Industry Overview - The fourth-quarter 2024 earnings season for the Oil – Energy sector is underway, with S&P 500 energy companies projected to see a year-over-year earnings decline of 24.8%, despite a revenue increase of 2.1% [1] - Reported earnings so far are 33% lower than the same period last year, consistent with prior forecasts, following a 22.9% EPS drop in Q3, indicating ongoing challenges due to fluctuating commodity prices [1] Oil and Gas Prices - Crude oil prices have significantly decreased in Q4 2024 compared to the previous year, with average WTI prices falling from $85.64, $77.69, and $71.90 per barrel in Q4 2023 to $71.99, $69.95, and $70.12 per barrel in 2024, reflecting weaker demand and increased supply [2] - Natural gas prices exhibited mixed trends, with the U.S. Henry Hub averaging $2.20 in October, $2.12 in November, and rebounding to $3.01 in December 2024, showing some resilience in gas demand despite lower prices earlier in the quarter [3] Earnings Potential of Specific Stocks - Despite the overall weak earnings outlook for Q4, Magnolia Oil & Gas (MGY), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), and Coterra Energy (CTRA) are identified as stocks likely to outperform expectations [4] - All three companies possess a Zacks Momentum Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with positive Earnings ESP, indicating a high probability of earnings beats [5][6] Company Profiles - **Magnolia Oil & Gas**: An independent exploration and production operator focused on growth through acquisitions and active drilling, with strong unit metrics and financial health. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.73% and is set to release earnings on Feb. 18 [7][8] - **Coterra Energy**: An independent upstream operator primarily engaged in natural gas exploration and production, with a significant portion of its production coming from the Marcellus Shale. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.10% and is scheduled to release earnings on Feb. 24 [8][9] - **Occidental Petroleum**: An integrated oil and gas company with diverse operations, including basic chemicals and petrochemicals. It has an Earnings ESP of +3.00% and is also set to release earnings on Feb. 18 [10][11]

Group 1 - Coterra Energy's stock closed at $28.54, reflecting a +0.25% change from the previous trading day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.03% [1] - The stock has decreased by 0.49% over the past month, underperforming the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 0.76% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.19% [1] Group 2 - Coterra Energy is expected to release its earnings on February 24, 2025, with a predicted EPS of $0.42, indicating a 19.23% decline year-over-year, and revenue forecasted at $1.4 billion, down 12.13% from the prior-year quarter [2] Group 3 - Recent shifts in analyst projections for Coterra Energy should be monitored, as positive estimate revisions indicate analyst optimism regarding the company's business and profitability [3] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, provides actionable ratings, with 1 stocks historically delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [4][5] Group 4 - Coterra Energy's current Forward P/E ratio is 8.58, which is lower than the industry average of 9.37, indicating a valuation discount [6] - The company's PEG ratio is currently 0.55, compared to the industry average of 1.33, suggesting favorable growth prospects relative to its valuation [7] Group 5 - The Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, which includes Coterra Energy, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 52, placing it in the top 21% of over 250 industries [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is showing potential for a bullish breakout due to a recent "golden cross" technical indicator and positive earnings outlook [1][4]. Technical Analysis - CTRA's 50-day simple moving average has crossed above its 200-day simple moving average, indicating a "golden cross" which is a bullish signal in trading [1][2]. - A golden cross typically consists of three stages: a downtrend followed by a crossover of the short-term moving average over the long-term moving average, and finally an upward price movement [3]. Performance Metrics - CTRA shares have increased by 17.7% over the past four weeks, suggesting strong upward momentum [4]. - The company currently holds a 3 (Hold) rating on the Zacks Rank, indicating potential for further price appreciation [4]. Earnings Outlook - There have been five upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past two months, with no downward revisions, reinforcing the bullish sentiment [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CTRA has also increased, further solidifying the positive earnings outlook [4]. Investment Consideration - Given the technical indicators and positive earnings revisions, CTRA should be considered for inclusion on investors' watchlists [5].

