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Gold hike 17% year-to-date, should you all-in Gold?

<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPEpisode20deTray_7b4bff861767637457214.jpeg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPEpisode20deTray_7b4bff861767637457214.jpeg&quot;}"></video>The December <a href="https://go.weareism.org/ism-manufacturing-pmi" target='__blank'>ISM Manufacturing report</a> delivered a sobering start to 2026, underscoring that the factory sector remains firmly stuck in contraction even as broader financial markets continue to look ahead to a potential policy pivot later in the year. The <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/2026010562/us-manufacturing-slump-shows-little-sign-of-ending-ism-shows" target='__blank'>headline PMI</a> fell to 47.9, below expectations for modest stabilization and the weakest reading of 2025. It marked the 10th consecutive month of contraction and reinforced a familiar theme: U.S. manufacturing is struggling to generate sustained momentum amid soft demand, tariff-related uncertainty, and persistent cost pressures.From a growth perspective, the report paints a picture of an industry that is losing traction rather than finding a floor. New orders remained in contraction at 47.7, marking a fourth straight month below 50. While the index improved marginally from November, the level itself signals ongoing demand weakness. Backlogs of orders also stayed in contraction, though the pace eased slightly. Importantly, ISM noted that customers’ inventories remain “too low,” a condition that is typically supportive of future production. However, history suggests that one or two months of improvement is not enough—manufacturing needs a sustained run of new order growth to exit a downturn, and that has yet to materialize.Production remains one of the few relative bright spots, holding in expansion territory at 51.0, though that too slipped from November. This dynamic—production expanding while new orders contract—often reflects manufacturers working through existing commitments rather than responding to fresh demand. It is not a particularly comforting signal for forward-looking growth. ISM’s own breakdown showed that 85% of manufacturing GDP was in contraction in December, a sharp deterioration from November, highlighting how broad-based the weakness has become.Employment trends add to the cautionary tone. The employment index rose to 44.9, but that still represents contraction for an 11th consecutive month. ISM noted that nearly two-thirds of respondents are managing headcounts rather than hiring, with layoffs and hiring freezes still prevalent. Commentary from survey respondents was blunt: multiple industries cited falling orders, underutilized capacity, and workforce reductions across both U.S. and European operations. This is particularly relevant with the December jobs report looming later this week, as the ISM data suggest manufacturing employment will continue to act as a drag on overall payroll growth.Trade flows remain another source of weakness. Both exports and imports stayed firmly in contraction, with the imports index plunging sharply to 44.6. Export orders remain constrained by sluggish global demand and lingering geopolitical uncertainty, while imports are being suppressed by weak domestic activity and tariff-related distortions. Several respondents explicitly pointed to tariffs as a factor freezing procurement decisions and complicating pricing strategies. While tariff headlines have been quieter recently, the report makes clear that their economic impact is still being felt on factory floors.Prices paid remain the most uncomfortable element of the report for policymakers. The prices index held steady at a hot 58.5, indicating that input costs are still rising at a meaningful pace despite weak demand. Respondents cited higher costs for metals such as steel and aluminum, as well as broader component inflation linked to tariffs and supply constraints. Critically, many manufacturers noted that full cost pass-through is no longer possible, resulting in margin compression rather than relief for consumers. This combination—soft growth with sticky prices—is precisely the scenario that keeps the Federal Reserve cautious.Supplier deliveries moved back into “slower” territory, a subtle but notable shift. Slower deliveries can reflect improving demand, but in this context they appear more related to logistical sensitivity, geopolitical disruptions, and resource competition from large-scale data center and AI infrastructure projects. Inventories continued to contract sharply, while customer inventories became even more depleted, reinforcing the idea that supply chains are lean but not yet translating into a demand rebound.Tariffs loom large throughout the report’s qualitative responses. Executives across chemicals, machinery, and miscellaneous manufacturing pointed to tariffs as a direct drag on revenue, investment, and hiring. One respondent noted that 2025 revenue fell 17% due to tariffs, limiting bonuses and new hiring. Others described tariffs as raising costs without delivering the intended boost to domestic production, calling into question their effectiveness as an industrial policy tool.For markets, the December ISM provides an important early signal for how 2026 may unfold. On one hand, the data strengthen the case that manufacturing is weak enough to keep pressure off inflation-driven growth and support eventual Fed easing. On the other hand, persistently high prices paid complicate that narrative and help explain why policymakers are unlikely to rush into cuts. With investors largely focused on the timing of the first rate reduction—currently expected around late April—the ISM reinforces a “wait and see” posture.In short, the first economic release of 2026 did little to inspire confidence in a near-term manufacturing rebound. Demand remains soft, employment is contracting, trade flows are weak, and tariffs continue to distort decision-making. While low customer inventories and modest improvements in select subindexes hint at potential stabilization later in the year, the message for now is clear: manufacturing is still searching for its footing, and the Fed will be watching closely to see whether weakness spreads—or finally gives way to recovery.

