Latest news with #DominionEnergy
Globe and Mail
10 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Does Warren Buffett Know Something That Wall Street Doesn't? The Billionaire Has Spent Years Piling Into Oil and Gas Stocks Despite Experts Advising Caution.
While Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) sometimes will move in and out of stocks on a short-term basis, the company -- led by famed CEO Warren Buffett -- is largely considered a long-term investor. This can sometimes make it difficult to immediately understand why Buffett and his team are buying a stock or a group of stocks because their thesis could still be several years away from playing out. The companies they buy may have underperformed recently and also may not screen well. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » In recent years, Buffett and Berkshire have loaded up on energy assets, including oil and gas stocks, even as many industry experts have expressed caution about the price of oil. Does Buffett know something that Wall Street doesn't? Berkshire's oil and gas acquisitions Although Berkshire invests in a range of different sectors from banking to tech and artificial intelligence, it's clear that Buffett and his team have been bullish on the energy sector for a number of years now. In 2020, Berkshire announced it would spend $10 billion (including the assumption of debt) to purchase the natural gas assets from Dominion Energy, which included all of Dominion Energy Transmission, the Questar Pipeline, and Carolina Gas Transmission. The deal also included half of the Iroquois Gas Transmission System and 25% of the natural gas export-import and storage facility Cove Point LNG. Last October, in a year where Berkshire hardly put any of its massive cash hoard to work, Berkshire announced it would purchase the remaining 8% of Berkshire Hathaway Energy that it didn't already own. In its massive equities portfolio, Berkshire has also been busy buying domestic U.S. oil and gas stocks. In 2019, Berkshire purchased its first stake in Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) by providing the company with $10 billion in financing for an acquisition, in return for preferred shares and warrants. Berkshire hasn't slowed its buying since and now owns nearly 27% of outstanding shares. Occidental makes up 4.3% of Berkshire's portfolio and is the company's sixth largest position. Berkshire also owns nearly 7% of outstanding shares in Chevron (NYSE: CVX), a position it first launched in 2020. Chevron is Berkshire's fifth-largest equity holding. By all indications, I would expect Berkshire to keep investing in energy and utility stocks and assets. When Buffett retires from the CEO role at the end of this year, Greg Abel will succeed the 94-year-old, and Abel has run Berkshire Hathaway Energy for a number of years. What does Buffett know? Occidental Petroleum and Chevron have not performed well since the beginning of 2020, significantly underperforming the broader market. CVX data by YCharts Oil prices have struggled over the last several years for a variety of reasons. Prior to President Donald Trump's current administration, there had been more of a focus on alternative energy and electric vehicles, as more people have grown increasingly concerned about climate change and its effect on the world. There have also been concerns about global demand for oil and the supply and demand dynamics. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies have announced plans to increase production in an effort to retain and reclaim market share from countries it believes are producing too much oil. Meanwhile, the U.S. has significantly increased its fracking and drilling production over the last 15 years and saw oil production last year hit a record 13.4 million barrels per day, which also likely had an impact on supply. Earlier this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicted Brent crude oil prices would average about about $66 per barrel this year and about $59 per barrel in 2026, compared to $81 per barrel in 2024. So why are Buffett and Berkshire so interested in oil and gas assets? One reason may be geopolitical tensions. Relations in the Middle East have been fragile for many decades now. More recently, there has been significant escalation in the region due to the Israel-Gaza war and the growing conflict between Israel and Iran. Following Israel's recent and surprising strike on Iran's nuclear and military facilities, the price of oil surged to one of its highest in years. Oil and gas are also viewed as finite resources. In a 2023 report, the EIA estimated that there is enough global supply of crude oil, liquid hydrocarbons, and biofuels to power the world's demand for liquid fuels through 2050. While technology can always change things, growth is expected to slow in the Permian Basin, one of the largest sources of oil production in the U.S. Buffett and the Berkshire team may view holding U.S. energy assets as quite valuable if supply erodes and alternative energy sources can't fill the gap. Or perhaps they view companies like Occidental and Chevron as candidates to move into alternative energy sources. Either way, it may not be a bad idea for investors to take a page from Buffett's playbook and build some exposure to U.S. oil and energy assets. These can serve as a hedge if oil prices surge due to escalating conflicts in the Middle East or if supply becomes constrained. Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now? Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Bram Berkowitz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Chevron. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Under a hot summer sun, South Carolina's governor says energy law will keep air conditioners humming
