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Prediction: These 3 High-Yield Oil Companies Just Secretly Moved to Secure Their Dividends

Prediction: These 3 High-Yield Oil Companies Just Secretly Moved to Secure Their Dividends

Globe and Mail29-06-2025
It's no secret that the market has lost interest in oil stocks over the past year. Indeed, all three stocks covered here -- namely, Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN), Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG), and Vitesse Energy (NYSE: VTS) -- have declined over the last year. As such, they now trade with excellent dividend yields or attractive price-to-free cash flow (FCF) multiples.
Moreover, I think there's a strong possibility that all three companies have recently moved to reduce risk and secure their dividends. Here's why.
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The oil price environment in the first half
Israel's attack on Iran sent the price of oil spiking higher, as investors priced in the risk of ongoing instability in a critically crucial oil-producing region. However, before going into how oil companies responded to this, it's worth putting the move into context.
The spike occurred after a few months of oil trading in the low-to-mid-$60 per-barrel range. In addition, sentiment toward oil turned negative following a slower economic growth outlook (due to tariff escalations and ongoing geopolitical tensions) and OPEC's decision to increase production.
WTI Crude Oil Spot Price data by YCharts
There's little doubt that sentiment turned negative after events in the spring. For example, Vitesse implemented a 32% cut in its planned capital expenditures and deferred completion of a couple of wells "in response to current commodity price volatility to preserve returns and maintain financial flexibility." Diamondback cut its planned 2025 capital expenditures to $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion from a previous range of $3.8 billion to $4.2 billion.
While Devon didn't make any adjustments in connection with the commodity price environment, management noted, "With the ongoing market and price volatility, Devon will continue to monitor the macro environment and has significant flexibility to adjust its activity and capital programs" on its earnings release in early May.
What happened after the recent oil price spike
According to numerous reports, the attack on Iran on June 13 triggered a record amount of hedging volumes through Aegis Hedging Solutions. This company assists commodity companies with their hedging strategies. While some of it was possibly oil companies looking to get exposure to potentially higher prices, the likelihood is that it was independent oil companies taking advantage of the spike to hedge their near-term production.
As we've already seen, all three companies have either cut their capital spending plans or are monitoring events with the option to do so. In addition, they all utilize hedging as an integral part of their capital allocation strategy, ensuring returns to investors through dividends and share buybacks.
Hedging strategies and dividends
While we won't know for sure until they release their second-quarter earnings, all three are strong candidates to have taken part in the rush to hedge their oil production.
Hedging is an integral part of Vitesse's strategy, which enables it to maintain its $2.25-per-share dividend (current yield: 10%). As of the end of March, Vitesse had 61% of its remaining oil production hedged at an average price of $70.75 per barrel. Look for that figure to increase, or at least an increase in 2026 production volumes hedged.
Diamondback is a conservatively run oil company that uses hedging to ensure its base dividend of $4 per share (currently equivalent to a yield of 2.9%). As of May, it had downside protection in place to $55 a barrel. In other words, at any price of oil above $55, Diamondback has upside exposure to the price of oil.
The strategy is to enable cash flow to return to investors through a variable dividend or share buybacks, in addition to the base dividend. Again, look for Diamondback to have increased hedging activity in the quarter.
As of the first quarter, Devon Energy had more than 25% of its expected 2025 oil production hedged. With that hedging in place, management estimates it will generate $1.9 billion in FCF at a price of oil of $50 per barrel, $2.6 billion at $60 per barrel, and $3.3 billion at $70 per barrel. These figures easily cover its fixed dividend of $0.96 per share (about $650 million in cash). With increased hedging in place, the fixed dividend (currently yielding almost 3%) will be even more secure.
Stocks to buy for investors looking for passive income
In particular, Diamondback's and Devon's dividends look very secure, and both have the potential to increase their discretionary dividends, make more share buybacks, or pay down debt. If I'm right, and they, and Vitesse, took advantage of the oil price spike, then passive income investors can sleep even sounder in the knowledge that their dividend income is safe.
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NextNRG Reports Q2 2025 Revenues Up 166% Year-Over-Year
NextNRG Reports Q2 2025 Revenues Up 166% Year-Over-Year