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Factory Floor Trouble Starts 2026: ISM Misses, Orders Sink, and the Fed’s Next Move Comes Into Focus

<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPEpisode20deTray_b8be6a591767633193345.jpeg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/CandPEpisode20deTray_b8be6a591767633193345.jpeg&quot;}"></video>Venezuela is suddenly back on the market’s front page, and not because anyone found a new shale basin. The <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/03/trump-venezuela-oil-us-companies-return-00709782" target='__blank'>U.S. operation</a> that captured Nicolás <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/" target='__blank'>Maduro</a> has created a classic “reconstruction trade” setup: investors are trying to price who wins if a U.S.-aligned transition unlocks capital, technology, and exports—and who gets stuck holding the bag if this turns into a governance and security quagmire. The headline impulse is to treat this as an energy supply story (more barrels, lower prices, disinflation tailwind), but the more realistic investment lens is a multi-year infrastructure and services cycle with meaningful political, legal, and operational risk attached. Even the most optimistic industry voices are emphasizing there are no quick wins in restarting Venezuela’s oil machine. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/no-quick-wins-tapping-venezuelas-oil-reserves-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a>Start with what “winning” would look like. Venezuela has enormous resources—about 303 billion barrels of proven reserves, roughly 17% of the global total by some estimates—yet output has been a fraction of potential due to decades of mismanagement, sanctions, and underinvestment.<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelan-oil-industry-worlds-largest-reserves-decaying-infrastructure-2026-01-03/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> Production peaked at multiple millions of barrels per day historically, but in recent years it’s been closer to roughly ~1.1 million bpd on average, about 1% of global output.<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/no-quick-wins-tapping-venezuelas-oil-reserves-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> This gap between resources and production is why markets can simultaneously buy the “long-term supply upside” narrative and still acknowledge that any real ramp will be slow, expensive, and politically complicated.If you’re looking for the most direct equity beneficiary, it’s Chevron (CVX). Chevron is effectively the “last U.S. major still standing” with a footprint that can be expanded faster than competitors who would be starting from scratch. The company has also been explicit that it is operating under the legal frameworks that exist, which matters because the first rule of doing business in Venezuela is that yesterday’s rules may not survive today’s press conference.<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-pushes-oil-majors-invest-big-venezuela-if-they-want-recover-debts-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> In a scenario where the U.S. wants early “proof of progress,” Chevron is the easiest lever to pull because it has institutional knowledge, relationships, and operating continuity.The second bucket is oilfield services—the picks-and-shovels trade. If Venezuela’s goal is to restore production meaningfully, it will require rebuilding wells, pipelines, processing facilities, power supply, and field services capacity. That plays into Schlumberger (SLB), Halliburton (HAL), and potentially Baker Hughes (BKR). These names tend to benefit less from the commodity price itself and more from capex and activity levels. In theory, a “spend billions to fix it” agenda is exactly the kind of multi-year backlog story that supports utilization and pricing power for services. In practice, the gating item is whether projects can be contracted safely, paid reliably, and protected legally—issues that tend to matter more than how bullish the TV hits are on “energy dominance.”Then there’s the downstream/refining angle, which is where investors often get cute—and sometimes get paid. Venezuela’s crude is typically heavy and sour, and U.S. Gulf Coast refiners have historically been configured to process heavier slates. If Venezuelan flows normalize over time, refiners like Valero (VLO), Marathon Petroleum (MPC), and Phillips 66 (PSX) could benefit from improved feedstock optionality and potentially better margins, depending on global crude differentials and product demand. This is not an immediate payoff; it’s contingent on