Investors like the high dividends and buybacks energy companies offer, but debt is starting to rise again

  • 📰 CNBC
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 25 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 13%
  • Publisher: 72%

United States News News

United States United States Latest News,United States United States Headlines

Oil companies are increasing the debt at a time when shareholders expect rich dividends and robust stock buyback programs.

A mix of high oil prices and capital discipline has led to strong balance sheets across the energy sector, but the trend of falling debt has started to reverse itself. If oil prices stay high — and especially, if they breach $100 a barrel — the companies are well positioned. However, should oil prices fall and debt levels continue to rise, some companies have boxed themselves into a corner with very generous dividends and share repurchase programs.

"Since April of 2019, the energy market became the highest yielding sector in the market, and in my view, that was a signal from shareholders telling the entire space this is a short duration asset now, we want a return of our capital as soon as possible," Pies said. Investors have a range of options to choose from when chasing a dividend yield among energy stocks. If a trader wants to stick with blue chips, Chevron offers a 6% yield, while Conocophillips ' yield is 4.6%.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 12. in US

United States United States Latest News, United States United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Bonds, oil and the dollar: What investors need to know about these 3 headwinds for stocksThree material hurdles are standing in the way of stocks returning to their winning ways: a rise in bond yields, oil prices and the dollar.
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »