Venezuelan Opposition Leader Calls for Investment
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy COP?
Source: CNBC
- Investment Hesitation: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will address the S&P Global CERAWeek in Houston, yet the oil and gas industry remains hesitant to invest in the country despite the U.S. ousting former President Maduro, indicating deep concerns over political stability.
- Need for Political Reform: Machado's opposition movement seeks a transition to democracy and a market economy; however, industry leaders like ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil have made it clear they will only consider returning after significant political reforms are implemented to protect private sector investments, reflecting dissatisfaction with the current situation.
- Asset Compensation Issues: ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance highlighted that the company lost $12 billion due to asset seizures by the Chávez government in 2007, emphasizing that they will not invest without a mechanism for compensation recovery, underscoring a lack of confidence in the investment environment.
- Policy Durability Challenges: Lance noted that attracting the billions needed for investment requires not only guarantees of physical security and contracts but also policy durability from both Venezuela and the U.S., indicating international investors' concerns about potential political shifts that could affect investment decisions.
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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: 127.190
Low
98.00
Averages
115.67
High
133.00
Current: 127.190
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.
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- Investment Hesitation: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will address the S&P Global CERAWeek in Houston, yet the oil and gas industry remains hesitant to invest in the country despite the U.S. ousting former President Maduro, indicating deep concerns over political stability.
- Need for Political Reform: Machado's opposition movement seeks a transition to democracy and a market economy; however, industry leaders like ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil have made it clear they will only consider returning after significant political reforms are implemented to protect private sector investments, reflecting dissatisfaction with the current situation.
- Asset Compensation Issues: ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance highlighted that the company lost $12 billion due to asset seizures by the Chávez government in 2007, emphasizing that they will not invest without a mechanism for compensation recovery, underscoring a lack of confidence in the investment environment.
- Policy Durability Challenges: Lance noted that attracting the billions needed for investment requires not only guarantees of physical security and contracts but also policy durability from both Venezuela and the U.S., indicating international investors' concerns about potential political shifts that could affect investment decisions.
See More

Company's Production Plans: ConocoPhillips' EVP for Lower 48, Cera Week, stated that the company is not considering increasing production at this time.
Market Context: The decision reflects the current market conditions and the company's strategic focus on maintaining stability rather than expanding output.
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