logistics, stable export rules, and the restoration of Venezuela’s production and blending capacity.An ETF framing also makes sense for people who don’t want to play geopolitical roulette with single names. XLE becomes a “broad reconstruction exposure” vehicle because it holds the integrated majors and large U.S. energy franchises likely to be involved if U.S. policy is steering the process. The tradeoff is you dilute the Venezuela-specific upside, but you also reduce the risk of being wrong about which companies get invited to the first round of contracts.Now for the part investors always underprice in week one: why this could take years to show up in the fundamentals.First, governance and legal risk are not theoretical. Oil majors have long memories of expropriations and shifting contract terms, and the administration’s reported message to executives is essentially “invest heavily if you want to recover old claims”—a framework that may be politically compelling, but it’s not the same thing as a bankable investment regime.<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-pushes-oil-majors-invest-big-venezuela-if-they-want-recover-debts-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> Even with a friendlier government, boards will demand hard protections: contract enforceability, repatriation mechanics, security guarantees for staff and assets, and clarity on the future structure of PdVSA. Reuters reporting suggests these issues are front and center and that the industry remains wary. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-pushes-oil-majors-invest-big-venezuela-if-they-want-recover-debts-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a>Second, the infrastructure is genuinely degraded. This is not a “turn the valves back on” situation. Venezuela’s production has been constrained by decaying facilities, lack of spare parts, power and water issues, and an erosion of technical capacity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has documented Venezuela’s steep decline over the past two decades and the limited, stop-start nature of output recovery. <a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60762&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a>That aligns with the basic reality: even if politics turn favorable, engineers still have to rebuild a system that’s been failing for years.Third, economics may not cooperate. Oil is not trading at $100, and a multi-year rebuild requires a view on long-run price realizations, differentials for heavy crude, and who finances the upfront spending. Reuters notes that the U.S. is pushing oil companies to fund investment to revive the sector, but security, legal, political, and price risks remain major hurdles.<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-pushes-oil-majors-invest-big-venezuela-if-they-want-recover-debts-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> If prices stay lower, the hurdle rates go up, and the “we’ll invest billions” rhetoric starts to sound like an election-year slogan instead of a capital budget.Fourth, any supply impact is likely to be gradual. Reuters’ “no quick wins” framing is important: Venezuela’s production fell below 2 million bpd during the 2010s and averaged around ~1.1 million bpd last year, and rebuilding to prior peaks would take large investment and time. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/no-quick-wins-tapping-venezuelas-oil-reserves-2026-01-04/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target='__blank'></a> Investors can dream about a supply wave, but the path from “regime change” to “sustained export growth” runs through contracts, security, skilled labor, infrastructure, and OPEC dynamics.So what’s the investable conclusion? Think in phases.Phase 1 is the sentiment and positioning phase—energy equities and services names move on headlines, optionality, and perceived “U.S. preference” for domestic champions. Phase 2 is the contracting phase—announcements, memoranda, licensing frameworks, and early service mobilization (this is where SLB/HAL-type narratives can gain traction). Phase 3 is the production phase—measured in quarters and years, not days—where upstream and refining benefits become tangible in cash flows.If you’re hunting for near-term beneficiaries, focus on names that can win even if Venezuela takes longer than expected: diversified majors with strong balance sheets (CVX, XOM), global services leaders that can redeploy equipment across basins (SLB, HAL, BKR), and refiners with flexible crude slates (VLO, MPC, PSX). If you’re underwriting a fast Venezuela turnaround, you’re not investing—you’re auditioning for a job in political forecasting.

