Occidental Petroleum Shares Surge as CEO Vicki Hollub Allegedly Prepares for Retirement
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 26 2026
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Should l Buy OXY?
Source: stocktwits
CEO Retirement Announcement: Occidental Petroleum's shares rose over 3% following reports that CEO Vicki Hollub is preparing to retire, with a formal announcement expected later this year.
Potential Successor: Richard Jackson, recently elevated to chief operating officer, is positioned to take over as CEO after Hollub's departure, according to sources familiar with the situation.
No Set Retirement Date: The report indicates that there is currently no fixed date for Hollub's retirement, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East may influence her plans.
Stock Updates: Investors can stay informed about this developing story by following updates directly on Stocktwits.
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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: 60.270
Low
38.00
Averages
47.27
High
64.00
Current: 60.270
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. Its segments include oil and gas, 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 Company's 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. This segment also includes low-carbon venture businesses.
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.
- Earnings Expectations: Occidental Petroleum is set to announce its Q1 earnings on May 5, with Wall Street expecting an EPS of $0.58, a 33.3% year-over-year decline, and revenues of $5.64 billion, down 17.1% year-over-year, indicating significant profitability challenges ahead.
- Leadership Change: The board has appointed Senior VP and COO Richard Jackson to succeed retiring CEO Vicki Hollub, effective June 1, marking a pivotal shift in the company's leadership structure that could influence strategic direction.
- Performance Record: Over the past two years, Occidental has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 13% of the time, showcasing its resilience and ability to navigate a volatile market environment effectively.
- Stock Performance: Since the beginning of the year, OXY shares have surged 44%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 5.6% increase, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's future prospects.
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- Surge in Options Trading: Ahead of OXY's earnings report, traders have shown a significant appetite for bullish options, with call volumes outpacing puts seven-to-one, indicating strong market optimism regarding the company's future performance.
- Large Trade Activity: One of the day's largest trades involved a trader spending $175,000 to buy nearly 5,000 of the 63-strike calls while selling the same amount of 69-strike calls, reflecting confidence in OXY's stock reaching a new high by the end of the week.
- Supportive Historical Performance: OXY has rallied after 10 of its last 12 earnings reports, including a 10% jump following its February report, providing strong support for a positive reaction to the upcoming earnings announcement.
- Stable Shareholder Structure: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns 27% of OXY, demonstrating long-term confidence in the company, which may attract more investors to consider the stock's growth potential.
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- Earnings Preview: Major companies such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), and Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) are expected to report earnings after Tuesday's close, providing crucial performance insights for investors.
- Market Focus: Reports from Lucid Group (LCID) and Arista Networks (ANET) are also highly anticipated, with market analysts closely monitoring their performance to assess future growth potential.
- Broad Impact: Additionally, numerous other companies including ACIC, ADAM, and ADPT will release earnings after the close, offering a more comprehensive set of performance data that could influence overall market sentiment.
- Investor Strategy: Investors should pay attention to these earnings releases, as corporate financial performance in the current economic climate will directly impact stock price volatility and investment decisions.
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- Cash Reserve Growth: As of Q1 2026, Berkshire Hathaway's cash and cash equivalents reached $51.47 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year, indicating the company's cautious approach in a high market, preparing for future investment opportunities.
- Market Valuation Indicator: The Buffett Indicator currently stands at 225%, exceeding the 200% threshold considered overvalued, reflecting the company's reluctance to chase high-priced assets in the current market environment, thus maintaining liquidity and safety of funds.
- Reduction in Blue-Chip Holdings: Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks for 12 consecutive quarters, reducing major stakes in companies like Bank of America and Apple, which further enhances its cash position and demonstrates the company's cautious stance towards the market.
- Investment Strategy Adjustment: Buffett stated that while he is willing to invest $100 billion at the right price, current market valuations are unreasonable, leading the company to continue holding cash reserves to seize more attractive investment opportunities in the future.
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- Oil Price Surge Impact: Geopolitical tensions have driven WTI crude oil prices up by 3% to around $105 per barrel, leading to increased market volatility and pressure on major U.S. stocks, prompting investors to consider the long-term economic implications of sustained high oil prices.
- Energy Stocks Rally: Amid rising oil prices, energy producers such as Occidental Petroleum, APA Corporation, and Diamondback Energy saw their stock prices increase, indicating strong market demand for energy and a recovery in investor confidence in the sector.
- Travel Sector Decline: Shares in travel firms, particularly Norwegian Cruise Line, plummeted due to missed Q1 expectations, reflecting market concerns about the recovery of the travel industry and potentially impacting future investment decisions.
- Cryptocurrency Market Rebound: Reports of lawmakers possibly reaching a compromise on key digital asset legislation have led to strong performances from crypto-linked firms like Coinbase Global, Circle Internet Group, and Robinhood Markets, with Bitcoin surpassing $80,000 for the first time, signaling renewed investor interest in crypto assets.
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- Salary Overview: Richard A. Jackson of Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a salary set at $1.4 million.
- Incentive Structure: He is eligible for a cash incentive target at 150% of his salary.
- Compensation Details: The compensation package includes a significant cash incentive component.
- Company Context: This information reflects the financial structure and compensation practices within Occidental Petroleum.
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