Occidental Petroleum (OXY) 2014 Review

Occidental Petroleum produces and markets crude oil and natural gas, manufactures industrial chemicals, plastics and fertilizer and transports natural gas through pipelines. The company has grown profits and dividends at a 14-15% over the last ten years. OXY’s return on equity has been in the 11-20% range. The company should continue to grow dividends and earnings as a result of:

(1) rising production from new properties,

(2) divesting non-core assets,

(3) acquisitions,

            (4) stock buyback program.

Negatives:

(1) OXY earnings are very levered to the price of crude oil,

(2) political instability remains a major threat to earnings,

(3) highly competitive industry.

OXY is rated A++ by Value Line, has a 14% debt to equity ratio and its stock yields 3.0%.

  Statistical Summary

                 Stock      Dividend       Payout      # Increases  

                Yield      Growth Rate     Ratio       Since 2004

OXY           3.0%          9%             40%              10

Ind Ave       2.6            9                 28                 NA

                Debt/                        EPS Down       Net        Value Line

                Equity         ROE      Since 2004      Margin       Rating

OXY          14%          13%            3                23%           A++

Ind Ave      21             18              NA               7              NA

     Chart

            Note: OXY stock made initial good progress off its September 2008 low, quickly surpassing the downtrend off its May 2008 high (straight red line) and the November 2008 trading high (green line).  Long term, it is in a trading range (blue lines).  Intermediate term, it is in a trading range (purple line is lower boundary).  The wiggly red line is the 50 day moving average.  The Dividend Growth Portfolio owns a 75% position in OXY.  The upper boundary of its Buy Value Range is $72; the lower boundary of its Sell Half Range is $166.

    

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=OXY

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