Globe and Mail

timea minute ago

  • Globe and Mail

NextNRG Reports Q2 2025 Revenues Up 166% Year-Over-Year

Record-Breaking Growth Highlights Execution of Integrated Energy Infrastructure Strategy Strong Operational Metrics Drive 189% Gross Profit Growth as Multi-Revenue Platform Scales MIAMI, Aug. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NextNRG, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXXT), a pioneer in AI-driven energy innovation—transforming how energy is produced, managed and delivered through its advanced Utility Operating System, smart microgrid technology, wireless EV charging and on-demand mobile fuel delivery solutions— today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and provided a strategic update on its technology roadmap and growth trajectory. Selected Financial & Operational Highlights Metric Q2 2025 (unaudited) Q2 2024 (unaudited) Revenue $19.7M $7.4M Gross Profit $1.6M $547K Loss from Operations $30.8M 1 $2.6M Net Loss $36.1M $5.6M "We delivered another exceptional quarter with 166% revenue growth, demonstrating the power of our integrated energy platform and the strong market demand for our solutions," said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of NextNRG. "With record-setting fuel volumes, expanding margins, and successful execution of our multi-state expansion strategy, our core operations continue to exceed expectations. At the same time, we are advancing the next phase of our integrated energy strategy, with smart microgrid deployments and wireless EV charging programs progressing toward commercial launch.' For the quarter, NextNRG reported a net loss of $36.1 million, which included a $30.8 million operating loss. Of that, $25.5 million was a non-cash stock-based compensation expense tied to the launch of it's incentive program for employees and consultants — designed to attract and retain the talent needed to execute on the Company's long-term strategy. Excluding this charge, underlying performance shows continued improvement. Q2 2025 Strategic and Operational Highlights Strategic Partnership with Hudson Sustainable Group: Partnered with $13 billion renewable energy investor to accelerate U.S. energy infrastructure buildout, providing priority access to capital for NextNRG's expanding national pipeline of solar, battery, microgrid, and wireless EV charging projects. Oklahoma Market Expansion: Extended operations into seventh state with long-term agreement serving one of the nation's largest in-house fleet operators, establishing foundation for broader growth across the state. 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In critical North America oil hub, pipelines and uncertainty are shaping byelection
In critical North America oil hub, pipelines and uncertainty are shaping byelection

CBC

time10 minutes ago

  • CBC

In critical North America oil hub, pipelines and uncertainty are shaping byelection

