevron's Q4 Earnings Preview Highlights Venezuela Opportunity
- Revenue Expectations Decline: Analysts forecast Chevron's Q4 revenue at $48.57 billion, down from $52.23 billion last year, indicating challenges amid market volatility that could affect investor confidence.
- Earnings Per Share Forecast: Expected EPS is $1.45, lower than last year's $2.06, and while the company has beaten estimates in five of the last ten quarters, this decline may raise market concerns.
- Divergent Analyst Ratings: Morgan Stanley maintains an Overweight rating but lowers the price target to $174, while Jefferies keeps a Buy rating and raises the target to $189, reflecting mixed market sentiment on Chevron's future performance.
- Venezuela Opportunity: Chevron could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of U.S. military actions in Venezuela, with investors keenly watching how the company assesses this market opportunity and its implications for short- and long-term financials.
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Chevron (CVX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
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