Monday, February 23, 2026

Monday End-Of-Day Report -- February 23, 2026

Locator: 50040B. 

A DEI hire? That's all I could think of when I saw this headline in The New York Times

Focus on dividends: YUM!

  • raises dividend from 71 cents to 75 cents quarterly
  • record date, February 20, 2026
  • pay date: March 6, 2026

Market: I have to laugh. 

Folks seem upset that the market dropped 1% to 2% today -- Micron is up 261% over the past six months. Is anyone paying attention? And, on top of that, for those companies that have not done as well, this provides a buying opportunity. But more important, on days like this, the market is providing more clarity for investors, if not traders. 
CAT down 0.4% today -- four-tenths of one percent. CAT is up 75% over the past six month. 
Dividends: ENB pays 5.44% and was up 1.6% today; EPD pays 6.05% and was up up very slightly today; and, finally, OKE was down today after superb earnings but still pays 4.9%, after raising its dividend last month. I grew up in an era when a dividend of 6% was considered "good." 

White House

US women's Olympic Hockey team politely declines invitation to attend SOTU address tomorrow night; US men's team, also a gold medal winner (!) has not yet had a chance to RSVP. My recommendation: teams should not attend. Period. Dot. I might talk about this later, but this is a no-brainer. I was often a member of a "rent-a-crowd" while in the USAF and attended any number of "such" functions when on active duty. It became tedious. This is a time for these folks to enjoy time with their families and close friends. 

My favorite thread today? Canadian hockey coach whining about losing -- link here

There are so may story lines here. You know, it's pretty funny. Olympic hockey -- overtime -- 3 v 3. The US got an incredible opportunity in regulation time when they were at the wrong end of a 5 v 3 power play -- LOL. So, in regulation time, the US (3 players) beat Canada (with five players) in a power play, get great practice for overtime when its 3 v 3. LOL. And, then, of course, there are the "Americas" that are upset the US won. LOL. See comments from Jack Hughes' mother. Link here.

Reminiscing: wow -- flashing across my mind right now -- my halcyon days --idyllically happy and peaceful -- while in Yorkshire in the early 2000s. 

What I would give -- short of giving up my family -- if I could return to those days. For an extended period of my time in the USAF, I only had to be "in the office 0800 - 1600" Monday through Friday and not allowed to be in the office on weekends or after hours. No "rent-a-crowd" responsibilities. 
My only "job" after hours during this extended period was a) reading; b) hiking for hours across the Yorkshire moors; and, c) well, that was it. Nothing else -- oh, yes, that's right -- listening to Hank Williams, Sr, on my Sony Walkman! 

***********************
Back to the Bakken

OKE earnings: link here.

  • raised dividend from $1.03 to $1.07;
  • record date February 20, 2026;
  • pay date: March 6, 2026

WTI: $66.31.

Active rigs: 26.

No new permits.

One producing well (a DUC) was reported as completed:

  • 41701, 270, Marlo Operating, Tosco Brach 5, Bowman County.
  • SWNE 13-129-104, 1554 FNL 1577 FEL. Wildcat.
    • spud date: 6/22/25
    • date off confidential: 12/22/25
    • permit: 160-acre spacing unit; NW/4 section 18-129-103.
    • Red River pool; wildcat
    • if it weren't for the interest in the Bakken revolution / North Dakota oil industry, this would not have been on my radar scope. 
    • no other information of interest to me in the file report.

*****************************
Marlo Operating

An exploration and and production company.  

Physical address:

  • 8200 Camp Bowie West Boulevard, Suite A, within the NAE Contracting Building, Fort Worth, Texas.

Mailing address:

  • PO Box 470503, Fort Worth Texas, 76147 
File NoCTB NoAPI NoWell TypeWell StatusStatus DateDTDLocationOperatorWell NameField
41258
3301101560OGNC5/27/20259943NENE 19-129-103MARLO OPERATING COMPANY, LLCTOSCO Branch 2WILDCAT
41700
3301101562OGNC6/4/20259508NENE 19-129-103MARLO OPERATING COMPANY, LLCTOSCO Branch 4WILDCAT
41282
3301101561OGNC6/19/20259724SWNE 13-129-104MARLO OPERATING COMPANY, LLCTOSCO Branch 1WILDCAT
41701
3301101563OGA8/24/202510112SWNE 13-129-104MARLO OPERATING COMPANY, LLCTOSCO Branch 5WILDCAT

Webpage: link here.