Eni Considers Return to Oil and Gas Trading
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy E?
Source: seekingalpha
- Market Re-entry: Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi indicated the company's consideration of re-entering the oil and gas trading sector to capture the substantial profits enjoyed by European rivals like BP, Shell, and Total, reflecting a keen awareness of market opportunities.
- Partnership Strategy: Eni is in preliminary discussions with several commodity trading houses, including Mercuria, to establish a joint venture aimed at enhancing its commercial capabilities, thereby gaining a competitive edge in the market.
- Attractive Positioning: Descalzi noted that despite Eni's cessation of trading in 2019, the volume of oil and gas it produces makes it an attractive partner for potential collaborations, indicating the company's intent to leverage partnerships to compensate for its commercial shortcomings.
- Industry Trends: While oil trading has yielded significant profits for firms like BP and Shell, both reported weaker performances in their trading units during the last three months of the previous year, highlighting market uncertainties and competitive pressures.
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Analyst Views on E
Wall Street analysts forecast E stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 46.940
Low
17.45
Averages
18.45
High
19.45
Current: 46.940
Low
17.45
Averages
18.45
High
19.45
About E
Eni SpA (Eni) is an Italy-based company engaged in the exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons, in the supply and marketing of gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and power, in the refining and marketing of petroleum products, in the production and marketing of basic petrochemicals, plastics and elastomers and in commodity trading. The Company's segments include Exploration & Production, Gas & Power, and Refining & Marketing. Its Exploration & Production segment engages in oil and natural gas exploration and field development and production, as well as LNG operations in over 40 countries, including Italy, Libya, Egypt, Norway, the United Kingdom, Angola, Congo, Nigeria, the United States, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Australia, Venezuela, Iraq, Ghana and Mozambique. Its Gas & Power segment engages in supply, trading and marketing of gas, LNG and electricity, international gas transport activities and commodity trading and derivatives.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rating Upgrades: J.P. Morgan upgraded Eni's rating from Underweight to Overweight and TotalEnergies from Neutral to Overweight, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the future performance of these companies.
- Market Valuations: Analysts noted that European oil majors offer 'efficient rather than outright expensive' valuations in the current geopolitical climate, providing investors with opportunities to invest in companies that have long-lived production assets as oil prices rise.
- Historical Trends: J.P. Morgan analysts highlighted that regime changes in oil-producing countries have historically driven oil prices up by an average of 30% for at least three months, providing crucial market insights for investors.
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Concerns Over Enrichment: Trump emphasized that there should be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, reiterating a hardline stance on nuclear negotiations.
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- Future Production Outlook: Oil and gas production growth is expected to remain consistent with the 2025-2028 plan guidance, providing investor confidence and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to resource development.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: ENI anticipates gross capex of €7 billion and net capex around €5 billion, a strategic investment aimed at supporting future production growth and technological innovation.
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- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward and one downward revision, while revenue estimates experienced two upward and eight downward revisions, reflecting market divergence and uncertainty regarding the company's future performance.
- Market Competitive Strategy: ENI is weighing a return to oil and gas trading, aiming to compete with rivals' substantial profits, which could significantly impact its future profitability model and market positioning.
See More
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- Market Re-entry: Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi indicated the company's consideration of re-entering the oil and gas trading sector to capture the substantial profits enjoyed by European rivals like BP, Shell, and Total, reflecting a keen awareness of market opportunities.
- Partnership Strategy: Eni is in preliminary discussions with several commodity trading houses, including Mercuria, to establish a joint venture aimed at enhancing its commercial capabilities, thereby gaining a competitive edge in the market.
- Attractive Positioning: Descalzi noted that despite Eni's cessation of trading in 2019, the volume of oil and gas it produces makes it an attractive partner for potential collaborations, indicating the company's intent to leverage partnerships to compensate for its commercial shortcomings.
- Industry Trends: While oil trading has yielded significant profits for firms like BP and Shell, both reported weaker performances in their trading units during the last three months of the previous year, highlighting market uncertainties and competitive pressures.
See More
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- Stock Price Surge: Following the massive attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, both Italian energy giant Eni and France's TotalEnergies saw their stock prices rise over 3% in European trading on Monday, reflecting the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Rating Upgrades: J.P. Morgan upgraded Eni's rating from Underweight to Overweight and TotalEnergies from Neutral to Overweight, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the future performance of these companies.
