Occidental’s 1.37% Surge and 282nd-Ranked $380M Volume Highlight $7.5B Debt Reduction Strategy

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) rose 1.37% on August 28, 2025, with a trading volume of $380 million, ranking 282nd in the market. The company has significantly reduced its debt burden over the past 13 months by $7.5 billion, leveraging free cash flow and asset sales. This includes a $950 million divestiture of non-core assets in early 2025, which has lowered annual interest expenses by $410 million and improved balance sheet flexibility. Management emphasizes that a leaner capital structure enhances resilience to commodity price volatility while enabling reinvestment in high-return projects and low-carbon initiatives like carbon capture.

Investor confidence has grown as Occidental’s financial discipline positions it to expand operations in the Permian Basin, chemicals, and midstream sectors. The company’s debt reduction strategy aligns with broader industry trends, where stronger balance sheets support long-term growth and shareholder returns. While Zacks estimates suggest a 0.86% sales decline for 2025, the 2026 projection indicates a 1% recovery. Despite a 14.1% three-month gain outpacing the industry average, OXY’s EV/EBITDA multiple of 5.52x remains elevated relative to peers.

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