- WPX Energy (WPX +2.5%) is upgraded to Sector Outperform from Sector Perform with a $32 price target, up from $25, at Howard Weil, which says WPX continues its turnaround story with outstanding Q2 results.
- Q2 was the first quarter directed by new CEO Rick Muncrief, and the outlook is already much improved; oil production was ahead of estimates, costs are declining, Gallup results are improving, and the more simplified company is heading in the right direction, Weil says.