Sectors & IndustriesEnergy

Best Energy Stocks to Buy Now (2026)

Top energy stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best energy stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the energy sector.

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 energy stocks to buy right now are:

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) is the #1 top energy stock out of 219 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 Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) has a Due Diligence Score of 47, which is 16 points higher than the energy sector average of 31. It passed 17 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Valero Energy has seen its stock return 125.65% over the past year, overperforming other energy stocks by 80 percentage points.

Valero Energy has an average 1 year price target of $240.92, a downside of -0.34% from Valero Energy's current stock price of $241.74.

Valero Energy stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 12 analysts covering Valero Energy, 58.33% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 8.33% have issued a Buy, 33.33% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE:FET) is the #2 top energy stock out of 219 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 Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE:FET) is: Value: C, Growth: A, Momentum: A, Sentiment: B, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE:FET) has a Due Diligence Score of 18, which is -13 points lower than the energy sector average of 31. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates FET as a "A".It passed 5 out of 33 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Forum Energy Technologies has seen its stock return 299.93% over the past year, overperforming other energy stocks by 255 percentage points.

Flowco Holdings (NYSE:FLOC) is the #3 top energy stock out of 219 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 Flowco Holdings (NYSE:FLOC) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: A, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: B.

Flowco Holdings (NYSE:FLOC) has a Due Diligence Score of 33, which is 2 points higher than the energy sector average of 31. It passed 13 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Flowco Holdings has seen its stock return 17.56% over the past year, underperforming other energy stocks by -28 percentage points.

Flowco Holdings has an average 1 year price target of $28.67, an upside of 23.41% from Flowco Holdings's current stock price of $23.23.

Flowco Holdings stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 3 analysts covering Flowco Holdings, 33.33% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 66.67% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Out of 134 energy stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 energy stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ:IEP) has an annual dividend yield of 25.61%, which is 22 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.49%. Icahn Enterprises's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two times in the last 10 years. Icahn Enterprises's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Icahn Enterprises's dividend payout ratio of -384.6% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Mach Natural Resources (NYSE:MNR) has an annual dividend yield of 15.18%, which is 12 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.49%.

Mach Natural Resources's dividend payout ratio of 180.7% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Txo Partners (NYSE:TXO) has an annual dividend yield of 14.47%, which is 11 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.49%.

Txo Partners's dividend payout ratio of -397.7% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Energy stocks were up 1.53% in the last day, and down 0% over the last week. Greenland Energy Co was the among the top gainers in the energy sector, gaining 44.99% yesterday.

Shares of oil and gas-related companies are trading lower as Iranian and U.S. comments indicating that the Strait of Hormuz is open for passage is weighing on oil prices.

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 energy stocks right now are:

Riley Exploration Permian (NYSEMKT:REPX) is the most undervalued energy stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Riley Exploration Permian has a valuation score of 71, which is 43 points higher than the energy sector average of 28. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Riley Exploration Permian's stock has gained 43.72% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -1 percentage points.

Sm Energy Co (NYSE:SM) is the second most undervalued energy stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Sm Energy Co has a valuation score of 57, which is 29 points higher than the energy sector average of 28. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Sm Energy Co's stock has gained 25.81% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -19 percentage points.

Dynagas Lng Partners (NYSE:DLNG) is the third most undervalued energy stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Dynagas Lng Partners has a valuation score of 43, which is 15 points higher than the energy sector average of 28. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Dynagas Lng Partners's stock has gained 14.66% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -31 percentage points.

40.13% of energy stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect energy stocks to rise by 10.32% over the next year.

4.41% of energy stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 14.22% of energy stocks are rated B (Buy), 67.16% are rated C (Hold), 11.27% are rated D (Sell), and 2.94% are rated F (Strong Sell).