Occidental Petroleum
OXY on NYSE. Crude petroleum & natural gas. Market value $58.3bn.
Price checks use the past 12 months to June 2026. Quality checks use five annual reports, the latest for the year to December 2025.
The company doesn't report operating profit, so we work it out from pre-tax profit and interest.
Should I look at this?
Worth a closer look
Why it could be worth it
What to watch out for
Nothing stood out in the numbers we check.
This is not advice. Check the numbers below.
For every $100 of what the whole company costs, it produced $8.22 of spare cash in the past 12 months. A savings account pays about $4.
You pay 10.2 years of operating profit for the business. The average large US company costs around 18.
The filings do not give us enough to work this out.
Quality score: 75 of 100. Price score: 100 of 100. Our list needs 70 on quality and 60 on price.
$58.33 a share, 50% above its 1-year low
Over the past year the price has ranged from $38.80 to $67.45.
Dividend: 2.7% a year
Paid every year for at least 5 years
Prices from Tuesday’s close (6 October).
Five years of cash, in billions
| Revenue | |||||
| Revenue | $26.0bn | $36.6bn | $23.2bn | $22.0bn | $21.6bn |
| Operating margin | |||||
| Operating margin | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Debt to equity | |||||
| Debt to equity | 1.46 | 0.66 | 0.65 | 0.76 | 0.62 |
| Shares outstanding | |||||
| Shares outstanding | 0.91bn | 0.88bn | 0.94bn | 0.99bn | 1.00bn |
Health checks
- Free cash flow positive5 of 5 years
- Accounting looks honest (Beneish)Not enough data
- Financial strength (Piotroski)5 of 8 checks we could run
- Profit backed by cash (accruals)No
- Debt0.62× equity
- Revenue growth, five yearsSlow, 3.9% a year
- Buying back its own sharesNo, 10% more shares since 2021
The quarter to June 2026
How the business did, compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Sales: $8.1 billion last quarter, up 53% on a year ago.
- Profit: $2.8 billion, up 968% on a year ago.
- Spare cash over the past 12 months: $4.8 billion, down from $6 billion.
- About the same number of shares as a year ago.
- Debt is $10.3 billion more than cash, down from $21.8 billion a year ago.
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $7.2bn |
| December 2024 | Not reported |
| March 2025 | $5.7bn |
| June 2025 | $5.3bn |
| September 2025 | $6.6bn |
| December 2025 | Not reported |
| March 2026 | $5.2bn |
| June 2026 | $8.1bn |
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | $959m |
| December 2024 | -$295m |
| March 2025 | $761m |
| June 2025 | $261m |
| September 2025 | $657m |
| December 2025 | -$67m |
| March 2026 | $3.2bn |
| June 2026 | $2.8bn |
From the company's quarterly reports to the SEC.
Dates
- Next results (estimated)
- 9 November 2026
- Last annual report (10-K)
- 18 February 2026
- Next quarterly (estimated, 10-Q)
- 4 November 2026
Who owns it
13 long-term investors we follow own it, down from 14 last quarter. 1,234 funds in all.
