OXY, FANG, GPOR, RICE attractive amid energy uncertainty, analyst says

• Occidental Petroleum (OXY +3.7%), Diamondback Energy (FANG +1.2%), Gulfport Energy (GPOR +3.3%) and Rice Energy (RICE +1.3%) are recommended by Sterne Agee CRT analyst Tim Rezvan as "high conviction long ideas" in the energy sector for investors wary of the group amid structural issues facing global oil markets that appear unlikely to abate this year.
• OXY shares are "an attractive port amid the current oil volatility storm," Rezvan writes, believing the sustainable 4.6% yield - vs. other less stable, higher yielding energy equities - should provide a floor for the shares near the current level.
• FANG is seen as an underlevered pure-play in a premier oil shale basin with no legacy assets to weigh on operating expenses, which the firm says maintains the lowest full-cycle costs in its coverage group.