What Happened?
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after 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.
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:
- Mixed or Offshore Upstream E&P company Vitesse Energy (NYSE: VTS) jumped 4.9%. Is now the time to buy Vitesse Energy? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- U.S. Shale E&P company Chord Energy (NASDAQ: CHRD) jumped 4.7%. Is now the time to buy Chord Energy? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
Zooming In On Vitesse Energy (VTS)
Vitesse Energy’s shares are not very volatile and have only had 6 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 previous big move we wrote about was 13 days ago when the stock dropped 2.3% on the news that crude oil dropped to its lowest level since the start of the Iran war, as tankers resumed transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. and Iran signaled progress toward ending the conflict.
The S&P 500 energy index fell about 2.45%, the weakest major sector even as the broader market held roughly flat. Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) each fell in the ~2–2.5% range (exact figures vary by source). The more oil-price-sensitive explorers and producers were hit harder as Occidental (OXY), ConocoPhillips (COP), Devon (DVN) and APA Corp all fell roughly 2.5–3.5%.
Oilfield-services names (Halliburton, SLB) and refiners (Valero, Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum) slipped about 1.5–2.5%. WTI fell about 4% to near $70 and Brent about 4% to near $74,the lowest since February 27, the day before U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, leaving crude down roughly 40% from its wartime peak.
The driver was physical and visible: tankers openly crossing Hormuz with transponders on, the IMO citing safety guarantees, and the IEA estimating the UAE exporting near 85% of pre-war levels. Separately, Trump ordered a DOJ probe into why pump prices "haven't fallen faster," accusing oil companies of gouging.
Vitesse Energy is down 19.2% since the beginning of the year, and at $16.09 per share, it is trading 40% below its 52-week high of $26.82 from August 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Vitesse Energy’s shares at the IPO in January 2023 would now be looking at an investment worth $919.43.
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