Under the hot South Carolina summer sun, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing for a law he and other supporters said will ensure the rapidly growing state has the energy to run air conditioners and anything else well into the future. McMaster signed the bill into law more than a month ago. But Wednesday's ceremony was a chance to bring utility executives and other workers together with lawmakers to celebrate the promise from supporters that the law will clear the way to meet the power needs of the 1.5 million people the state has added this century – and its fast industrial growth. 'It is hot and promising to get hotter, so we'll be very quick here. This is, of course, to celebrate a great step for South Carolina,' McMaster said at the ceremony, which lasted less than fifteen minutes before most everyone went back into the air-conditioned mansion. The law has immediate impacts. It clears the way for private Dominion Energy and state-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Colleton County, as long as regulators give their OK. Utilities now can appeal decisions from those regulators at the Public Service Commission directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court, meaning projects or rate cases won't be in limbo for years as they wind through the courts. Power companies can now ask for smaller rate increases every year instead of hitting customers with what was sometimes a double-digit percent increase to cover inflation and rising costs after four or five years. Also in this session, lawmakers cleared the way for cloud computer companies, utilities, or others to offer to take over the long-abandoned project to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site near Jenkinsville. Ratepayers paid billions of dollars on the project, which was abandoned in 2017 well before it generated a watt of power. The feasibility of restarting construction or whether a private entity or a utility could get the licenses and permissions that have lapsed has not been determined. The bill didn't get unanimous support. Some Democrats worried consumer protections and energy efficiency efforts were removed. Some Republicans and Democrats worried the state didn't set limits on data centers and that would allow the computer farms to suck up massive amounts of the new energy and raise costs to homeowners and others while providing few local benefits. But Wednesday was a day to celebrate for someone like Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, sweating in his suit and tie instead of the short-sleeved polo he would prefer to wear. 'With the heat we experience in South Carolina, and you've got to be able to produce twenty-four/seven,' Kissam said. 'Our customers expect when they flip a switch or bump the thermostat there's going to be enough electricity.'
2 days ago
- Business
Under a hot summer sun, South Carolina's governor says energy law will keep air conditioners humming
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Under the hot South Carolina summer sun, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing for a law he and other supporters said will make sure the rapidly growing state has the energy to run air conditioners and anything else well into the future. McMaster signed the bill into law more than a month ago. But Wednesday's ceremony was a chance to bring utility executives and other workers together with lawmakers to celebrate the promise from supporters that the law will clear the way to meet the power needs of the 1.5 million people the state has added this century — and its fast industrial growth. 'It is hot and promising to get hotter, so we'll be very quick here. This is of course to celebrate a great step for South Carolina,' McMaster said at the ceremony, which lasted less than 15 minutes before most everyone went back into the air-conditioned mansion. The law has immediate impacts. It clears the way for private Dominion Energy and state-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Colleton County as long as regulators give their OK. Utilities now can appeal decisions from those regulators at the Public Service Commission directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court, meaning projects or rate cases won't be in limbo for years as they wind through the courts. Power companies can now ask for smaller rate increases every year instead of hitting customers with what was sometimes a double-digit increase to cover inflation and rising costs after four or five years. Also in this session, lawmakers cleared the way for cloud computer companies, utilities or others to offer to take over the long-abandoned project to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site near Jenkinsville. Ratepayers paid billions of dollars on the project, which was abandoned in 2017, well before it generated a watt of power. The feasibility of restarting construction or whether a private entity or a utility could get the licenses and permissions that have lapsed has not been determined. The bill didn't get unanimous support. Some Democrats worried consumer protections and energy efficiency efforts were removed. Some Republicans and Democrats worried the state didn't set limits on data centers and that would allow the computer farms to suck up massive amounts of the new energy and raise costs to homeowners and others while providing few local benefits. But Wednesday was a day to celebrate for someone like Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam sweating in his suit and tie instead of the short-sleeved polo he would prefer to wear. 'With the heat we experience in South Carolina and you've got to be able to produce 24/7,' Kissam said. 'Our customers expect when they flip a switch or bump the thermostat there's going to be enough electricity.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Under a hot summer sun, South Carolina's governor says energy law will keep air conditioners humming
