ConocoPhillips SWOT and PESTLE Analysis

Strengths

1. Named under Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America: This has helped the firm to be the best in class and set a benchmark for the investors to recognize the sustainable business practices, which has helped in creating long-term shareholders value and also has helped the firm in reflecting the sustainability conviction in their investment portfolios. This will also open the doors for the socially responsible investors (SPI) to consider this firm as a good investment prospectus.

2. Big brand name and a very strong market position: The pre-established brand name helps the brand to get business easily since it is the first choice of a customer. Also, the brand equity of the firm is required to mark the success of the firm since it through this that the company has been able to gain a big market share.

3. B rating for CDP climate survey: This is a big winner for the company since the most harm made is through the emission of greenhouse gases and reducing the carbon footprint is the major challenge that the firm has successfully met. This shows that the company has strong values towards the environment and considers the importance of maintaining the ecological balance.

4. Worldwide presence: This helps the firm in developing a Global strategy which can ease out its expansion process. Also, this helps the firm gain access to a bigger pool of talent across the globe which can help them work in cross-functional domains. Also, the company’s reputation is increased since it will start gaining trust in the international market.

5. Focused on the conservation of environment: The Company is constantly working on improving their environmental index. They are using new technology to reduce the impact on land, water and air resources- including the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They have also deployed innovative water recycling technologies in their operations. Thus this all adds to the value of the firm and helps in gaining more trust worldwide.

Weaknesses

1. Decline in Oil production: The total production of crude oil (MDB) by the firm has gone down from 605 in FY2015 to 598 in FY2016, similar is the case with natural gas (MDB) which has gone down from 156 in FY2015 to 145 in FY2016. Thus this is showing that the there is a decrease in the demand of oil and products worldwide in the recent times.

2. Decrease in the revenue: The firm’s revenue was $30.9 Billion in FY2015, and this has gone down to $24.4 Billion in FY2016. This shows that there is a clear downward slope of the economy in this sector in the future and the company will have to make a more competitive strategy in future to sustain the global markets. Also since there are lots of competitors in the global market for this field thus, the firm cannot ignore them since ignoring them in the present will result in a great amount of loss in the future.

3. Increased Environmental hazards: However the company is working on the environment protection, but there is a chance that it causes a major threat to it. This is because accidents like oil spills and blowouts cause a great amount of harm to the aqua ecosystem and disrupt the normal life cycle of the affected region. Also, the water species are majorly harmed due to such activities, and this makes the government make more stringent rules for these type of organizations.

Opportunities

1. Improving oil demand across the world: With the increase in oil demand across the globe at around 1.3 million/d or 1-2% every year there has to be 55 million gallons of oil to be added to global consumption every year. Also since 85% of the current transportation is powered by oil thus the demand is bound to increase. Thus there is a good opportunity for the company to increase its market.

2. Increased demand in Britain following the Brexit: It is a good time for the firm to strike a deal with Britain and become its official supplier of crude oil and other fuels in future.

3. Expanding in countries like South Africa and Russia: The Company should look to expand into global markets worldwide. Amongst them South Africa and Russia can be targeted since these are the next hotspot for the offshore oil exploration in future. Quantifiable data proves that the Outeniqua Basin has reserves of 341 million barrels of oil equivalent and that can help to reduce coal-fired power generation.

The unpublished sections of the entire SWOT analysis is available in the 'Complete Report' on purchase.

Political

1. Obama Government released a new set of rules for oil and gas drilling companies: New regulations have been designed in 2016 by the Obama administration for the Oil and Gas drilling firms. This was basically done to prevent the equipment failure incident like the one which happened in 2010. The government has included tougher inspection requirements, and Government agencies will provide services to oversee the offshore drilling process. The Government also tightened the rules for the design of undersea wells as well as real-time monitoring of spill containment and subsea drilling.

2. Authorized by law to establish an Employee Political Action committee: This is a contribution of the company which forms a PAC and funds its administrative costs. This, in turn, helps the candidates building a reputation for him since the integrity of the candidate is checked before selecting them. Also, the company will support the candidates holding a leadership or policy position in his party of standing legislative committee, and will also help him to attain such positions in future.

3. ConocoPhillips reiterate support for Paris Climate Deal: The Company has opposed the decision taken by the Donald Trump, the current US President to back out from the 2015 Paris Climate deal. The company has reiterated the support for this global agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As per them, the USA should have a seat at the table so that it can influence globally to curb emissions that are largely produced from burning fossil fuels. As per them, this would give the US the power to participate in future climate discussions to safeguard its environmental and economic interests.

Economic

1. Named under Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America: This has helped the firm to be the best in class and set a benchmark for the investors to recognize the sustainable business practices, which has helped in creating long-term shareholders value and also has helped the firm in reflecting the sustainability conviction in their investment portfolios. This will also open the doors for the socially responsible investors (SPI) to consider this firm as a good investment prospectus.

2. Company announces a 6% increase in the quarterly dividend of Stockholders on Jan 31, 2017: The board of directors announced the company’s quarterly dividend to 26.5 cents per share, which is increased by 6 percent as per the previous quarter. By announcing such an increase, the company has gained complete trust in its shareholders. This also shows that the company values the growth of its investors also.

3. Joint Venture between Timor-Leste and Bayu-Undan contributes significantly to Timor-Leste financial stability: The promise to increase the stability by Timor-Leste even when the oil prices hit an all-time low gave the investors’ confidence to invest their money in developing the Bayu-Undan field. Till date, this joint venture has paid over $19 billion into the Timor-Leste fund which is far more from the initially anticipated lifecycle of the project.

Social

1. Company offers investment into the various community and social events: The Company has always contributed to the well-being of the neighbor communities by giving charitable funds, employee volunteerism, and civic leadership. The management system indicators of the company provide a concise view of all the business practices that provide their support and commitment towards community and social investment. The flagship programs offered by them in this are signature programs, local contribution and employee giving programs.

2. The support and respect for the indigenous people and communities: The Company respects the indigenous communities and their choices to live as distinct people who can have their own culture and relationship to the land. Whenever the company finds the indigenous communities as their neighbor during their operations process, then they seek out to partner with them to diminish the negative aspect of their operations and maximize the social and economic benefits.

The unpublished sections of the entire PESTLE / PESTEL analysis is available in the 'Complete Report' on purchase.