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Maduro’s Gone, Billions Are Coming: The U.S. Energy Names Poised to Cash In on Venezuela’s “Rebuild Trade”

The Walt Disney Company's recent financial performance and strategic priorities suggest a compelling narrative for its 2026 stock outlook, anchored in a dual focus on content-driven recovery and disciplined capital allocation. While the company's Q4 FY2025 earnings revealed mixed results, its long-term trajectory appears increasingly defined by reinvestment in high-quality content, streaming innovation, and shareholder returns. <h3>Financial Foundations and Strategic Reinvestment</h3>Disney's FY2025 results underscored both resilience and challenges. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">Adjusted earnings per share grew by 19% year-over-year</a>, with a three-year compound annual growth rate of 19%. For FY2026, the company <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">projects double-digit EPS growth</a>, alongside $7 billion in share repurchases and a 50% dividend increase. These figures reflect a strategic pivot toward balancing reinvestment and returns, a critical dynamic for investors assessing Disney's long-term value. The streaming segment, once a drag on profitability, has emerged as a key growth engine. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">Operating income for Disney+ and Hulu reached $1.3 billion</a> in FY2025, a dramatic turnaround from a $4 billion operating loss three years earlier. This transformation highlights the success of cost discipline and content optimization, including <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">the integration of a unified app experience</a> to streamline user engagement. <img src="https://cdn.ainvest.com/aigc/hxcmp/images/compress-qwen_generated_1767630326101.jpg.png" style="max-width:100%;"/> <h3>Content as the Core Catalyst</h3>Disney's content slate remains central to its recovery. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">Upcoming releases such as Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Toy Story 5</a> are positioned to drive box office and streaming revenue, leveraging the company's deep intellectual property portfolio. These projects align with a broader strategy to prioritize "event" content that justifies premium pricing and subscriber retention. <visualization data='{"components":[{"show_type":"jgyNewLowcode","config":{"type":"iwcapp/stockBackTestTool","version":"0.0.3","url":"//cdn.ainvest.com/frontResources/s/foiegras/stockBackTestTool/0.0.3/stockBackTestTool@0.0.3index.js"},"data":{"columns":[{"index_name":"strategy_basic_info","key":"strategy_basic_info","type":"Object"},{"index_name":"backtest_condition","key":"backtest_condition","type":"Object"},{"index_name":"backtest_result","key":"backtest_result","type":"STR"}],"datas":[{"strategy_basic_info":{"name":"Earnings Beat Drift Long-Only Strategy","description":"Long DIS when earnings-day open gaps up &gt;3% and closes above 20-day SMA. Exit on close below SMA, after 15 days, or TP/SL. Backtest covers 2023-2026."},"backtest_condition":{"object":{"display_name":"Object","type":"ticker","ticker":["DIS"]},"open_signal":{"display_name":"Open Signal","type":"criteria","criteria":"On earnings date, open &gt; previous close by 3% and close &gt; 20-day SMA"},"sell_signal":{"display_name":"Close Signal","type":"criteria","criteria":"Close &lt; 20-day SMA, or after 15 days, or TP +10%, or SL -5%"},"risk_control":{"display_name":"Risk Control","parameters":{"take_profit":{"display_name":"Take-Profit","value":10,"unit":"%"},"stop_loss":{"display_name":"Stop-Loss","value":5,"unit":"%"},"max_holding_days":{"display_name":"Hold Days","value":15}}}},"backtest_result":"https://cdn.ainvest.com/backtest/agent/session/784562/1800109709/826c7807-aae1-4ec9-ba25-3a0c07cfaa12/DIS_EarningsBeatDrift_backtest_result_2023_2026.json"}]},"uuid":"1767630411549"}],"page":{"layout":{"layout_mode":"grid","layout_data":"[{\"uuid\": \"1767630411549\", \"show_type\": \"jgyNewLowcode\"}]"}}}'></visualization> However, the Entertainment segment faced headwinds in Q4, <a href="https://www.metatradingclub.com/walt-disney-q4-2025-earnings/">with operating income declining 5% to $3.5 billion</a> compared to the prior year, largely due to weaker theatrical comparisons. This underscores the cyclical nature of film releases and the importance of maintaining a robust pipeline. Analysts will closely watch how Disney balances big-budget tentpoles with mid-tier releases to sustain momentum. <h3>Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns</h3>Disney's capital allocation strategy for 2026 emphasizes a blend of reinvestment and shareholder returns. While specific budget allocations for content production or technological upgrades in 2026 remain undisclosed, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DIS/earnings/DIS-Q4-2025-earnings_call-360365.html/">the company has reiterated its commitment</a> to "high-quality content" and operational efficiency. The $7 billion in projected share repurchases and dividend hikes further signal confidence in free cash flow generation, a critical factor for investor sentiment. The challenge lies in sustaining this balance. Past overinvestment in streaming content strained Disney's finances, but the FY2025 results suggest a more measured approach. By focusing on IP-driven