Market Overview - A strong stock often rallies even when the broader market is under pressure, indicating potential future market leaders [1] - The robust labor market has reignited concerns about the Federal Reserve's ability to cut interest rates, leaving the S&P 500 near a critical support level [2] - Despite market uncertainty, select stocks like Coterra Energy, Constellation Energy, and United Airlines continue to demonstrate strength [3] Coterra Energy (CTRA) - Coterra Energy is a leading independent energy company focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production, operating in premier US basins such as the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, and Anadarko Basin [4] - The company has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with next quarter earnings estimates rising by 21.21% and next year's estimates jumping by 19.26% [5] - Coterra Energy shares have gained nearly 6% this week, driven by strength in natural gas prices and growing demand for energy, particularly from AI infrastructure expansion [6] - The company is trading at a PEG ratio below 1, indicating a potentially discounted valuation [6] Constellation Energy (CEG) - Constellation Energy is a leader in nuclear energy and a forward-looking utility company, benefiting from surging electricity demand driven by AI and data center expansion [9] - The company recently announced a $16.4 billion acquisition of Calpine, a major power generator specializing in natural gas and geothermal energy, with the total deal valued at $26.6 billion including assumed debt [10] - This acquisition enhances Constellation's geographic footprint and diversifies its energy portfolio, blending nuclear, natural gas, and geothermal sources [10] - Constellation Energy stock has rallied more than 150% over the last year and reached new record highs following the acquisition news [11] United Airlines (UAL) - United Airlines is benefiting from the recovery in consumer spending and the travel sector, with the strong US labor market further supporting demand for air travel [14] - The company has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to improving fundamentals and raised earnings estimates [15] - United Airlines shares have shown strong momentum, breaking out to multi-year highs, and the company boasts a PEG ratio below 1, signaling a potentially discounted valuation relative to its growth prospects [16] Investment Opportunity - Coterra Energy, Constellation Energy, and United Airlines stand out as compelling opportunities due to their resilience, strong price momentum, and alignment with economic trends in energy demand and consumer spending [17] - These companies have strong earnings revisions, leadership in their industries, and favorable valuations, making them well-positioned to outperform in challenging market conditions [18]

The Oil – Energy sector is known for its unpredictable swings, with stock performance often hinged on volatile market conditions. This inherent unpredictability makes stock selection a challenging and sometimes risky endeavor. However, amid the uncertainty, there are standout performers.Let’s delve into three promising names — TechnipFMC plc (FTI) , Coterra Energy (CTRA) , and Sunoco LP (SUN) . These companies have demonstrated impressive EPS growth in recent years, positioning them as attractive buys at th ...

Natural gas prices were on a rollercoaster ride in 2024, ending with a dramatic 44% annual increase — their best performance since 2021. While natural gas prices have surged due to cold weather and rising liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) demand, the market remains volatile. Geopolitical tensions, shifting weather patterns, and supply-demand imbalances will define 2025. However, for investors, resilient players like Coterra Energy (CTRA) , Cheniere Energy (LNG) and Range Resources (RRC) offer a hedge against th ...

Following a robust performance in 2024, with the S&P 500 climbing almost 24%, investor sentiment became highly optimistic and even euphoric. This surge in enthusiasm led to stock prices becoming overinflated, resulting in overbought conditions. Consequently, a natural pullback occurred as the market took a step back to adjust and absorb the gains made earlier.Thus, the market will likely remain choppy, resulting in a need to focus on a portfolio of low-beta stocks, which may be a prudent approach to reducin ...

Here is a stock with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, January 3rd:Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) : This independent oil and gas company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 16% over the last 60 days.Coterra has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 8.80, compared with 24.51 for the S&P 500. The company possesses a Value Score  of A. See the full list of top ranked stocks here. Learn more about the Val ...

Here are two stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, January 3rd:Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) : This independent oil and gas company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 16% over the last 60 days.This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.3%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.RB Global, Inc. (RBA) : This omnichannel marketplace for commercial assets and vehicles has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Esti ...

According to its latest strategy, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) has entered into an accord with two companies whereby it will acquire certain Permian Basin assets from Franklin Mountain Energy and Avant Natural Resources for $3.95 billion. The acquisition will be closed via a cash and stock deal, financed through $2.95 billion in cash and $1 billion in Coterra stock. The cash portion will consist of cash in hand and new borrowings and the company will issue 40.9 million shares of Coterra stock valued at $1 bil ...