What Happened?
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after a Gulf tanker attack slowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while hurricane-driven production halts shut in Gulf of Mexico output, the Financial Times noted.
The resulting supply squeeze lifted Brent crude above $104 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate to $92, according to CNBC. When global supplies face sudden restrictions, benchmark crude prices tend to spike, boosting revenue expectations and profitability for major oil and gas producers across the energy industry.
The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.
Among others, the following stocks were impacted:
- U.S. Shale E&P company Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE: NOG) jumped 3.5%. Is now the time to buy Northern Oil and Gas? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- U.S. Shale E&P company Matador Resources (NYSE: MTDR) jumped 3.3%. Is now the time to buy Matador Resources? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- Diversified Upstream E&P company Chevron (NYSE: CVX) jumped 3.4%. Is now the time to buy Chevron? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- Diversified Upstream E&P company ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) jumped 3.6%. Is now the time to buy ConocoPhillips? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- Diversified Upstream E&P company Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) jumped 3.4%. Is now the time to buy Occidental Petroleum? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
Zooming In On ConocoPhillips (COP)
ConocoPhillips’s shares are not very volatile and have only had 2 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 3 months ago when the stock gained 4.3% on the news that oil prices surged following attacks on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple tankers were reportedly struck by projectiles in the critical shipping lane, a key passageway for global oil transport.
The incident immediately pushed crude oil prices higher, with the August contract rising to over $72 a barrel. This development adds a layer of uncertainty for investors, as sustained higher oil prices can fuel inflation. Simultaneously, a drone attack on Russia's largest refinery signaled a significant expansion in the Ukraine conflict, further pressuring prices upward. Higher oil prices typically translate to increased revenues and profitability for oil and gas companies, boosting investor sentiment across the sector.
ConocoPhillips is up 37.7% since the beginning of the year, and at $133.19 per share, it is trading close to its 52-week high of $141.22 from September 2026. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of ConocoPhillips’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,778.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE: The Next Palantir? One satellite company captures images of every point on Earth. Every single day. The Pentagon wants it. Hedge funds are using it to beat earnings. You’ve probably never heard of it.
This is what the early days of Palantir looked like before it became a giant. Same playbook. Different technology. If you missed Palantir, you need to see this. Claim The Stock Ticker for Free HERE.
