Sectors & IndustriesEnergyOil & Gas E&P
Best Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top oil and gas stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best oil and gas stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Oil & Gas E&P
C
Oil and Gas is Zen Rated C and is the 85th ranked industry out of 146 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Zen Rating
Value
Growth
Momentum
Sentiment
Safety
Financials
AI
1w Zen Rating
1m Zen Rating
3m Zen Rating
1y Zen Rating
REI
RING ENERGY INC
ABCBACCAACBC
CHRD
CHORD ENERGY CORP
BCBBCCCCBCDC
EOG
EOG RESOURCES INC
BCCBCCABBCCC
SM
SM ENERGY CO
BBCCBDCBBCCC
CRGY
CRESCENT ENERGY CO
BBCCBCCCBBCC

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Use the proven Zen Ratings quant model to find stocks with high potential to beat the market. Stocks Zen-Rated "A" have beaten the market by +32.52% annually. Learn More

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Oil and Gas Stocks FAQ

What are the best oil and gas stocks to buy right now in May 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best oil stocks to buy right now are:

1. Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI)


Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI) is the #1 top oil and gas stock out of 73 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: A.

Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI) has a Due Diligence Score of 16, which is -13 points lower than the oil and gas industry average of 29. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates REI as a "A".

REI passed 5 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Ring Energy has seen its stock return 85.23% over the past year, overperforming other oil and gas stocks by 67 percentage points.

2. Chord Energy (NASDAQ:CHRD)


Chord Energy (NASDAQ:CHRD) is the #2 top oil and gas stock out of 73 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Chord Energy (NASDAQ:CHRD) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Chord Energy (NASDAQ:CHRD) has a Due Diligence Score of 29, which is equal to the oil and gas industry average of 29.

CHRD passed 10 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Chord Energy has seen its stock return 59.71% over the past year, overperforming other oil and gas stocks by 41 percentage points.

Chord Energy has an average 1 year price target of $156.00, an upside of 9.21% from Chord Energy's current stock price of $142.85.

Chord Energy stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 11 analysts covering Chord Energy, 54.55% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 18.18% have issued a Buy, 27.27% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Eog Resources (NYSE:EOG)


Eog Resources (NYSE:EOG) is the #3 top oil and gas stock out of 73 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Eog Resources (NYSE:EOG) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: B.

Eog Resources (NYSE:EOG) has a Due Diligence Score of 42, which is 13 points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 29.

EOG passed 15 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Eog Resources has seen its stock return 27.47% over the past year, overperforming other oil and gas stocks by 9 percentage points.

Eog Resources has an average 1 year price target of $150.21, an upside of 7.31% from Eog Resources's current stock price of $139.98.

Eog Resources stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 14 analysts covering Eog Resources, 28.57% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 7.14% have issued a Buy, 64.29% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the oil and gas stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 39 oil and gas stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 oil and gas stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Mach Natural Resources (NYSE:MNR)


Mach Natural Resources (NYSE:MNR) has an annual dividend yield of 12.87%, which is 9 percentage points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 4.07%.

Mach Natural Resources's dividend payout ratio of 255.8% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Vitesse Energy (NYSE:VTS)


Vitesse Energy (NYSE:VTS) has an annual dividend yield of 11.71%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 4.07%.

Vitesse Energy's dividend payout ratio of -434% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Txo Partners (NYSE:TXO)


Txo Partners (NYSE:TXO) has an annual dividend yield of 10.62%, which is 7 percentage points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 4.07%.

Txo Partners's dividend payout ratio of -92.9% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are oil and gas stocks down?

Oil and gas stocks were down -1.41% in the last day, and up 0.57% over the last week.

We couldn't find a catalyst for why oil and gas stocks are down.

What are the most undervalued oil and gas stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued oil and gas stocks right now are:

1. Apa (NASDAQ:APA)


Apa (NASDAQ:APA) is the most undervalued oil and gas stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Apa has a valuation score of 57, which is 28 points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 29. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Apa's stock has gained 131.78% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the oil and gas industry by 113 percentage points.

2. Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI)


Ring Energy (NYSEMKT:REI) is the second most undervalued oil and gas stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Ring Energy has a valuation score of 14, which is -15 points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 29. It passed 1 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates REI a Valuation Rating of "B".

Ring Energy's stock has gained 85.23% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the oil and gas industry by 67 percentage points.

3. Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR)


Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) is the third most undervalued oil and gas stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Gulfport Energy has a valuation score of 71, which is 42 points higher than the oil and gas industry average of 29. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Gulfport Energy's stock has dropped -7.42% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the oil and gas industry by -26 percentage points.

Are oil and gas stocks a good buy now?

45.83% of oil and gas stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect oil and gas stocks to rise by 19.95% over the next year.

1.45% of oil and gas stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 14.49% of oil and gas stocks are rated B (Buy), 65.22% are rated C (Hold), 11.59% are rated D (Sell), and 7.25% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the oil & gas e&p industry?

The average P/E ratio of the oil & gas e&p industry is 28.76x.
WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.