- Market Valuations: Analysts noted that European oil majors offer 'efficient rather than outright expensive' valuations in the current geopolitical climate, providing investors with opportunities to invest in companies that have long-lived production assets as oil prices rise.
- Historical Trends: J.P. Morgan analysts highlighted that regime changes in oil-producing countries have historically driven oil prices up by an average of 30% for at least three months, providing crucial market insights for investors.
See More
Key Wall Street Rating Changes on Monday
- Morgan Stanley Bullish on Nvidia: Morgan Stanley names Nvidia a top pick, viewing the current stock price at 18x CY27 EPS as an attractive entry point, expecting market concerns about growth durability to shift to enthusiasm in the coming months.
- Barclays Downgrades Blue Owl: Barclays downgrades Blue Owl from overweight to equal weight, citing overly high market estimates and suggesting that the stock is now closer to fairly priced based on earnings growth potential.
- Piper Sandler Upgrades CrowdStrike: Piper Sandler upgrades CrowdStrike from neutral to overweight, maintaining a $520 price target, arguing that the market's bearish sentiment driven by AI narratives is overdone for a leading security platform with a strong track record.
- Goldman Sachs Upgrades Dutch Bros: Goldman Sachs upgrades Dutch Bros from neutral to buy, asserting that the market is underestimating the coffee chain's fundamental strength and competitive positioning amid a challenging coffee landscape.
See More
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Trump's Stance on Iran: President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's negotiation approach, indicating that they are not willing to compromise significantly.
Concerns Over Enrichment: Trump emphasized that there should be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, reiterating a hardline stance on nuclear negotiations.
Frustration with Current Negotiations: He conveyed that the current state of negotiations with Iran is unsatisfactory and does not meet U.S. expectations.
Overall Sentiment: Trump's comments reflect a broader frustration with Iran's actions and the ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding their nuclear program.
See More
ENI Releases FY 2025 Earnings Outlook
- Fiscal Year Overview: ENI reported a FY Non-GAAP EPS of $0.78, with total revenue at €83.63 billion, reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year decline, indicating the company's resilience amid market fluctuations.
- Future Production Outlook: Oil and gas production growth is expected to remain consistent with the 2025-2028 plan guidance, providing investor confidence and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to resource development.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: ENI anticipates gross capex of €7 billion and net capex around €5 billion, a strategic investment aimed at supporting future production growth and technological innovation.
- Financial Health Metrics: The company's gearing is expected to be between 10% and 15%, a robust financial structure that will provide greater flexibility in uncertain market conditions.
See More
ENI Scheduled to Announce FY Earnings on February 26
- Earnings Announcement Date: ENI is set to release its FY earnings report on February 26 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $3.20 and revenue at $96.4 billion, indicating strong investor interest in the company's financial performance.
- Performance Consistency: Over the past year, ENI has beaten both EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time, showcasing the company's robust performance in profitability and market forecasting, which boosts investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward and one downward revision, while revenue estimates experienced two upward and eight downward revisions, reflecting market divergence and uncertainty regarding the company's future performance.
- Market Competitive Strategy: ENI is weighing a return to oil and gas trading, aiming to compete with rivals' substantial profits, which could significantly impact its future profitability model and market positioning.
See More
Eni Considers Return to Oil and Gas Trading
- Market Re-entry: Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi indicated the company's consideration of re-entering the oil and gas trading sector to capture the substantial profits enjoyed by European rivals like BP, Shell, and Total, reflecting a keen awareness of market opportunities.
- Partnership Strategy: Eni is in preliminary discussions with several commodity trading houses, including Mercuria, to establish a joint venture aimed at enhancing its commercial capabilities, thereby gaining a competitive edge in the market.
- Attractive Positioning: Descalzi noted that despite Eni's cessation of trading in 2019, the volume of oil and gas it produces makes it an attractive partner for potential collaborations, indicating the company's intent to leverage partnerships to compensate for its commercial shortcomings.
- Industry Trends: While oil trading has yielded significant profits for firms like BP and Shell, both reported weaker performances in their trading units during the last three months of the previous year, highlighting market uncertainties and competitive pressures.
See More
