OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM: Fitch upgrades credit rating!

The upgrade is due to the accelerated and exemplary implementation of the debt reduction plan, which runs until the end of 2026. Over the past 20 months, the US energy company OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM has repaid an enormous amount of debt of around USD 13.9 billion! This will reduce the interest burden alone by around USD 740 million. "Big Oil" is earning well despite relatively low oil prices and, according to the IEA (International Energy Agency), demand for oil and gas is set to rise until 2050. The scenario assumes that the share of electric vehicles can reach a cap of around 40% by 2035 and that oil demand will increase from 100 million barrels per day to a good 113 million barrels in 2050 ("crazy figures"). Thanks to cost reductions and higher production, the major oil companies are doing well.

Although OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM was unable to meet analysts' expectations for 4Q25 - what are expectations worth... nothing - the Group's figures were convincing. In addition to the aforementioned debt reduction, sales amounted to USD 5.42 billion and adjusted earnings of USD 0.31 per share. Investors rewarded the strong operating performance and the other facts, such as the announced dividend increase of more than 8%. We are absolutely right with our purchase of USD 40.50 at the end of October 2025! Even with the entry purchase at USD 48.50, we are now at a profit of around +9% (without currency adjustment against CHF). Our price target of USD 59.50 is getting closer! We can well imagine an increase, although we would rather stick to the strategy of realizing profits. Let's see... perhaps an ad hoc announcement will follow. With a production volume of 1.48 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, OXY belongs to the top elite of exploration and production companies. At the end of the year, the Group also reported proven reserves of 4.6 billion barrels. It is difficult to judge what the Iran conflict will trigger!