Published on 22 May 2024 on Zacks via Yahoo Finance

How Should You Play the U.S. Upstream Oil & Gas Industry?

The Federal Reserve officials' cautious stance on inflation has not only delayed potential interest rate cuts but also affected market confidence and cast a pall on the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry. OPEC's substantial spare capacity and Russia's increasing oil exports to China, which rose 30% year on year in April, have added to supply concerns. The lowered oil demand projections for 2024 have further weighed on the space. Although macro challenges create uncertainties, there's resilience in the sector, especially for operators prioritizing growth and operational efficiency. Diamondback Energy FANG, APA Corporation APA, Matador Resources MTDR and SM Energy SM emerge as stocks to watch, offering potential amid the prevailing economic headwinds.

About the Industry

The Zacks Oil and Gas - US E&P industry consists of companies primarily based in the domestic market, focused on the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and natural gas. These firms find hydrocarbon reservoirs, drill oil and gas wells, and produce and sell these materials to be refined later into products such as gasoline, fuel oil, distillate, etc. The economics of oil and gas supply and demand are the fundamental drivers of this industry. In particular, a producer’s cash flow is primarily determined by the realized commodity prices. In fact, all E&P companies' results are vulnerable to historically volatile prices in the energy markets. A change in realizations affects their returns and causes them to alter their production growth rates. The E&P operators are also exposed to exploration risks where drilling results are comparatively uncertain.