projects with cross-platform potential, Disney aims to maximize returns without repeating past missteps. <visualization dataurl="https://cdn.ainvest.com/news/visual/visual_components/viz_ev0wjbh6.json"></visualization> <h3>Risks and Opportunities</h3>Despite these positives, risks persist. The Entertainment segment's performance remains vulnerable to box office volatility and shifting consumer preferences. Additionally, while the streaming turnaround is notable, subscriber growth has plateaued in key markets, requiring innovative strategies to reinvigorate expansion. Conversely, Disney's unified app initiative and focus on premium content position it to capitalize on the evolving streaming landscape. The company's ability to leverage its global brand and IP library could differentiate it from competitors, particularly as it targets families and multigenerational audiences. <h3>Conclusion</h3>Disney's 2026 stock outlook hinges on its execution of a content-driven recovery and disciplined reinvestment strategy. With a robust slate of films, a revitalized streaming segment, and a clear focus on shareholder returns, the company appears well-positioned to deliver value. However, investors must remain vigilant about macroeconomic pressures and the inherent risks of content-dependent growth. For now, Disney's strategic clarity and financial flexibility offer a cautiously optimistic outlook.

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Disney's 2026 Stock Outlook: Strategic Reinvestment and Content-Driven Recovery Take Center Stage

Why Most Investors Sell at the Worst Possible Time 👇<video src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w" poster="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/Episode 20_aaec9d4d1767623910846.jpg" data="{&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgOe3KVfC3w&quot;,&quot;coverUrl&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/Episode 20_aaec9d4d1767623910846.jpg&quot;}"></video>U.S. stocks advanced early Monday, extending recent gains as investors returned from the holiday break focused on technology optimism ahead of the CES conference in Las Vegas, even as volatility ticked higher and commodities rallied.Shortly after the opening bell in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 405.51 points, or 0.84%, to 48,787.9. The S&amp;P 500 added 36.59 points, or 0.53%, to 6,895.06, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 118.45 points, or 0.51%, to 23,354.1.The early strength reflected renewed enthusiasm around large technology companies and artificial-intelligence investment themes that have dominated markets entering 2026. Analysts at Wedbush Securities said CES this week is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the technology sector, with global IT decision makers gathering to map out long-term AI strategies. Wedbush said it expects $3 trillion to $4 trillion of AI-related capital expenditures to hit the market over the next three years, calling the shift a “once in a 40-year” transformation for the industry AI Revolution Front and Center ….According to Wedbush, Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote address Monday afternoon that will be closely watched by markets. The firm said it expects Huang to focus on Nvidia’s strategic direction in data centers, physical AI, robotics, and autonomous technology, as enterprises expand the number of AI use cases across industries. Wedbush added that AMD Chief Executive Lisa Su is also set to speak at CES, with significant updates to the company’s Ryzen products anticipated New Article Build - Google Docs.Outside equities, commodities posted broad gains. U.S. crude oil futures for February delivery rose 1.12% to $57.96 a barrel, while gold surged 2.39% to $4,432.90 an ounce, reflecting continued demand for hard assets at the start of the year. Bitcoin traded above $92,500, up 1.53%, as cryptocurrency prices tracked the broader risk-on tone in markets.At the same time, measures of investor anxiety edged higher. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX—often referred to as Wall Street’s “fear gauge”—rose 3.38% to 15.00. The VIX reflects expectations for near-term swings in the S&amp;P 500 based on options prices and remains well below its long-term average, suggesting investors are still largely comfortable with risk despite the uptick.Some economists continue to point to structural factors supporting consumer balance sheets. Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, said 40% of U.S. homes are now mortgage-free, up from 33% in 2010, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bloomberg. The trend has helped insulate many households from higher interest rates, even as borrowing costs remain elevated. <img data-json="{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/010426_Chart_fbd5f4921767624083675.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;children&quot;:[{&quot;text&quot;:&quot;&quot;}]}" src="https://cdn.ainvest.com/articles/focusnews/coverimage/content/pictures/010426_Chart_fbd5f4921767624083675.jpg" contentEditable="false" style="display: block; margin: 0 auto; maxWidth: 100%" />With trading still in its early stages, investors are expected to focus throughout the day on developments from CES, energy prices, and any signals about risk appetite as the first full trading week of the year gets underway.