- Berkshire HathawayWarren Buffett
- Value
- $12.9bn
- Share of fund
- 4.3%
- Dodge & CoxDodge & Cox investment committee
- Value
- $3.5bn
- Share of fund
- 1.9%
- H&H International InvestmentDuan Yongping
- Value
- $498m
- Share of fund
- 2.6%
- Cooke & BielerCooke & Bieler partners
- Value
- $108m
- Share of fund
- 1.2%
- Chou AssociatesFrancis Chou
- Value
- $15m
- Share of fund
- 7.0%
- First Manhattan Co.First Manhattan partners
- Value
- $709,549
- Share of fund
- <0.1%
- Auxier Asset ManagementJeff Auxier
- Value
- $285,543
- Share of fund
- <0.1%
| Fund | Value | Share of that fund | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire HathawayWarren Buffett | $12.9bn | 4.3% | |
| Dodge & CoxDodge & Cox investment committee | $3.5bn | 1.9% | |
| H&H International InvestmentDuan Yongping | $498m | 2.6% | |
| Scharf InvestmentsBrian Krawez | $155m | 5.1% | Cut |
| Smead Capital ManagementBill Smead | $140m | 3.0% | Cut |
| Cooke & BielerCooke & Bieler partners | $108m | 1.2% | |
| Gotham Asset ManagementJoel Greenblatt | $49m | 0.1% | Added |
| Hosking PartnersJeremy Hosking | $17m | 0.6% | Cut |
| Chou AssociatesFrancis Chou | $15m | 7.0% | |
| First Manhattan Co.First Manhattan partners | $709,549 | <0.1% | |
| GAMCO InvestorsMario Gabelli | $433,390 | <0.1% | Cut |
| Horizon KineticsMurray Stahl | $404,637 | <0.1% | Cut |
| Auxier Asset ManagementJeff Auxier | $285,543 | <0.1% |
Sold out this quarter
- Himalaya CapitalLi LuSold out
Largest holders overall
- Berkshire Hathaway$12.9bn
- Dodge & Cox$3.5bn
- BlackRock$2.7bnAdded
- Vanguard Capital Management$2.3bn
- State Street$2.3bnAdded
- Vanguard Portfolio Management$1.9bnAdded
- Geode Capital Management$963mAdded
- Invesco$619mAdded
- Morgan Stanley$594mAdded
- AQR Capital Management$557mAdded
From 13F filings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026.
Big holders and activists
4 investors own more than 5%.
- Berkshire HathawayPassive investorat least 32.7%(filed with 2 related holders)Since 30 June 2025
- Dodge & CoxPassive investor7.5%−1.3 ptsSince 31 March 2026
- Vanguard Capital ManagementPassive investor5.5%Since 31 March 2026
- BlackRock, Inc.Passive investor5.2%Since 30 June 2026
- The Vanguard GroupPassive investorSold down below 5%Since 13 March 2026
| Holder | Stake | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
Berkshire Hathaway Passive investor | at least 32.7% (filed with 2 related holders) | 30 June 2025 | |
Dodge & Cox Passive investor | 7.5%−1.3 pts | 31 March 2026 | |
Vanguard Capital Management Passive investor | 5.5% | 31 March 2026 | |
BlackRock, Inc. Passive investor | 5.2% | 30 June 2026 | |
The Vanguard Group Passive investor | Sold down below 5% | 13 March 2026 |
From Schedule 13D and 13G filings: anyone owning more than 5% must file one.
What insiders did
In the last 12 months, 2 insiders bought $444,753 of shares on the open market.
- Jackson Richard A.President and CEO, DirectorBought
- Date
- 23 June 2026
- Shares
- 4,770
- Price
- $52.38
- Value
- $249,853
- KLESSE WILLIAM RDirectorBought
- Date
- 16 December 2025
- Shares
- 5,000
- Price
- $38.98
- Value
- $194,900
| Date | Who | Did | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 June 2026 | Jackson Richard A. President and CEO, Director | Bought | 4,770 | $52.38 | $249,853 |
| 16 December 2025 | KLESSE WILLIAM R Director | Bought | 5,000 | $38.98 | $194,900 |
From Form 4 filings: insiders must report trades in their own company's shares within two days.
Warning signs in its filings
Problems the company itself reported to the SEC, in its own words.
None of the warning signs we check for were found.
We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.
We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 18 Feb 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 5 Aug 2026 and 7 later 8-Ks.
A 10-K is the yearly report every US company files with the SEC. An 8-K is a short notice of a big event.
What could go wrong
Cheap for a reason is the question the numbers cannot answer.
Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.
What changed in the risks this year
Companies must list what could hurt them each year. These are the parts that changed since last year’s report.
Volatile global and local commodity pricing strongly affects the Company’s results of operations.
Could happen• The impact and uncertainty of significant health events, including pandemics and epidemics; and • The effect of releases from or replenishment of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Government actions, regulatory changes and political, economic and social instability may adversely affect the Company’s operations and results of operations.
