New York, Feb 20, 2026, 09:51 EST — Regular session is underway

• Occidental slipped at the open, with investors weighing updated guidance and news of another move on the debt front.
• The bull-bear tug-of-war is once again focused on a slimmed-down 2026 spending plan and fresh balance-sheet maneuvers.
• Oil hovered close to six-month peaks amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, leaving energy stocks on alert for any headline-driven moves.

Occidental Petroleum dropped 0.3% to $51.39 in early Friday trading in New York. That move comes just a day after a brisk post-earnings rally pushed the oil producer back into focus for traders.

The stakes come down to two things for this stock: crude prices and capital discipline….