Oil stocks on the US market have gotten a strong boost in the past week after the United States’ intervention in Venezuela. Chevron (CVX) and other companies got a strong boost in the past few days after the US captured President Nicholas Maduro and brought him in for a criminal trial. The South American country, a hub for oil and other natural resources, may soon be under US control, per Donald Trump, putting its oil supply in the hands of Chevron, Exxon, and other US manufacturers.
While all of the top oil stocks are up and will reap similar benefits from the US-Venezuela situation, some forecast that Chevron CVX could see hundreds of millions in cash flow. A TD Cowen analyst noted Friday that Chevron could grow its cash flow by as much as $700 million a year from increasing oil production in Venezuela as the Trump administration seeks to control the South American country’s crude supplies.
What Analysts are Saying about Chevron Stock
Chevron, the only US oil major currently operating in Venezuela, has a “differentiated opportunity among peers to increase production,” analyst Jason Gabelman wrote. Its efforts could add “between $400 million and $700 million a year, representing about 1% to 2% of the company’s cash flow from operations,” he said. Moreover, Trump moved forward with an oil deal, announcing that Venezuela will “turn over” 30 to 50 barrels of oil to the US, to be sold at market prices. The $3 billion deal caught oil markets by surprise, sending oil stocks like Chevron CVX higher as well.
Also Read: Trump Claims Venezuela Oil Deal Could Be Worth $3 Billion
In addition, Chevron will likely boost production from its existing assets rather than commit large amounts of new capital to the country, according to the note. “We suspect Chevron will be hesitant to invest material incremental capital in Venezuela until there is a stable government and fiscal regime,” Gabelman wrote in his note. Furthermore, Mizuho stands out with a high price target score of 98.4 and a bold target of $206, suggesting strong confidence in future performance. Citigroup, with a price target score of 97.6, also shows high accuracy in past predictions, supporting their $179 target.
On the other hand, some other market experts aren’t as bullish on CVX. Cramer expressed skepticism about investing in Chevron due to its reliance on oil price performance, indicating potential risks for shareholders amid lower price forecasts.