Occidental Petroleum Streamlines Operations and Cuts Spending Amid Industry Headwinds
SHARE
Occidental Petroleum Streamlines Operations and Cuts Spending Amid Industry Headwinds

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), founded in 1920, stands among the largest international oil and gas exploration and production companies by equity market value. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company operates across various global locations and comprises multiple business segments, including a wholly owned subsidiary focused on manufacturing and marketing chemical products. Occidental also runs a midstream and marketing segment, distributing hydrocarbons and related commodities across its operational footprint.

The latest analyst report on Occidental Petroleum, prepared by an industry veteran with over 20 years' experience in equity analysis and portfolio management, leverages both algorithmic tools and expert judgment. This report scores Occidental based on diverse financial metrics, such as balance sheet strength, earnings estimates, sales, industry trends, dividend dynamics, market leverage, and recent stock movements. The analyst, whose expertise encompasses multiple industry groups and who holds advanced degrees in finance and business, applies both fundamental and technical analysis, aiming to support investors with informed recommendations and portfolio management resources.

As of December 6, 2025, the consensus among 23 market analysts is a "Hold" rating for Occidental Petroleum. The average 12-month price target stands at $50.26 per share, representing a potential upside of approximately 20.56% from the current price of $42.43. Notably, recent analyst actions include Susquehanna maintaining a "Buy" rating and increasing its price target from $54 to $55 on November 13, 2025, and Mizuho following suit with a price target uplift from $60 to $64 on November 11, 2025. Comprehensive analyst ratings and price target data are provided by StockAnalysis.com.

Occidental's most recent financial guidance projects oil production in 2026 to remain largely flat, with a potential growth of up to 2%, primarily underpinned by ongoing activities in the prolific Permian Basin region. The company also announced plans to reduce capital expenditures to a range of $6.3–6.7 billion for 2026, down from an expected $7.1–7.3 billion in 2025—a response to global oil market challenges, such as a 12.7% year-to-date drop in Brent crude prices and generally tepid demand amid robust OPEC+ output. More information on the outlook can be found in Reuters' report.

To help address its significant debt load, Occidental has executed two divestiture deals in the current quarter totaling $1.2 billion. The assets—consisting mainly of non-operated properties in the Rockies and Permian Basin not slated for near-term development—are scheduled to be sold by the end of the quarter. The proceeds will offset outstanding debt linked to Occidental’s $12 billion acquisition of CrownRock in August 2024 (Reuters).

In a separate potential transaction, Berkshire Hathaway—headed by Warren Buffett—is reportedly in discussions to purchase Occidental’s OxyChem petrochemical division for about $10 billion. This deal would further Occidental’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and address its debt, which stood at $23.34 billion by the end of June 2025. The Wall Street Journal reported that this divestiture aligns with Occidental's strategy to focus more directly on its core oil and gas operations while reducing leverage.

As of the latest trading update, Occidental Petroleum shares were priced at $42.43, down $0.27 (about 0.01%) from the previous close. The stock opened at $42.56, with an intraday range between $42.395 and $43.20, on a total volume of 10,015,025 shares. The last recorded trade occurred at 00:15 UTC on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Industry observers note these financial and strategic maneuvers reflect Occidental’s cautious approach in the current commodity environment, as it balances operational stability with a drive to improve its financial health. While analysts remain neutral amid lingering market uncertainty, Occidental's ongoing asset sales and selective capital spending reductions offer investors insight into the company's long-term response to global oil market volatility.