These two leaders focus on their strengths

Article Excerpt

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY $25.35 (New York symbol CHK; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (405-848-8000; www.chkenergy.com; Shares outstanding: 665.8 million; Market cap: $16.9 billion; Dividend yield: 1.4%) is one of the largest U.S.-based oil and natural gas explorers and producers. Its production mix is 72% gas and 28% oil. Chesapeake’s shares have nearly doubled since mid- 2012, when activist investor Carl Icahn bought a stake in the firm. Icahn, who has a history of pushing companies to make changes that raise shareholder value, subsequently replaced four of Chesapeake’s eight board members with his nominees. The company also pushed out controversial co-founder, CEO and chairman Aubrey K. McClendon. The company continues to restructure by selling non-essential properties and assets. That lets it pay down debt and focus on areas with strong potential. Most recently, the company set up its oilfield services division as a separate publicly traded firm. In June 2014, Chesapeake handed out shares in this new company, called Seventy Seven Energy, as…