At first glance, the east-central Alberta town of Hardisty looks like many prairie communities. A semi-trailer rolls along a wide, open road beneath an expansive blue sky. An antique shop opens on the modest main street, drawing in treasure seekers for a chat and a quick barter. The popular local sports pub fills with locals ordering the daily special. Today, it's fried chicken and ribs. But just southeast of the town of about 600 residents, the landscape changes. Large tanks dot the horizon, holding millions of barrels of crude. Within Alberta's energy industry, everyone knows the name. This is the Hardisty Terminal, a critical hub in North America's oil and gas network. "If you want to get oil out of Western Canada, for the most part, almost all of it comes through Hardisty at some point," says Blake Moser, chair of the Hardisty and District Development Group. Inside the town limits, residents are proud to say that this infrastructure keeps the country's energy economy moving. At the same time, the town itself is grappling with a lack of services that threaten its sense of community amid a period of broader political uncertainty and rapid global change. Hardisty sits in the federal riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where voters will head to the polls on Monday. While the town has an agricultural base, the oil industry dominates its economy and its politics. "Our energy sector is going to play a big role," says local realtor Connie Beringer of the upcoming election. 'Still getting by' Hardisty's fortunes flow with the pipelines and projects located outside its boundaries. When things are busy, restaurants and hotels fill up. When things slow down, so it goes for the town. Vince and Hayden Lehne, father and son, run Local Rentals & Septic Service, supplying equipment, water and septic services largely to oilfield and construction crews. There have been plenty of busy periods for the Lehnes, such as during the Line 3 pipeline replacement project. But over time, as projects started to slow down, so did activity on the streets of Hardisty. Some recent years have been more moderate, especially this past winter, when the phone largely went quiet. It's hard to put your finger on why that is. In Hayden's eyes, it could just be the way the world's going. Maybe everyone just wants to start getting away from oil and gas, he says. The father and son will congregate in the main office each morning to complete paperwork and dispatch equipment, but also to chat. Signs of the world changing are all around them. Some of it they find fascinating. "I'd say, our day-to-day in the mornings would be, sit here, talk about what crypto's doing," Hayden says. Much like the volatile, roller-coaster world of digital currencies, Local Rentals & Septic Service has ridden the wave of the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry's ups and downs. The shop was originally purchased by Vince's father, who began with small items like porta-potties before expanding into larger gear. Even at 79, he still comes in the shop daily, as does Vince's mother, who manages invoices and submits paperwork, all without taking a paycheque. Hayden joined the operation in 2017 after working as a journeyman welder. Now married with a young child, he handles much of the day-to-day work, including water, septic and equipment deliveries. "It's good," Vince says of having the whole family under one roof. He thinks for a moment. "Well, when it's good, it's really good," Vince says. "And then, when … let's say it's slow, it's kind of stressful, because now your whole family's [tied] into it, right?" Vince and Hayden share a sense of gratitude for what the industry has brought them, and the repeat clients they can count on. As it has always been, quiet times often give way to good times. That's playing out again, as the melt of a cold and unnerving winter has left behind brighter business prospects for summer. Still, those prospects don't erase the broader reality that the world is in a time of rapid change. While the sector is riding a wave of strong profits, much of it is being returned to shareholders rather than major expansions of operations. Government coffers continue to see significant contributions from the oil and gas sector in the form of royalties and taxes. However, among all sectors, it is Canada's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 30 per cent of the national total in 2023. When there are global shifts in oil and gas demand or when tariffs and inflation hit, the ripple effects reach Hardisty. "It's getting kind of harder to make a living," says Hayden. "But you know. Still getting by. Grateful for the things we do have." Ups and downs Gratitude is on the minds of the Lehnes, and it's obviously a message that has caught on among the small community. On a town sign in the middle of the community, a placard reads: "As summer winds down, let August be a month of gratitude." Over the past few years, officials say they've attracted new residents and businesses. Beringer, the local realtor, says the market was quite soft up until early spring this year. "We've seen about a 30 to 35 per cent increase in house sales, mostly people moving in from Ontario and B.C.," she says. Of course, the status of major projects, such as pipelines and rail infrastructure, significantly impact local business activity, says Wayne Jackson, the town's mayor. Political and economic uncertainty has slowed things down and has led to "one of the most uncertain times" the mayor has seen in his town. "The last few years, I've noticed the projects that are getting done are like … I see people working on what they have. They're not adding as much," he says. Service gaps frustrating Despite its central role in North America's energy network, Hardisty also faces rural service gaps that have become familiar all across the country. Its hospital operates with limited capacity. There's difficulty attracting medical professionals. And the local school has been closed for years. With the school's doors shut, kids start their days with long bus rides, heading out on the highway toward classrooms in Irma or Sedgewick. In winter, that can mean icy roads for big chunks of time before the first bell even rings. For all the pride they hold in their community and their industry, these issues are a lingering source of frustration for officials. "We have all of these hundreds of millions of dollars worth of product flowing through our back door," Jackson said. "It's truly bizarre to me that we don't have more attention." Without these basic services, some residents feel the town's future is at risk. "I feel really sorry for the young families that would probably move in here, that choose not to because of no education and health care," says Marilyn Devey, who's lived in the community for four decades. She believes these gaps deter young families: "They choose other communities." Pipelines and policy Moser, of the Hardisty and District Development Group, knows the maze of tanks and pipes that make up the Hardisty Terminal like the back of his hand. "As long as somebody's consuming, it'll always be moving through Hardisty. This facility, it's not going anywhere," he says. He wants to see someone elected in the upcoming byelection who can advocate for reduced barriers to market. In his view, that would benefit the entire country, including when it comes to additional royalties available for use by governments. "A lot of the large American companies, they don't have as much confidence in the oilsands, and developing some of these larger projects," he says. "That definitely impacts the amount of oil that we're able to move through here." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons, has frequently criticized federal oil and gas policy, recently promising to "legalize" pipelines through new legislation. At a candidates' forum in Camrose, Alta., on July 29, Poilievre said electing a leader of a political party as a local MP could "bring a very powerful megaphone" to local issues of a community. "For example, getting a pipeline built from Hardisty over to Prince Rupert or to Kitimat, that is a local issue that requires national leadership," he said. Other candidates in the riding have also voiced their support for pipelines. During the July 29 forum, Liberal candidate Darcy Spady said he was in support of Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated goal to build the strongest economy in the G7. "I think it's time we have pipelines that sell our oil and gas, and solid trading practices around the globe," Spady said. Conservative MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Poilievre to run in the race, which includes more than 200 candidates, most of whom are part of a group of electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Mixed picture on main street On Hardisty's main street, the mood is mixed. On a recent Friday, many Hardisty storefronts stay shuttered until late morning. Some are closed entirely. Fred Stolz is one of the shop owners opening the doors. He operates Old Town Mercantile, which deals in antiques, sports memorabilia and novelty items. In the store, the walls are lined with vintage licence plates dating from 1929 to the late 1970s. The space also features collectibles like original Tonka toys, a 1905 cash register from an old Alberta pharmacy, antique china cabinets and survey equipment. "Anything that's cool, we sell," Stolz says. He attributes the closure of some shops in the area to the ebbs and flows in the economy. Unlike in a big city, people are only going out for dinner on certain occasions. It's the influx of people that makes things exciting, in Stolz's view. He's seen new businesses open in recent years, including a live theatre, but knows success means saving in good times to weather the slow ones. "Ebbs and flows, you know," he says. For Stolz, there's hope that a friendlier environment for oil and gas could draw more people to Hardisty, boosting local businesses and making key services like the school and hospital viable again. He sees population growth as essential to sustaining Hardisty's future. But no matter what happens, he says it's the small town's resilience that is its constant, not the swings or the political debate. "No matter how tough the times are," Stolz says, "people survive."

