A long-awaited rally in crude oil prices has helped the Club’s three oil-and-gas companies become some of our top-performing stocks over the past month. And with new signs the commodity could continue to rally this year, we’re sitting tight on our energy holdings. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. oil standard, have both climbed by more than 10% since late June. Brent was up roughly 1% Thursday, at nearly $80 a barrel. WTI was trading up 0.72%, at more than $83 a barrel. Energy stocks linked to crude — including Club names Halliburton (HAL), Coterra Energy (CTRA) and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) — have risen on oil’s fortunes. Shares of Halliburton have climbed roughly 18%, while Coterra and Pioneer have advanced about 12% and 10%, respectively, since crude’s most-recent bottom in late June. Troubled pharmaceutical firm Bausch Health (BHC) has been the top-performing Club stock during that same stretch, advancing nearly 28%. “This was a move that many have expected to occur all year,” TD Cowen energy analyst Jason Gabelman said of crude’s recent rise. “A lot of investors, I think, have been … somewhat disappointed on oil being rangebound for the past few months in the low-to-mid $70s,” Gabelman told CNBC. Among the biggest drivers of the momentum has been signs that previously pledged production cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia are finally taking hold, analysts widely said, helping address concerns investors had about excessive supply in the market. Russian production, in particular, has exceeded expectations throughout the year. But last week, nationwide crude shipments in Russia stood at 2.73 million barrels a day, down 1.48 million barrels per day from their late-April peak, according to data compiled by Bloomberg . Economic data also suggests oil demand is proving more resilient than investors initially expected, said Truist’s Neal Dingmann. “Not to say we’re certainly out of the woods on inflation or a recession,” Dingmann told CNBC, “but the picture is much better for some type of growth, even very minimal.” Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar – who covers Coterra and Pioneer and has a buy rating on both stocks – said he believes the setup for crude prices remains solid throughout the second half of 2023. While the potential for a demand-destroying recession remains a big wildcard, Kumar said there’s a lot to be encouraged by on the supply side. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its oil-producing allies, collectively known as OPEC+, has shown discipline on production and been willing to take action designed to shore up prices , Kumar said, even if the market has, at times, shrugged off such decisions . Saudi Arabia is the de-facto head of the OPEC cartel and Russia is the group’s largest partner producer. Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S. are the world’s three-largest oil producers. U.S. producers also have shown restraint, Kumar told CNBC, with domestic crude production hovering around 12.3 million barrels per day all year . Moreover, a year-over-year drop in U.S. rig counts points to “a bit of a decline in oil production” down the road, Kumar said. As of July 21, the number of active U.S. oil rigs stood at 530, according to Baker Hughes, down 11.5% from the same period in 2022. Taken together, Kumar said, “globally, except for a recession, you should be in an undersupplied scenario for the second half.” Others on Wall Street, including analysts at Goldman Sachs , also expect demand to outpace supply in the third and fourth quarters, supporting higher prices. In theory, when commodity prices are higher, our energy holdings can generate more free cash flow. And that money can be used to pay dividends and repurchase stock, a key reason we’re invested in the sector. That dynamic was on display last week, when Halliburton – our largest oil-and-gas holding, carrying a 2.1% weighting in the portfolio, as of Wednesday – reported better-than-expected free cash flow in the second quarter. While we locked in a small profit on Halliburton in mid-July , the company’s execution in the second quarter certainly pleased us. As an oilfield-services firm, Halliburton is a play on drilling activity. Pioneer and Coterra are set to report their second-quarter results on Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, respectively. On metrics such as revenue, earnings and cash flow, exploration-and-production (E & P) companies face difficult year-over-year comparisons. For most of the second quarter in 2022, crude prices were north of $100 per barrel amid shocks from geopolitical risks like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and subsequent Western sanctions on Russia oil sales — in February of that year. Against this backdrop, energy investors will be closely watching how companies’ well productivity stacks up versus last year, according to Truist’s Dingmann, who maintains hold ratings on Pioneer and Coterra. Management commentary on service-cost inflation is another area of focus, Dingmann said. If those costs continue to moderate, E & P firms should eventually see relief on their capital expenditures, assuming production plans are held constant. The Club’s take Our investment thesis in Pioneer has been rooted in its low production costs and high-quality acreage in the Permian Basin in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. For Coterra, we continue to like its mix of oil-and-natural gas revenues — split roughly 50-50. Coterra’s exposure to natural gas bodes well long term, despite prices being down sharply from their 2022 peaks, because the U.S. is adding export capacity for liquified natural gas. Coterra is well-positioned to benefit as additional LNG facilities come online in 2024 and beyond . The bottom line is the oil rally may just be getting started — and, if that’s the case, our stocks linked to the commodity could see additional gains ahead. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long CTRA, HAL and PXD. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Oil rig and pump of H&P Rig 488 in Stanton, Texas, on June 8, 2023.
Suzanne Cordeiro | AFP | Getty Images
A long-awaited rally in crude oil prices has helped the Club’s three oil-and-gas companies become some of our top-performing stocks over the past month. And with new signs the commodity could continue to rally this year, we’re sitting tight on our energy holdings.
