BP appoints new CEO, marking its fourth leadership change in six years.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 18 2025
0mins
Source: CNBC
Leadership Change at BP: BP has appointed Meg O'Neill, currently the CEO of Woodside Energy, as its new CEO, replacing Murray Auchincloss, who stepped down after less than two years. O'Neill will officially take over on April 1, making her the fourth CEO in six years for the company.
Strategic Shift: Auchincloss had reversed BP's previous green energy strategy, focusing instead on core gas and oil operations amid declining profits and investor pressure. The company has since launched a cost-cutting program and made new oil discoveries, leading to a 15% increase in share price year-to-date.
O'Neill's Background: With over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including a long tenure at ExxonMobil, O'Neill is expected to maintain BP's focus on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a cleaner energy option, responding to customer demands for reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
Market Response: Following the leadership announcement, BP's stock rose by 0.7%, while Woodside Energy's stock fell by 1.3%. O'Neill's previous comments highlighted the growing demand for LNG, which is projected to increase by 50% over the next decade.
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Analyst Views on WDS
Wall Street analysts forecast WDS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WDS is 26.00 USD with a low forecast of 26.00 USD and a high forecast of 26.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.840
Low
26.00
Averages
26.00
High
26.00
Current: 17.840
Low
26.00
Averages
26.00
High
26.00
About WDS
Woodside Energy Group Ltd is a global energy company. Its segments include Australia, International and Marketing. The Australia segment is engaged in the exploration, evaluation, development, production and sale of liquefied natural gas, pipeline gas, crude oil and condensate and natural gas liquids in Australia. International segment is engaged in the exploration, evaluation, development, production and sale of pipeline gas, crude oil and condensate and natural gas liquids in international jurisdictions outside of Australia. Marketing segment is engaged in the marketing, shipping and trading of its oil and gas portfolio. Its projects include Pluto LNG, the North West Shelf Project, Macedon, Sangomar, the lower carbon ammonia project in Texas, and others. It holds an interest in Woodside Louisiana LNG, which is an under-construction LNG production and export terminal in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The Sangomar, containing both oil and gas, is located 100 kilometers south of Dakar.
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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- Innovation Accelerator Support: This collaboration will support the Woodside-Rice Decarbonization Accelerator's Summer Fellow, who will directly engage in technology development aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the company's growing significance in Houston's innovation ecosystem.
- Long-term Commitment: Woodside's innovation commitment in Houston includes a $12.5 million investment in the Decarbonization Accelerator, aimed at cultivating high-caliber students to meet the evolving skill demands of the energy industry and promote sustainable development.
See More
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- Acquisitions and Integration: Through three large-scale acquisitions in recent years, Oneok anticipates capturing hundreds of millions in cost savings and commercial synergies, which will not only enhance its financial flexibility but also provide robust support for future dividend growth.
- Kinetik Dividend Increase: Kinetik Holdings recently declared a dividend that is 4% higher than the previous quarter, boosting its yield to 8%, marking the second consecutive year of a 4% dividend increase, demonstrating strong cash flow and ongoing growth potential.
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See More
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- Williams Stability: Williams increased its dividend by 5%, raising its yield to 3.2%, and has paid quarterly dividends since 1974; while it hasn't raised its dividend every year, it has been growing at a mid-single-digit rate recently, showcasing a strong financial foundation and future growth potential.
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- Production Capacity Exceeds Expectations: The company achieved a record full-year production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), averaging 545 MMboe/d, surpassing its 2025 production guidance, demonstrating strong performance in resource development.
- Asset Reliability Improvement: Reliability at the Sangomar and Shenzi oil fields reached 99.2% and 98%, respectively, while Pluto LNG and North West Shelf projects achieved 100% and 99.8% reliability for two consecutive quarters, showcasing excellence in operational management.
- Future Outlook: The 2026 production guidance is set at 172-186 MMboe, reflecting a major turnaround at Pluto LNG, and despite challenges, the company remains committed to achieving first LNG delivery from the Scarborough project.
See More
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- Sales Decrease: The quarter's sales volume was 52.4 MMboe, a 3% decline from 54.1 MMboe in the previous year, reflecting weakened market demand and potential adjustments in sales strategies.
- Revenue Drop: Q4 revenue fell to $3.035 billion, down 13% from $3.484 billion year-over-year, putting pressure on the company's financial health and potentially impacting future investment decisions.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates its first LNG from the Scarborough project in Q4 2026, with a production guidance of 172-186 MMboe for 2026, factoring in planned downtime at Pluto, highlighting strategic expansion efforts despite current challenges.
See More
Woodside Energy's 2025 Performance Guidance Released
- Strong Production Performance: Woodside achieved a record annual production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2025, exceeding the guidance of 192-197 million barrels, which enhances market confidence in its operational capabilities across key assets.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company anticipates capital expenditures between $3.7 billion and $4 billion for 2025, reflecting ongoing investments in future growth projects, particularly in advancing the Louisiana LNG project.
- Deepening Strategic Partnerships: Woodside entered a strategic partnership with US-based Williams, selling a 10% interest in Louisiana LNG HoldCo, which is expected to bring approximately $1.9 billion in capital expenditure, further solidifying its position in the North American market.
- New Project Progress: The floating production unit for the Scarborough Energy Project has safely arrived at the site, with 94% completion, and is expected to deliver its first LNG in Q4 2026, marking a significant step in the company's transition to low-carbon energy.
See More