Pipelines, policy and uncertainty shape Alberta byelection in Hardisty's oil hub
Pipelines, policy and uncertainty shape Alberta byelection in Hardisty's oil hub

CBC

time32 minutes ago

  • CBC

Pipelines, policy and uncertainty shape Alberta byelection in Hardisty's oil hub

At first glance, the east-central Alberta town of Hardisty looks like many prairie communities. A semi-trailer rolls along a wide, open road beneath an expansive blue sky. An antique shop opens on the modest main street, drawing in treasure seekers for a chat and a quick barter. The popular local sports pub fills with locals ordering the daily special. Today, it's fried chicken and ribs. But just southeast of the town of about 600 residents, the landscape changes. Large tanks dot the horizon, holding millions of barrels of crude. Within Alberta's energy industry, everyone knows the name. This is the Hardisty Terminal, a critical hub in North America's oil and gas network. "If you want to get oil out of Western Canada, for the most part, almost all of it comes through Hardisty at some point," says Blake Moser, chair of the Hardisty and District Development Group. Inside the town limits, residents are proud to say that this infrastructure keeps the country's energy economy moving. At the same time, the town itself is grappling with a lack of services that threaten its sense of community amid a period of broader political uncertainty and rapid global change. Hardisty sits in the federal riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where voters will head to the polls on Monday. While the town has an agricultural base, the oil industry dominates its economy and its politics. "Our energy sector is going to play a big role," says local realtor Connie Beringer of the upcoming election. 'Still getting by' Hardisty's fortunes flow with the pipelines and projects located outside its boundaries. When things are busy, restaurants and hotels fill up. When things slow down, so it goes for the town. Vince and Hayden Lehne, father and son, run Local Rentals & Septic Service, supplying equipment, water and septic services largely to oilfield and construction crews. There have been plenty of busy periods for the Lehnes, such as during the Line 3 pipeline replacement project. But over time, as projects started to slow down, so did activity on the streets of Hardisty. Some recent years have been more moderate, especially this past winter, when the phone largely went quiet. It's hard to put your finger on why that is. In Hayden's eyes, it could just be the way the world's going. Maybe everyone just wants to start getting away from oil and gas, he says. The father and son will congregate in the main office each morning to complete paperwork and dispatch equipment, but also to chat. Signs of the world changing are all around them. Some of it they find fascinating. "I'd say, our day-to-day in the mornings would be, sit here, talk about what crypto's doing," Hayden says. Much like the volatile, roller-coaster world of digital currencies, Local Rentals & Septic Service has ridden the wave of the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry's ups and downs. The shop was originally purchased by Vince's father, who began with small items like porta-potties before expanding into larger gear. Even at 79, he still comes in the shop daily, as does Vince's mother, who manages invoices and submits paperwork, all without taking a paycheque. Hayden joined the operation in 2017 after working as a journeyman welder. Now married with a young child, he handles much of the day-to-day work, including water, septic and equipment deliveries. "It's good," Vince says of having the whole family under one roof. He thinks for a moment. "Well, when it's good, it's really good," Vince says. "And then, when … let's say it's slow, it's kind of stressful, because now your whole family's [tied] into it, right?" Vince and Hayden share a sense of gratitude for what the industry has brought them, and the repeat clients they can count on. As it has always been, quiet times often give way to good times. That's playing out again, as the melt of a cold and unnerving winter has left behind brighter business prospects for summer. Still, those prospects don't erase the broader reality that the world is in a time of rapid change. While the sector is riding a wave of strong profits, much of it is being returned to shareholders rather than major expansions of operations. Government coffers continue to see significant contributions from the oil and gas sector in the form of royalties and taxes. However, among all sectors, it is Canada's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 30 per cent of the national total in 2023. When there are global shifts in oil and gas demand or when tariffs and inflation hit, the ripple effects reach Hardisty. "It's getting kind of harder to make a living," says Hayden. "But you know. Still getting by. Grateful for the things we do have." Ups and downs Gratitude is on the minds of the Lehnes, and it's obviously a message that has caught on among the small community. On a town sign in the middle of the community, a placard reads: "As summer winds down, let August be a month of gratitude." Over the past few years, officials say they've attracted new residents and businesses. Beringer, the