Big Oil Earnings to Dominate This Week
Crude oil has been among the worst-performing commodities this year as hefty production has combined with a number of other factors to send the fossil fuel lower. That being said, a number of bellwether oil firms will be detailing their most recent quarter’s earnings this week, as investors are anxious to see how lower prices have impacted bottom-line returns. Below, we outline five of the biggest oil firms to report earnings this week, and commodity investors should watch them closely [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
BP’s Stock Struggles Amid Key Trial
In early 2010, British Petroleum (BP) was at the center of one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history, as an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig caused millions of gallons of oil to flow into the Gulf claiming 11 lives. Also involved were Transocean (RIG) and Halliburton (HAL), with each company doing their best to escape the weight of the charges. As BP goes on trial, along with Transocean and Halliburton, its stock has been taking a hit as investors hold their breath for the outcome [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Earnings Preview: Weyerhaeuser (WY) & Halliburton (HAL)
With the fourth quarter’s earning season in full swing now, investors have, for the most part, been pleasantly surprised. Though many companies have exceeded expectations, earnings estimates for several commodity producers remain rather bearish as global economic uncertainties and demand concerns have left many understandably leery. Last week, leading oil and gas equipment and services provider Schlumberger (SLB) missed analysts’ estimates, reporting fourth quarter net earnings that fell an abysmal 3.7%. Aluminum giant Alcoa (AA), however, reported revenues well above expectations, and the company predicts aluminum demand growth to rise in 2013–-a crucial and positive indicator for the global economy. This Friday, investors will shift their focus to two major commodity producers; Weyerhaeuser (WY) and Halliburton (HAL) [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
How To Profit From Record U.S. Oil Production
Since the 2008 recession, U.S. oil production has come roaring back. As 2013 opened, the United States topped seven million barrels per day in production for the first time in nearly 20 years. This is largely thanks to a development in technologies like fracking as well as more pipelines distributing the energy resource around the nation. Experts now predict that the United States will top Saudi Arabia’s oil production by 2020. That would make the United States both the largest producer and consumer of this fossil fuel in the world [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
10 Ways to Invest in Fracking
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become tremendously popular in the United States and Canada over the past couple of years. By pumping pressurized fluid into a wellbore the process enables companies to extract previously inaccessible hydrocarbons. The result has been a natural gas bonanza in many parts of the U.S., particularly in shale regions like the Barnett Shale Basin in Texas and the Bakken Formation in North Dakota, as well as in parts of Canada [for more fracking news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
U.S. to Top Saudi Arabia’s Oil Production
Saudi Arabia has long been known as the world’s most dominant producer of crude oil, as the Middle East is rich with deposits of this fossil fuel. But the growth and rapid development of U.S. crude output has us on pace to dethrone Saudi Arabia in the not-so-distant future. We are currently on pace to average 10.9 million barrels per day for 2012, marking a 7% growth from the prior year and the largest single year jump since 1951 [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
The World’s 5 Largest Oil Consumers
Crude oil is an addiction that our global economy will not be able to break anytime soon. The fossil fuel is involved in many facets of our everyday lives whether we realize is it or not, and demand for this commodity is only growing. As emerging economies around the world continue to grow and population figures increase, consumption of oil is only going to jump. Below, we take a look at the 5 biggest oil consuming nations in the world to keep an eye on in the coming years [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
25 Ways To Invest In Crude Oil
Crude oil has been in the limelight in recent weeks, as its priced surged from a low of $75 barrel to break through the century mark, marking an increase of over 35%. While oil has long been, arguably, the most popular commodity on the market, investors and traders alike are looking to hop in on the action as crude presents itself with a wealth of opportunities. Though most people simply think of gasoline when they hear the term crude oil, this fossil fuel is actually a vital part of our everyday lives. Crude oil is utilized in everything from the production of plastics and fertilizers, to cosmetics and industrial solvents [see also Crude Oil On Fire: Examining The Commodity’s Rise].
