Better Buy: Occidental Petroleum vs. ConocoPhillips

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) are two of the largest exploration and production (E&P) players in the business, but the two companies couldn't be more different.

Occidental (or Oxy) has chosen the path of the bold, betting heavily on the prospects for the Permian Basin, now the largest producing oil field in the United States. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips has chosen vigilance by focusing on improving its existing asset portfolio to insulate itself against another oil downturn. What is the better business model today? Let's take a look at the two companies to see which is the better buy. 

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Source Fool.com