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Under the hot South Carolina summer sun, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing for a law he and other supporters said will make sure the rapidly growing state has the energy to run air conditioners and anything else well into the future. McMaster signed the bill into law more than a month ago. But Wednesday's ceremony was a chance to bring utility executives and other workers together with lawmakers to celebrate the promise from supporters that the law will clear the way to meet the power needs of the 1.5 million people the state has added this century — and its fast industrial growth. 'It is hot and promising to get hotter, so we'll be very quick here. This is of course to celebrate a great step for South Carolina,' McMaster said at the ceremony, which lasted less than 15 minutes before most everyone went back into the air-conditioned mansion. The law has immediate impacts. It clears the way for private Dominion Energy and state-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Colleton County as long as regulators give their OK. Utilities now can appeal decisions from those regulators at the Public Service Commission directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court, meaning projects or rate cases won't be in limbo for years as they wind through the courts. Power companies can now ask for smaller rate increases every year instead of hitting customers with what was sometimes a double-digit increase to cover inflation and rising costs after four or five years. Also in this session, lawmakers cleared the way for cloud computer companies, utilities or others to offer to take over the long-abandoned project to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site near Jenkinsville. Ratepayers paid billions of dollars on the project, which was abandoned in 2017, well before it generated a watt of power. The feasibility of restarting construction or whether a private entity or a utility could get the licenses and permissions that have lapsed has not been determined. The bill didn't get unanimous support. Some Democrats worried consumer protections and energy efficiency efforts were removed. Some Republicans and Democrats worried the state didn't set limits on data centers and that would allow the computer farms to suck up massive amounts of the new energy and raise costs to homeowners and others while providing few local benefits. But Wednesday was a day to celebrate for someone like Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam sweating in his suit and tie instead of the short-sleeved polo he would prefer to wear. 'With the heat we experience in South Carolina and you've got to be able to produce 24/7,' Kissam said. 'Our customers expect when they flip a switch or bump the thermostat there's going to be enough electricity.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Under a hot summer sun, South Carolina's governor says energy law will keep air conditioners humming
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Under the hot South Carolina summer sun, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing for a law he and other supporters said will make sure the rapidly growing state has the energy to run air conditioners and anything else well into the future. McMaster signed the bill into law more than a month ago. But Wednesday's ceremony was a chance to bring utility executives and other workers together with lawmakers to celebrate the promise from supporters that the law will clear the way to meet the power needs of the 1.5 million people the state has added this century — and its fast industrial growth. 'It is hot and promising to get hotter, so we'll be very quick here. This is of course to celebrate a great step for South Carolina,' McMaster said at the ceremony, which lasted less than 15 minutes before most everyone went back into the air-conditioned mansion. The law has immediate impacts. It clears the way for private Dominion Energy and state-owned Santee Cooper to work together on a 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Colleton County as long as regulators give their OK. Utilities now can appeal decisions from those regulators at the Public Service Commission directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court, meaning projects or rate cases won't be in limbo for years as they wind through the courts. Power companies can now ask for smaller rate increases every year instead of hitting customers with what was sometimes a double-digit increase to cover inflation and rising costs after four or five years. Also in this session, lawmakers cleared the way for cloud computer companies, utilities or others to offer to take over the long-abandoned project to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site near Jenkinsville. Ratepayers paid billions of dollars on the project, which was abandoned in 2017, well before it generated a watt of power. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The feasibility of restarting construction or whether a private entity or a utility could get the licenses and permissions that have lapsed has not been determined. The bill didn't get unanimous support. Some Democrats worried consumer protections and energy efficiency efforts were removed. Some Republicans and Democrats worried the state didn't set limits on data centers and that would allow the computer farms to suck up massive amounts of the new energy and raise costs to homeowners and others while providing few local benefits. But Wednesday was a day to celebrate for someone like Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam sweating in his suit and tie instead of the short-sleeved polo he would prefer to wear. 'With the heat we experience in South Carolina and you've got to be able to produce 24/7,' Kissam said. 'Our customers expect when they flip a switch or bump the thermostat there's going to be enough electricity.'
