Energy News-to-Know: SandRidge Energy Inc. (SD), Chesapeake Energy Corporation (CHK), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM)

Editor’s Note: SandRidge Energy Inc. (NYSE:SD), Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Will SandRidge Energy Inc. (SD) Bite You? (Insider Monkey)
SandRidge Energy Inc. (NYSE:SD) is a very popular energy stock, both among everyday investors and money managers. In the 21st century investor’s toolkit, there are tons of methods shareholders can use to track Mr. Market. Two of the most underrated are hedge fund and insider trading interest. At Insider Monkey, our research analyses have shown that, historically, those who follow the best picks of the top investment managers can trounce the S&P 500 by a very impressive amount (see just how much).

Leon leaves Sand Ridge charter (Lebanon Express)
SandRidge Energy Inc. (NYSE:SD) Charter School Principal John Leon was laid off. “I’m not going to create news for you,” Sand Ridge director Mary Northern said when the Lebanon Express asked what happened to Leon. “Well, he’s doing other things, I don’t know. He got a master’s last year,” Northern said. “Yes, he got laid off. There was no agreement made with the charter school, but he did get laid off.”

UPDATE 1-China, Indonesia to join Exxon at giant Iraqi oilfield (Reuters)
China and Indonesia are set to join Exxon Mobil’s $50 billion project to develop Iraq’s West Qurna-1 oilfield, company and industry sources said on Thursday. Various scenarios for farming out Exxon’s 60 percent stake in the giant oilfield are still under discussion, but at this stage China’s biggest energy firm PetroChina is expected to take 25 percent and Indonesia’s state-owned Pertamina 10 percent, they said.

Exxon Russian Project on Track (Zacks)
U.S. energy behemoth Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and Rosneft – Russia’s biggest oil producer – are steadily progressing towards the construction of an LNG plant in the Russian Far East. The duo has commenced a process for selecting a contractor for undertaking the design and engineering work of the project.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. Rating Lowered to Neutral at Susquehanna (WatchList News)
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE:CHK) was downgraded by investment analysts at Susquehanna from a “positive” rating to a “neutral” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports. They currently have a $26.00 target price on the stock. Susquehanna’s target price suggests a potential upside of 2.97% from the stock’s previous close. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.