Occidental Petroleum Stock Is Up 45% This Year. Is It Outperforming Other Oil Stocks Like ConocoPhillips and Diamondback Energy?

Occidental Petroleum shares are up 45% year to date, leading large U.S. oil producers, though the gap versus peers is moderate. ConocoPhillips is up 33% and Diamondback Energy is up 37%, with all three benefiting from a sharp rebound in WTI crude from the mid-$50s in early January to about $103. Over longer periods, Diamondback outperforms on one-year and five-year time frames, suggesting the 2026 lead reflects sector rotation rather than a lasting fundamental shift. Occidental’s outperformance is supported by the OxyChem divestiture to Berkshire Hathaway, which funded $5.8 billion in principal debt reduction, lowered total debt to $15 billion, and enabled an 8% dividend increase. Production and earnings also came in strong, with Q4 2025 output above guidance and full-year EPS of $2.21.

"Shares of Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY | OXY Price Prediction) are up 45% year to date (YTD) heading into Tuesday's open, an impressive performer among large U.S. oil producers in 2026. The question is whether OXY stock is genuinely running away from peers, or simply leading a tight pack. For context, ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP) stock is up 33% YTD, while Diamondback Energy ( NASDAQ:FANG) stock has gained 37%. All three have ridden a sharp rebound in WTI crude oil, which climbed from the mid-$50s in early January to $103 recently."

"The short answer to the title's question: yes, OXY stock is the YTD leader, but the spread is moderate. Occidental's edge over its peers is real but modest, and the lead is a recent development rather than a structural shift. OXY Doesn't Win on All Time Frames Stretch the window out and the picture changes. On a one-year basis, FANG stock is up 46%, COP stock is up 35%, and OXY stock is up 39%. Diamondback actually tops the three over twelve months."

"The cleanest catalyst is the OxyChem chemicals divestiture to Berkshire Hathaway ( NYSE:BRK-B), which closed January 2. Proceeds were used to cut principal debt by $5.8 billion, bringing total debt to $15 billion, and Occidental raised its quarterly dividend 8% to $0.26 per share. Production trends helped. Occidental delivered Q4 2025 output of 1,481 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboed), above the high end of guidance, with full-year EPS of $2.21 on revenue of $22.08 billion."

"Occidental Petroleum CEO Vicki Hollub stated the company remains "focused on generating resilient free cash flow" after the OxyChem sale. There's also the Warren Buffett factor. Berkshire Hathaway's standing stake provides a marginal-buyer narrativ"

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