US and Iran Reach Deal to End War and Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Oil Price Volatility: Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, oil prices and global stocks have experienced significant volatility, resulting in widespread damage to Middle Eastern oil infrastructure and a shutdown of oil shipments through the vital Strait of Hormuz, impacting global energy supply.
- Energy ETF Performance: The Vanguard Energy ETF has delivered a 25% return year-to-date but has lost about 11% of its value since reaching an all-time high on March 27, indicating uncertainty in the future of energy stocks amid geopolitical tensions.
- Market Reaction: The S&P 500 index is up 10.4% year-to-date and has gained about 19% since hitting a 2026 low on March 30, but this may be bad news for energy stocks as the Vanguard Energy ETF and the S&P 500 have been moving in opposite directions since late March.
- Investment Advice: Although the Vanguard Energy ETF has achieved an average annual return of 21.1% over the past five years, the complex situation in the Middle East suggests that oil prices could plummet in the future, leading to a recommendation for long-term investors to be cautious and avoid heavy investments in oil stocks.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy CVX?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on CVX
Wall Street analysts forecast CVX stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 177.580
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
Current: 177.580
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.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: While Iranian tankers are moving through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices are falling due to market misconceptions about supply recovery, indicating that investor optimism regarding a quick return to normalcy may lead to increased price volatility in the future.
- Importance of Inventories: The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has led to the use of global oil inventories as a buffer against supply disruptions, but rebuilding these inventories will take time, resulting in demand being higher than normal in the short term, which could affect price stability.
- Industry Warnings: Energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron have warned that the current U.S. strategic oil reserves are at their lowest level since 1983, suggesting that the timeline for market normalization may be underestimated, with potential for rising oil prices ahead.
- Sustainability Risks of Agreement: Although the reopening agreement may lead to a short-term increase in oil flow, the high-risk nature of the Strait of Hormuz raises questions about the long-term viability of the deal, prompting investors to remain cautious and avoid premature optimism regarding market signals.
See More
- Price Volatility Warning: Oil prices have recently fallen due to easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, yet the CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil caution that prices do not reflect market fundamentals, indicating that recovery may take longer than anticipated.
- Need for Inventory Rebuilding: With the U.S. strategic oil reserves at their lowest since 1983, Chevron and ExxonMobil emphasize that rebuilding inventories is crucial for restoring supply-demand balance, likely extending the energy market recovery beyond current investor expectations.
- Increased Transportation Risks: While Iranian oil tankers are now moving through the Strait of Hormuz, this high-risk transportation will require time to assess the stability of the new agreement, potentially leading to exaggerated short-term market reactions to oil price fluctuations.
- Caution from Industry Giants: As two of the world's largest energy companies, Chevron and ExxonMobil's insights into market turbulence are invaluable, and investors should heed their warnings to make informed decisions in an uncertain market environment.
See More
- Oil Price Volatility: Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, oil prices and global stocks have experienced significant volatility, resulting in widespread damage to Middle Eastern oil infrastructure and a shutdown of oil shipments through the vital Strait of Hormuz, impacting global energy supply.
- Energy ETF Performance: The Vanguard Energy ETF has delivered a 25% return year-to-date but has lost about 11% of its value since reaching an all-time high on March 27, indicating uncertainty in the future of energy stocks amid geopolitical tensions.
- Market Reaction: The S&P 500 index is up 10.4% year-to-date and has gained about 19% since hitting a 2026 low on March 30, but this may be bad news for energy stocks as the Vanguard Energy ETF and the S&P 500 have been moving in opposite directions since late March.
- Investment Advice: Although the Vanguard Energy ETF has achieved an average annual return of 21.1% over the past five years, the complex situation in the Middle East suggests that oil prices could plummet in the future, leading to a recommendation for long-term investors to be cautious and avoid heavy investments in oil stocks.
See More
- Market Rebound: The signing of a preliminary deal by President Trump to end the US-Iran war has driven crude oil prices to a 3.5-month low, resulting in a broad market rally with the S&P 500 up 0.99% and the Nasdaq 100 up 2.16%, indicating a resurgence in risk appetite among investors.
- Chip Stocks Lead Gains: Intel shares surged 7% after Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, propelling the entire semiconductor sector higher, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF rising over 5%, reflecting strong investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Energy Stocks Under Pressure: Crude oil prices fell more than 3%, putting pressure on energy producers, with major companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron experiencing declines, highlighting market concerns regarding the energy sector's outlook amid falling oil prices.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market resilience, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, exceeding expectations, further bolstering market optimism.
See More
- Enphase Energy Surge: Enphase Energy's shares jumped 10% after announcing the commencement of production shipments for its IQ9S microinverters, indicating strong growth potential in the global energy technology sector.
- AI-Related Stocks Rally: Stocks tied to artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure saw significant gains, with Corning up 7% and Credo Technology rising 5%, reflecting ongoing investor optimism in AI technologies.
- Kroger Earnings Miss: Kroger reported first-quarter earnings of $1.58 per share, slightly below analysts' expectations of $1.59, resulting in a more than 6% drop in stock price, despite revenue of $46.12 billion exceeding forecasts.
- Smith & Wesson Performance: Smith & Wesson's stock surged approximately 20% after reporting earnings and revenue beats, with handgun sales increasing 23% year-over-year, highlighting strong demand in the firearms market.
See More
- Apple Price Increase: Apple plans to raise product prices due to rising memory chip costs, and while its stock has risen 16% over the past three months, it is currently down 7% from earlier this month, which may impact consumer demand and market share.
- Moderna Vaccine Progress: Moderna is making its case for the mRNA flu vaccine before the FDA committee, with shares up 11.6% on Wednesday and nearly 24% over three days, indicating strong market confidence in its product.
- New Highs for Major Banks: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley reached new highs on Wednesday, with Bank of America up 9.5% in June, reflecting investor optimism in the financial sector.
- Oil Price Decline: Brent crude oil fell below its 200-day moving average for the first time since February, down over 27% in the past month, which puts pressure on energy stocks and may affect the earnings outlook for related companies.
See More










