Occidental’s $620M Trading Surge Elevates It to 211th Market Rank as Stock Falls 1.21% Amid Analyst Price Target Hikes

On August 1, 2025, Occidental’s trading volume surged to $620 million, a 66.93% increase from the prior day, ranking it 211th in the market. The stock fell 1.21% amid mixed analyst activity and sector dynamics.

JPMorgan and Piper Sandler both raised OXY’s price targets in July 2025, with JPMorgan lifting its target to $48 and Piper Sandler to $50, maintaining “Neutral” ratings. JPMorgan highlighted weaker-than-expected Q2 2025 performance, forecasting $0.24 EPS versus $0.34 consensus, and reduced production volumes due to maintenance delays. Piper Sandler noted sector volatility but expressed confidence in long-term gas demand, particularly in North America.

Earnings estimates revised downward by Zacks indicate challenges ahead. The current quarter’s consensus EPS of $0.28 reflects a 72.8% year-over-year decline, while the fiscal year estimate of $2.29 implies a 33.8% drop. Zacks assigned Occidental a Rank #3 (Hold), citing modest earnings revisions and sector alignment. Despite these headwinds, the stock trades at a discount relative to peers, offering potential value for long-term investors.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day yielded a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This underscores the impact of liquidity concentration in volatile markets, where short-term price movements in high-volume stocks can drive significant gains.