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U.S. Stocks Rise After Opening Bell as Tech Optimism Lifts Markets

Chevron shares surged nearly 8% in premarket trading, lifting other major U.S. oil companies, with Exxon Mobil jumping 4%, after President Donald Trump said U.S. energy firms would play a central role in taking over and rebuilding Venezuela&#39;s oil sector following the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.<visualization data='{&quot;components&quot;:[{&quot;show_type&quot;:&quot;jgyTimeChart1&quot;,&quot;config&quot;:{&quot;render&quot;:{&quot;t&quot;:&quot;t&quot;,&quot;x&quot;:&quot;x&quot;,&quot;y&quot;:&quot;y&quot;}},&quot;name&quot;:&quot;dynamicLine&quot;,&quot;title_config&quot;:{&quot;config&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:true},&quot;data&quot;:{&quot;h1&quot;:&quot;Chevron (CVX) Stock Price – Last 1 Year&quot;}},&quot;data&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;remote-url&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://cdn.ainvest.com/backtest/agent/session/quant/1800004214/39766dceaeb63b566a5dfa55d9bec97b/chevron_stock_20260105050100_925c5df8.json&quot;}],&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;7e34ecdb2718bb71&quot;}],&quot;page&quot;:{&quot;layout&quot;:{&quot;layout_data&quot;:&quot;[{\&quot;showType\&quot;:\&quot;jgyTimeChart1\&quot;,\&quot;uuid\&quot;:\&quot;7e34ecdb2718bb71\&quot;}]&quot;},&quot;render_for&quot;:&quot;aigc&quot;,&quot;tracking_info&quot;:{}}}' dataurl='undefined'></visualization>Speaking Saturday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said U.S. investment in Venezuela&#39;s vast oil resources is a key objective of the new U.S.-led transition. He emphasized that America&#39;s largest oil companies would move in, deploy billions of dollars, and repair the country&#39;s severely damaged energy infrastructure.&quot;We&#39;re going to have our very large United States oil companies — the biggest anywhere in the world — go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure,&quot; Trump said. &quot;Let&#39;s start making money for the country.&quot;Venezuela holds the world&#39;s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, or about 17% of global reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Chevron is currently the only major U.S. oil company operating in the country, exporting roughly 140,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2025, based on data from energy consultancy Kpler.U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, overnight during a large-scale military operation. Both have been indicted on drug-trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York. Trump said the United States will temporarily run Venezuela during a transition period, though he provided few details, and confirmed that the existing U.S. oil embargo remains in place.Chevron said it is closely monitoring the situation. &quot;We remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of our employees, as well as the integrity of our assets,&quot; the company said, adding that it continues to operate in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.Trump said oil companies would initially cover the cost of rebuilding Venezuela&#39;s crude infrastructure but would ultimately be reimbursed. &quot;We&#39;re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be,&quot; he said, adding that Venezuela&#39;s output could eventually be sold to a wider range of global buyers.Venezuela&#39;s oil production peaked at about 3.5 million barrels per day in the late 1990s but has since collapsed to around 800,000 barrels per day, according to Kpler. By comparison, U.S. production stood near 13.8 million barrels per day in late December.Analysts cautioned that near-term disruptions remain possible. With uncertainty over control in Caracas, some buyers may hesitate to lift Venezuelan crude. However, Chevron is expected to continue exports, which could help limit supply shocks.Security risks on the ground also remain a concern, particularly for production facilities and export infrastructure. Still, analysts noted that the global oil market is currently oversupplied, which could help absorb any temporary disruptions stemming from Venezuela&#39;s political upheaval.

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