Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Oil Stocks: Buy Or Sell As The OPEC+ Standoff Continues?

Published 07/07/2021, 09:33 AM
Updated 09/02/2020, 02:05 AM

Energy markets are again in the grip of uncertainty after the OPEC+ oil cartel's members failed to agree on a plan to boost crude output. For investors, including those in related equities, that means confusing signals on the outlook for the commodity that is so crucial for the global economic recovery after a deadly pandemic.  

Crude prices have gained almost 60% this year, fuelled by a demand surge as economies re-open after vaccine rollouts. As demand gets closer to pre-pandemic levels, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, failed in its third attempt to resolve a deadlock over oil production after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two major exporting countries, failed to overcome their differences. 

WTI Weekly Chart.

“The outcome is a significant failure for the producers’ group,” according to a Bloomberg report.

“Relations have soured between two core OPEC members to such an extent that no compromise was possible. It damages the group’s self-image as a responsible steward of the oil market, raising the spectre of the destructive internal price war that caused unprecedented price swings last year.”

Exxon Mobil Weekly Chart.

The uncertainty in oil markets presents a challenge for investors in the largest U.S. energy companies, including Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX), which are just recovering from last year’s slump in oil prices and repairing their balance sheets.

Chevron Weekly Chart.

Brent To Hit $100? 

While the possibility of a price war within OPEC can’t be ruled out if this dispute lingers, many equity analysts are getting bullish about their favorite oil stocks. They see oil prices gaining further strength from growing demand coupled with supply constraints – a combination that is quite healthy for companies’ profitability.

Bank of America, for example, believes Brent could hit $100 per barrel by summer 2022, and the firm doesn’t hold an underperform rating on a single stock across its oil coverage universe.

Brent Oil Futures Weekly Chart.

In a note cited by CNBC, Evercore ISI said it is bullish on the outlook for oil companies. The firm recently raised its price target on every single stock under its integrated oil and exploration and production company universe.

The note said:

“After the better part of three years of cost reductions, portfolio high-grading and rethinking the value proposition, E&Ps are well positioned to capture the upside from commodity price near term.”

Despite this bullish sentiment, we are hesitant to advise investors to increase their exposure to oil stocks after the OPEC failure to increase production. In our view, it will be tough for the cartel to let the price of oil surge to the point where it starts hurting the global economic growth, especially when inflationary pressures are building up. 

With that, oil-producing nations will have to face political pressure from the U.S. and other major economies for not increasing the output when they have a lot of spare capacity. The U.S. has pushed the cartel to reach a deal that would allow output to rise, cooling the surge in prices. 

“Administration officials have been engaged with relevant capitals to urge a compromise solution that will allow proposed production increases to move forward,” Reuters reported a White House spokesperson as saying Monday.

Bottom Line

The OPEC+ standoff, no doubt, sends a bullish signal for oil stocks in the short run. However, we don’t advise investors to add to their energy exposure when the markets are in limbo and there is a real possibility of price wars.

Latest comments

Crude oil prices are rallying amid abandoned talks by OPEC+ ministers, shattering hopes for an agreement to increase oil production in the coming months.Crude oil prices have hit their six-year highs amid escalating tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. https://kalkinemedia.com/au/stocks/oil-gas/ The demand for crude oil is growing at a strong pace. Rising oil demand and the disagreement within the cartel could spike oil prices in the near future, if oil production and supply levels fail to meet rising global demand.
80 seems still possible
I bought when oil was NEGATIVE 30 PER BARREL, NEGATIVE, I made a mint and still holding. I bought NVA at 26c on the tsx, now it's 3.86. per share, that was a chance of a lifetime to make real money.
I am long at 76.13, please advice
Is ther any chance that the peice will drop more than 72
Hi i have purchased on 75 & 76 some barrels of crude oil what to do should i hold or not?
SB
🙌💎
hold
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.