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These days, enough top-performing CAPS members are feeling bullish about oil and gas giant CNOOC (NYSE:CEO) to upgrade it from a four-star rank to a more formidable five stars. A total of 1,183 members have weighed in on CNOOC, with many offering analysis and commentary to explain their recent optimism.

While Big Oil companies ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) have been reporting mixed results, CNOOC said it pulled in profits of nearly $10 billion in 2008, with revenue rising 22%. Although oil prices and Chinese stocks have been knocked down to low levels, CNOOC has maintained a growth track that includes plans to increase production by 14% this year.    

Stimulus spending in China has begun, and CNOOC expects to boost capital expenditures this year to $6.76 billion, a 19% increase, which it expects will fuel growth for several years. It expects to bring 10 new projects into play in 2009, including ones in Nigeria and Indonesia, and it already has partnerships with PetroVietnam and Petrobras (NYSE:PBR). It also plans massive exploration in the South China Sea with the help of Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE:APC) and Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN). Many CAPS members consider cheap shares of CNOOC an opportunity not to be missed, and nearly 97% of the 1,183 members rating CNOOC expect it to outperform the market.

To see what the very best CAPS analysts are saying now about CNOOC -- and discover the other winning stocks they are picking -- head on over to CAPS and have a look. Unlike analysts' opinions, which only go to paying clients, the community research and resources in CAPS are totally free.

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