Cadillac wants to live up to its “standard of the world” tag line so bad they can taste is – but adding $60K to the CELESTIQ’s MSRP might not be the flex the marketing team might think. To teach them a lesson, we’re going to ignore the CELESTIQ and list every new EV you can buy for less than that $60K price hike, instead. Enjoy!
If you’re curious about what those vehicles are actually selling for, what rebates and special rates are out there, or even just want to take one for a test drive, click on one of the links and you’ll be directed to a local dealer who can walk you through it all (trusted affiliate link).
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Zhengzhou Nissan has launched a new, plug-in pickup in the Chinese market called the Z9. It’s the same size as the Nissan Frontier Pro, offers over 35 miles of all-electric range, and pricing starts at just $16,600.
UPDATE 04NOV2025: more details and more markets for 2026.
The rebuilding of Nissan started to pick up earlier this year with the launch of the brand’s first plug-in pickup truck in China this past summer. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model offers 410 hp and an 84 mile electric-only range – more than enough for it to meet the everyday needs of most drivers with easy access to liquid fuel when needed.
It seems like a neat truck, but since it was designed and developed specifically for the Chinese market, its great specs and nearly impossible $24,800 starting price (on the entry-level Frontier Pro model) meant it would have limited impact – and limited interest – in other markets.
You can read the original post, first published back in June, below, then let us know what you think of Nissan’s plans to export its plug-in pickup to other markets in the comments.
What’s more, if you feel like spending a bit more, you can get a Zhengzhou Nissan Z9 equipped with a 32.85 kWh battery that’s good for almost 85 miles (135 km) of all-electric range. And even that extended-range model, at ¥168,900 (about $23,400) is still price-competitive with the Jeff Bezos-backed Slate EV.
In short, it’s bound to be a winner.
It’ll sell, but it won’t sell here
US-market Nissan Frontier.
With excitement surrounding the Kia Tasman, Slate, and other, similarly affordable light-duty pickups building on the success of the Ford Maverick hybrid, it should come as no surprise that Nissan has international ambitions for its newest electrified pickup.
“In alignment with our ‘In China, For China, Toward the World’ strategy for electrification and smart transformation, Nissan will fully support ZNA’s ‘off-road strategy,’” explained Stephen Ma, Chairman of Nissan (China) Management Committee and President of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. “We are working to strengthen our research and manufacturing capabilities, further advancing our presence in the core markets of pickups and off-road vehicles, with the ultimate goal of achieving global expansion.”
It’s exciting stuff, but with all the recent troubles it’s been experiencing, it’s doubtful that Nissan will bring either of its new, Chinese-built mid-size pickups to the US (electrified or otherwise).
“The mission of the new generation of Chinese automotive professionals is clear – to ensure that made-in-China cars are driven across the world. ZNA will utilize its dual-brand and dual-channel advantages to expand its global footprint,” Mr. Mao Limin, Executive Vice President of ZNA, at the Z9’s launch. “We aim to be one of the top exporters of pickups within three years and to reach a sales milestone of 100,000 units.”
I’ve already written out my own comeback plans for Nissan, and this new Chinese-market pickup truck doesn’t really fit into them. Like many of you, I’m of the belief that a PHEV isn’t an EV – but I do see their value as “lilypad” cars, and the two Lightning owners I know? Their previous Ford F-150s were hybrids.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Finnish energy giant Wärtsilä has announced the latest addition to its massive network utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Australia: a record-breaking 1.5 GWh deployment that brings the company’s total energy storage capacity in the nation to 5.5 GWh.
The future of large-scale energy projects in Australia is looking increasingly DC-coupled thanks to Wärtsilä, which just announced plans to build the largest BESS of its kind in the National Electricity Market (NEM). The massive hybrid battery project that marks the company’s ninth site down under, and pushes its total capacity to a formidable 5.5 GWh.
The company says its latest, “record-breaking” energy storage plant is a blueprint for how to efficiently combine solar generation and storage to create a more resilient and decarbonized grid.
“This project is significantly larger than our earlier DC-coupled project, underscoring the need for this type of technology in expanding at scale,” said David Hebert, vice president of Global Sales Management at Wärtsilä. Hebert called the DC-coupled technology, “a breakthrough for hybrid renewable plants and a critical step towards establishing a financially viable renewable energy future.”
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Hebert believes projects like this one play a hugely important role in stabilizing Australia’s grid while, at the same time, advancing the country’s ambitious net-zero emissions targets from the energy sector by 2045.
With a 20-year service agreement already in place and the order set to be booked this quarter, this project is a working prototype for the next generation of global renewable assets. As nations worldwide grapple with the challenge of moving beyond fossil fuels, the success of this massive DC-coupled system will provide a real-world model for how to build a grid that is cleaner, smarter, and more resilient than ever before.
Electrek’s Take Explainer
If you’re not familiar with DC-coupling, it’s an efficiency game-changer. Unlike traditional AC-coupled electrical systems that require converting solar-generated direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for use by the grid, and then back to DC to use in a battery, a DC-coupled system connects the solar array and battery directly. This architecture cuts energy losses that occur during conversion, capturing more solar power and significantly improving project economics and overall system efficiency.
In other words: it saves money, and shores up the grid. Wins all ’round!
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