Could happenChanges in U.S. and international tax laws, regulations and interpretations, as well as examinations by taxing authorities, could adversely affect the Company’s effective tax rate, financial condition and results of operations. Tax laws and their interpretation may change, including through repeal or modification of existing provisions, creating uncertainty regarding their impact on the Company’s tax obligations and cash flows. Additionally, the Company’s tax positions are subject to examination by tax authorities, and the resolution of such matters may differ from amounts recorded in the financial statements. Governments may increase existing taxes, eliminate tax incentives or enact new taxes, such as windfall profit taxes or taxes targeting the oil and gas industry. For example, the IRA enacted a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) and a 1% excise tax on net share repurchases. Furthermore, the recently enacted OBBBA made permanent the 21% corporate tax rate, reinstated 100% bonus depreciation on assets placed in service after January 19, 2025, reinstated the deduction for certain research and development expenses, adjusted deduction limits, imposed new environmental levies and imposed limitations on certain clean energy credits, which may change the Company’s tax liability and compliance costs. While the IRA and OBBBA expanded policy support for certain low-carbon projects and enhanced certain tax credits, these benefits remain subject to administrative action, regulatory interpretation and potential legislative repeal. For instance, recent executive orders and proposals to rescind or reduce funding for these programs create uncertainty regarding the long-term realization of such credits. Unfavorable changes, interpretations or audit outcomes or sunsetting of certain provisions could result in increased tax liabilities, interest and penalties. For additional discussion of some of these matters, see Note 9 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Read moreThe Company is exposed to cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and data security risks.
Could happenTechnology failures, network disruptions and breaches of data security could disrupt the Company’s operations in numerous ways, including by causing accidents, delays or losses and impacts to the Company’s workforce, customers and local communities, impeding processing of transactions and reporting financial results, and leading to the unintentional disclosure of Company, partner, customer or employee information. In addition, the Company faces risks related to the unauthorized access, theft or misuse of proprietary information, including intellectual property, trade secrets and sensitive business data. These risks may arise not only from external actors but also from current or former insiders, including former employees, contractors or other parties with prior access to the Company’s systems. Loss or compromise of proprietary information could adversely impact the Company’s competitive position, strategic initiatives or business relationships. The Company also has exposure to cybersecurity risks where its systems, data and proprietary information are accessed, collected, hosted and/or processed by third-party cloud and other service providers. The Company also faces increased risk with the growing sophistication of artificial intelligence capabilities, which may improve or expand the existing capabilities of OXY 2025 FORM 10-K cyber threat actors. While the Company uses advanced technologies, including AI-based tools, to strengthen its defenses and support business operations, such measures may not be successful in preventing or mitigating cyber threats.
Read moreThe Company is subject to operational hazards and catastrophic events.
Could happenThe Company conducts offshore operations in the Gulf of America and international locations through certain subsidiaries. Offshore operations are vulnerable to unique risks in addition to those listed above, including deep-water technical complexity, logistical and security challenges, a limited number of partners available to participate in projects and more stringent permitting and regulatory requirements. The Company may also face longer recovery times and higher remediation costs for offshore incidents compared to onshore operations. Deep-water projects (greater than 1,000 feet) are especially challenging and costly due to limited infrastructure and support services, often requiring more time between discovery and ability to market production, thereby increasing commercial and operational risk. These factors can increase the potential for and impact of catastrophic events, which could result in significant operational disruption, increased costs or loss of production and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and reserves.
Read moreVolatile global and local commodity pricing strongly affects the Company’s results of operations.
Could happenThe Company’s financial results correlate closely to the prices it obtains for its products, particularly oil and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas. With the completion of the OxyChem Transaction, the Company’s business is more exposed to fluctuations in the markets for oil, NGL and natural gas. Historically, the markets for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Prices for oil, NGL and natural gas fluctuate widely. Prices are determined by global and local market forces which are not in the Company’s control. These factors include, among others:
Read more
The deep dive
Everything above is arithmetic on public filings. The deep dive reads the last ten years of annual reports, the proxy statements, and the earnings calls, then argues the case the way Buffett, Klarman, and Hohn would, and checks every claim against the source.
- What the business is worth, as a range, and the margin of safety at today’s price
- Prices to start buying, buy, and buy hard
- The three things that would make this a mistake
- Every number footnoted to the filing it came from
Your first deep dive is free.
Not advice. Numbers on this page come from SEC filings and are updated each night; prices are updated again after the US market closes. The five-year figures are rounded.