This year’s hurricane season is a deadly one for the eastern and Gulf Coast of the U.S. Several companies and ETFs could be affected by another tropical storm nearing the Gulf Coast.
The Storm: Tropical Storm Rafael, the 17th named storm of the 2024 season, formed in the Caribbean, according to NBC.
The storm passed by Jamaica on Tuesday. It is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday near the Cayman Islands and pass over Western Cuba. From there, it will likely weaken into a tropical storm before making landfall near New Orleans. The path may change drastically before impacting the U.S.
The heaviest rain of up to 10 inches is expected in Jamaica.
Market Impacts: With a projected path in the Gulf of Mexico, Rafael could disrupt offshore oil and gas production, which could impact companies operating there.
Potentially affected stocks include major energy companies like Exxon Mobil Corp XOM, Chevron Corp CVX, and Occidental Petroleum Corp OXY, and ETFs like SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF XOP and Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund XLE.
Storms in the Gulf of Mexico can also disrupt refining operations, which could impact refiners such as Marathon Petroleum Corp MPC, Phillips 66 PSX and Valero Energy Corporation VLO.
Construction companies like Vulcan Materials Company VMC and Martin Marietta Materials Inc MLM might benefit from increased demand for repairs and rebuilding.
Recent extreme weather activity is linked to climate change. Hurricanes, which will become even more frequent over time, may encourage homeowners to purchase home generators. Generac Holdings Inc GNRC is the largest producer of home generators in the U.S.
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Photo: Tropical Storm Rafael, 11.5.2024. Courtesy NOAA/Public Domain
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