Investing in this market isn't fun. Geopolitical tensions are escalating to levels not seen in decades, global trade relationships face unprecedented strain, and persistent inflation continues eroding purchasing power. The silver lining? Unlike the past two and a half years, there are some truly compelling bargains in the current market. More than a few high-quality companies are trading at attractive valuations following a rough start to 2025 for U.S. stocks. Here are two blue-chip value stocks I'm steadil ...

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With crude oil prices rising to over $70 a barrel again, the energy sector has been the best-performing subsector of the S&P 500 this year. Led by big oil giants Chevron CVX and Exxon Mobil (XOM) , the energy sector has risen +8% year to date compared to the benchmark S&P 500's broader decline of -6%. Leading to the uptick in crude prices is that seasonal peaks in travel and industrial production are approaching with the warmer spring and summer months ahead. Although increased tariffs will lead to higher c ...

Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of XOM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any in ...

EOG Resources holds a dominant position in the Delaware Basin, utilizing advanced drilling techniques to maximize well productivity and returns. In 2024, its Permian assets drove 3% oil production growth and an 8% increase in total volumes. By leveraging proprietary technology and self-sourced materials, EOG maintains a breakeven price in the low-$50s, ensuring consistent free cash flow and attractive shareholder returns. ExxonMobil has doubled its Permian production since 2019, further solidifying its pres ...

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's backing of Occidental Petroleum (OXY) has led to increased interest from investors, but alternatives like ExxonMobil and Chevron may offer better long-term value and income stability [1][8]. Group 1: Occidental Petroleum (OXY) - Occidental Petroleum won the bidding war for Anadarko Petroleum in 2019 with financial support from Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway, outbidding Chevron [2]. - The acquisition left Occidental heavily in debt, and it cut its dividend during the early COVID-19 pandemic, which has not yet returned to pre-cut levels [3]. - Despite efforts to expand, such as acquiring CrownRock, Occidental's approach may not serve long-term investors focused on reliable income streams [3]. Group 2: Comparison with ExxonMobil and Chevron - ExxonMobil and Chevron are more attractive for income investors due to their consistent dividend increases, with ExxonMobil increasing dividends for 42 consecutive years and Chevron for 37 years [4]. - Occidental's debt-to-equity ratio remains significantly higher than that of ExxonMobil and Chevron, limiting its financial flexibility during downturns [5]. - ExxonMobil and Chevron's diversified operations across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors provide stability against energy market fluctuations, with market caps of $500 billion and $290 billion respectively, compared to Occidental's $45 billion [6]. Group 3: Dividend Yields - Occidental offers a modest dividend yield of 2%, below the average energy stock yield of 3.1%, while ExxonMobil and Chevron yield 3.4% and 4.1% respectively [7]. - For income-focused and conservative investors, replacing Occidental with either ExxonMobil or Chevron is advisable for better income generation [7]. Group 4: Buffett's Portfolio - Warren Buffett also owns Chevron in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, suggesting that investors can still align with Buffett's support by choosing Chevron over Occidental [8].

Market Overview - As market uncertainty and volatility increase, investor sentiment is shifting towards defensive and value-oriented sectors, leading to underperformance in high-growth areas like technology, semiconductors, and AI [1] - Energy has emerged as a leader in 2025, up 8.8% year-to-date, while Financials have gained 4.9%, both outperforming the broader market [2] Energy Sector - Energy stocks are trending higher as investors seek cash-generating assets in an uncertain market, similar to trends observed in 2022 [3] - Chevron (CVX) has generated over $15 billion in free cash flow in the trailing 12 months, resulting in a 5.1% free cash flow yield [4] - CVX has recently broken out from a three-year consolidation phase, indicating a major capital rotation from institutional investors into the stock [5] Insurance Sector - The insurance sector has gained 14% year-to-date, contrasting with the broader market index, which is down a few percent [8] - HCI Group has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and boasts a 19.7% free cash flow yield, significantly above the industry average [9] - HCI Group anticipates sales growth of 17.5% this year and earnings growth of 102%, currently trading at 9.9x forward earnings [9] Investment Opportunities - In a shifting market, CVX and HCI are highlighted as compelling investment opportunities due to their strong fundamentals and technical performance [12]

Core Viewpoint - Chevron Corp (CVX) has reached a new 52-week high at $168.96, with a year-to-date increase of 14.49% and a monthly rise of 7.21%, prompting investors to consider whether to invest now or wait for a potential pullback [1] Group 1: Investment Sentiment - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holds 118.6 million shares of CVX, representing 6.42% of its portfolio and 6.60% of Chevron's outstanding shares, indicating strong confidence in the company [1] - The stock's technical indicators are bullish, supported by Buffett's long-term conviction and solid upward momentum [4] Group 2: Technical Analysis - CVX stock is trading at $167.97, above key moving averages, with a Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) of 3.25, suggesting a bullish trend [2] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 70.38, indicating that the stock is in overbought territory, which may suggest a cooling off period ahead [2] - Despite being above the five-, 20-, and 50-day exponential moving averages, there are signs of slight selling pressure, indicating that traders may be locking in profits [3] Group 3: Investment Strategy - While Chevron shows bullish technical indicators, the overbought RSI suggests that waiting for a slight pullback could provide a better entry point for investors [4] - CVX remains a strong contender for those looking to invest in the energy sector, but caution is advised when chasing highs due to potential risks [4]

Core Insights - Chevron Corporation (CVX) is actively pursuing hydrocarbon exploration off the coast of Crete, indicating a strategic focus on the Mediterranean's untapped energy reserves [1][5][12] - The Greek government has accepted Chevron's interest in two offshore blocks, expanding the area available for exploration to 47,000 square kilometers [2][4] - Greece's energy strategy aims to reduce dependency on foreign energy sources, particularly Russian natural gas, and is expected to enhance its competitive position in the global energy market [3][8] Chevron's Strategic Moves - Chevron's renewed interest in Greek waters follows a pattern of targeting high-potential energy markets, with the offshore blocks adjacent to existing ExxonMobil-led exploration areas [5][11] - The geological features around Crete are similar to successful oil and gas fields in the region, increasing the likelihood of commercially viable discoveries [6][11] - Chevron's involvement is indicative of a larger shift in the global energy landscape, as countries like Greece become key players in the pursuit of new hydrocarbon reserves [11][12] Greece's Energy Landscape - Greece's energy exploration strategy has transformed, with a focus on energy independence and diversification of resources, particularly in light of EU policies [3][8] - The Greek energy ministry is optimistic that the new exploration blocks will lead to commercially exploitable hydrocarbon reserves, contributing to the country's energy security [8][10] - Greece's strategic location positions it as a potential energy hub in the Mediterranean, further spurred by discoveries in nearby regions like Egypt [7][12]

Group 1 - Chevron's stock has underperformed over the past three years, while other energy stocks, including ExxonMobil, have seen significant gains [1][2] - The uncertainty surrounding Chevron's pending acquisition of Hess, valued at $53 billion, has contributed to its stock stagnation [2][3] - The acquisition of Hess is expected to enhance Chevron's U.S. onshore position and operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia, making it a strategic fit [4] Group 2 - Closing the Hess deal could enable Chevron to more than double its free cash flow by 2027, driven by growth from both its existing operations and Hess' cash flow [5]