Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) has emerged as one of the most targeted stocks by short sellers, according to a recent report. The company’s stock has gained popularity among institutional investors, with new hedge funds consistently purchasing shares since Q2 2018. This trend has led to significant increases in the amount of money invested in Oxy during this period.
Major Shareholders
The top ten largest shareholders of Occidental Petroleum Corporation hold substantial stakes in the company. Key shareholders include:
- BlackRock Inc.
- Vanguard Group Inc.
- State Street Corp.
- FMR LLC.
Stock Price Volatility
The stock price of Occidental Petroleum Corporation has experienced volatility in recent months due to various factors, including:
- Uncertainty over oil prices.
- The impact of geopolitical events on global oil demand.
Despite these challenges, analysts remain optimistic about the company’s prospects, citing its strong financial position and improving operations.
Analyst Downgrade
In a recent note, Raymond James downgraded Occidental Petroleum from "outperform" to "market perform," primarily due to concerns over oil price uncertainty. However, analysts highlighted several reasons for optimism:
- Continued improvements in CrownRock assets.
- Cost savings per well exceeding $1 million.
Environmental Initiatives
One of Occidental’s subsidiaries recently secured approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Class VI permits. These permits will allow the company to store carbon dioxide from the Stratos Direct Air Capture facility in Texas, which aims to capture over 500,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. The projected start for commercial operations is next year.
President and CEO Vicki Hollub emphasized that the Class VI permits could serve as a catalyst to unlock value in carbon dioxide management and advance direct air capture technology. This initiative is part of the company’s strategy to address emissions while producing vital resources and fuels.
Overall, Occidental Petroleum ranks third on the list of the most crowded hedge fund stocks targeted by short sellers.

I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com





