local realtor, says the market was quite soft up until early spring this year. "We've seen about a 30 to 35 per cent increase in house sales, mostly people moving in from Ontario and B.C.," she says. Of course, the status of major projects, such as pipelines and rail infrastructure, significantly impact local business activity, says Wayne Jackson, the town's mayor. Political and economic uncertainty has slowed things down and has led to "one of the most uncertain times" the mayor has seen in his town. "The last few years, I've noticed the projects that are getting done are like … I see people working on what they have. They're not adding as much," he says. Service gaps frustrating Despite its central role in North America's energy network, Hardisty also faces rural service gaps that have become familiar all across the country. Its hospital operates with limited capacity. There's difficulty attracting medical professionals. And the local school has been closed for years. With the school's doors shut, kids start their days with long bus rides, heading out on the highway toward classrooms in Irma or Sedgewick. In winter, that can mean icy roads for big chunks of time before the first bell even rings. For all the pride they hold in their community and their industry, these issues are a lingering source of frustration for officials. "We have all of these hundreds of millions of dollars worth of product flowing through our back door," Jackson said. "It's truly bizarre to me that we don't have more attention." Without these basic services, some residents feel the town's future is at risk. "I feel really sorry for the young families that would probably move in here, that choose not to because of no education and health care," says Marilyn Devey, who's lived in the community for four decades. She believes these gaps deter young families: "They choose other communities." Pipelines and policy Moser, of the Hardisty and District Development Group, knows the maze of tanks and pipes that make up the Hardisty Terminal like the back of his hand. "As long as somebody's consuming, it'll always be moving through Hardisty. This facility, it's not going anywhere," he says. He wants to see someone elected in the upcoming byelection who can advocate for reduced barriers to market. In his view, that would benefit the entire country, including when it comes to additional royalties available for use by governments. "A lot of the large American companies, they don't have as much confidence in the oilsands, and developing some of these larger projects," he says. "That definitely impacts the amount of oil that we're able to move through here." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons, has frequently criticized federal oil and gas policy, recently promising to "legalize" pipelines through new legislation. At a candidates' forum in Camrose, Alta., on July 29, Poilievre said electing a leader of a political party as a local MP could "bring a very powerful megaphone" to local issues of a community. "For example, getting a pipeline built from Hardisty over to Prince Rupert or to Kitimat, that is a local issue that requires national leadership," he said. Other candidates in the riding have also voiced their support for pipelines. During the July 29 forum, Liberal candidate Darcy Spady said he was in support of Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated goal to build the strongest economy in the G7. "I think it's time we have pipelines that sell our oil and gas, and solid trading practices around the globe," Spady said. Conservative MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Poilievre to run in the race, which includes more than 200 candidates, most of whom are part of a group of electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Mixed picture on main street On Hardisty's main street, the mood is mixed. On a recent Friday, many Hardisty storefronts stay shuttered until late morning. Some are closed entirely. Fred Stolz is one of the shop owners opening the doors. He operates Old Town Mercantile, which deals in antiques, sports memorabilia and novelty items. In the store, the walls are lined with vintage licence plates dating from 1929 to the late 1970s. The space also features collectibles like original Tonka toys, a 1905 cash register from an old Alberta pharmacy, antique china cabinets and survey equipment. "Anything that's cool, we sell," Stolz says. He attributes the closure of some shops in the area to the ebbs and flows in the economy. Unlike in a big city, people are only going out for dinner on certain occasions. It's the influx of people that makes things exciting, in Stolz's view. He's seen new businesses open in recent years, including a live theatre, but knows success means saving in good times to weather the slow ones. "Ebbs and flows, you know," he says. For Stolz, there's hope that a friendlier environment for oil and gas could draw more people to Hardisty, boosting local businesses and making key services like the school and hospital viable again. He sees population growth as essential to sustaining Hardisty's future. But no matter what happens, he says it's the small town's resilience that is its constant, not the swings or the political debate.

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