TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) shares moved lower in Thursday’s premarket session as investors weighed the company’s response to volatile fuel markets triggered by escalating tensions in the Gulf and concerns over a prolonged disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The French energy major said it is introducing temporary pump-price caps across France to shield consumers from sharp swings in diesel and gasoline markets while geopolitical risks continue to ripple through global oil supply chains.
Exceptional Market Volatility
TotalEnergies said it is closely monitoring “highly volatile” oil markets following the start of the Gulf War, which has intensified tensions in global diesel markets.
France relies heavily on imported diesel, and supply remains closely tied to international prices. In response, the company reiterated its transparent pricing policy, stating it will continue passing through fluctuations in global diesel and gasoline prices “without delay,” whether prices rise or fall.
Temporary Fuel Price Caps Announced
To shield customers from the global oil shock, TotalEnergies announced a temporary cap on pump prices in France through the end of March.
The company will cap petrol prices at 1.99 euros per liter and diesel at 2.09 euros per liter. The diesel cap will immediately benefit customers at 1,830 stations across the company’s 3,300-station network in France.
Additional Benefits for Energy Customers
TotalEnergies Electricity & Gas customers enrolled in the “fuel advantage” program will receive a preferential cap of 1.99 euros per liter for any fuel throughout 2026. The same benefit will apply to new residential customers who sign up for an electricity or gas contract with the company.
All measures will take effect March 13 at TotalEnergies stations across metropolitan France, including highways and rural areas. The company said it will reassess global oil market conditions in early April.
Restart Of Production in the Libyan Oil Field
Separately, TotalEnergies resumed production at the Mabruk oil field in Libya, in which it owns a 37.5% interest.
The onshore field, situated in concession C17, roughly 130 km south of Sirte, had been inactive since 2015.
A new production facility with a capacity of 25,000 barrels per day, initiated in May 2024, began operations on February 28, 2026, completing the project in under two years.
Earnings & Analyst Outlook
Looking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the April 29, 2026 (estimated) earnings report.
- EPS Estimate: $1.68 (Down from $1.83 YoY)
- Revenue Estimate: $42.92 Billion (Down from $52.25 Billion YoY)
- Valuation: P/E of 14.1x (Indicates value opportunity relative to peers)
Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $67.40. Recent analyst moves include:
- JP Morgan: Upgraded to Overweight (Mar. 2)
- TD Cowen: Hold (Raises Target to $70.00) (Jan. 22)
- Piper Sandler: Neutral (Raises Target to $71.00) (Jan. 8)
Benzinga Edge Rankings and Insights
Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for TotalEnergies, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
- Momentum: Bullish (Score: 81.92) — The stock is showing strong trend persistence versus the broader market.
- Value: Bullish (Score: 88.96) — The setup screens as attractively priced relative to peers on Benzinga Edge’s value factors.
The Verdict: TotalEnergies’ Benzinga Edge signal reveals a “value + trend” combination, where strong Momentum (81.92) is reinforced by a high Value score (88.96). With price sitting just under resistance near $82.00, bulls typically want to see a clean breakout hold, while bears will watch for rejection signals given the MACD’s bearish positioning.
Top ETF Exposure
- State Street SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (NYSE:FEZ): 2.86% Weight
- SPDR DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETF (NYSE:FEZ): 2.86% Weight
- State Street SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (NYSE:GNR): 2.77% Weight
Significance: Because TTE carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.
TTE Price Action: TotalEnergies shares were down 1.18% at $80.34 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo by Vytautas Kielaitis via Shutterstock
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