ConocoPhillips: The Oil Price Play I Want, But With Added Risk

Summary ConocoPhillips is rated Buy, with oil price upside outweighing elevated geopolitical risk at current valuation. COP's production engine is the U.S. Lower 48, but international exposure—Qatar, Libya, Iraq, Syria—raises geopolitical risk amid current global tensions. Q2 execution was strong: record Permian output, $4.2B free cash flow, and $3B shareholder returns, but total production fell 4% year over year. EOG offers a cheaper, more U.S.-focused alternative for oil price exposure, but COP's international pipeline provides greater scale and optionality. zhengzaishuru/iStock via Getty Images I own no shares of ConocoPhillips ( COP ). I like where oil prices are headed for reasons that have nothing to do with ConocoPhillips specifically. But I'm less sure I want that exposure to oil prices delivered This article was written by Brent Hecht 2.08K Followers Follow I focus on a variety of stocks but I prefer to write about oil and gas companies for now. I also enjoy studying and writing about where energy and monetary incentives intersect. I have a a bachelors and MBA although that should never replace experience and interest.Thanks for reading my articles! Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.