Sable Offshore Corp., traded on the NYSE under the ticker SOC, encountered a notable downturn in its stock price on Friday following a legal complaint filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The suit seeks to obstruct the restart of oil transport activities through the company’s Las Flores Pipelines located in California.
The lawsuit specifically contests recent orders issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a federal regulatory body, which permitted Sable Offshore Corp. to recommence operations of its pipeline network. Attorney General Bonta argues that these federal directives are in contravention of the Administrative Procedure Act, and seeks judicial intervention to revoke the emergency authorization allowing oil transport.
The legal proceedings spotlight concerns related to the environmental and public health risks posed by potential coastal oil spills in California. This emphasis reflects the state's firm stance on maintaining stringent regulatory control over pipeline operations within its jurisdiction, prioritizing local authority above federal mandates. According to Bonta, the Trump Administration’s decision to expedite permission for pipeline activities appears to favor fossil fuel industry profits at the expense of safeguarding California’s coastal environment and the wellbeing of its residents.
From a market perspective, Sable Offshore's stock showed marked weakness in response to these developments. Trading data indicated that shares declined by approximately 13.23% to $10.76 during midday trading on Friday. Relative to technical indicators, the stock was observed to be trading 5.7% above its short-term 20-day simple moving average (SMA), a signal of some short-term upward movement. However, it remained 13% below its 100-day SMA, demonstrating challenges in sustaining longer-term strength.
When assessed over the last 12 months, the stock has endured a substantial loss of around 61.62%, positioning it closer to its 52-week low than its high point within this timeframe. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for SOC stands at 65.39, indicating a neutral zone that neither reflects oversold nor overbought conditions. Concurrently, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains above its signal line, suggesting the presence of bullish momentum.
The combination of a neutral RSI and positive MACD suggests a mixed momentum scenario for the stock, contributing to uncertainty about its immediate trading direction. Adding to this perspective, the Benzinga Edge scorecard assigned a bearish momentum score of 1.47 to Sable Offshore, underscoring weak performance metrics relative to broader market benchmarks and indicating caution for investors considering exposure to the stock amid ongoing challenges.
These market fluctuations occur against the backdrop of California's intensified legal scrutiny and regulatory efforts to challenge federal approvals that facilitate resumed oil transportation through Sable Offshore’s pipelines. The resolution of this legal dispute will be a critical factor influencing the company's operational status in the near term and could have implications for investor sentiment.