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:

Par Pacific Holdings (NYSE:PARR) 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 Par Pacific Holdings (NYSE:PARR) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Par Pacific Holdings (NYSE:PARR) has a Due Diligence Score of 50, which is 19 points higher than the energy sector average of 31. It passed 16 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Par Pacific Holdings has seen its stock return 361.12% over the past year, overperforming other energy stocks by 316 percentage points.

Par Pacific Holdings has an average 1 year price target of $70.17, an upside of 13.98% from Par Pacific Holdings's current stock price of $61.56.

Par Pacific Holdings stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 6 analysts covering Par Pacific Holdings, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 16.67% have issued a Buy, 33.33% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) 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 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 114.43% over the past year, overperforming other energy stocks by 69 percentage points.

Valero Energy has an average 1 year price target of $238.00, an upside of 1.98% from Valero Energy's current stock price of $233.39.

Valero Energy stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 13 analysts covering Valero Energy, 53.85% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 7.69% have issued a Buy, 30.77% have issued a Hold, while 7.69% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE:FET) 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 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 291.02% over the past year, overperforming other energy stocks by 246 percentage points.

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 24.83%, which is 21 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.5%. 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 15.27%, which is 12 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.5%.

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 14.37%, which is 11 percentage points higher than the energy sector average of 3.5%.

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 1.4% in the last day, and up 0.53% over the last week. Battalion Oil was the among the top gainers in the energy sector, gaining 38.76% yesterday.

Shares of oil and gas-related companies are trading higher as crude prices jump amid uncertainty over whether the U.S. and Iran will hold peace talks before the ceasefire expires on April 22, raising the risk of renewed conflict.

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 39.11% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -6 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 27.52% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -18 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 20.24% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the energy sector by -25 percentage points.

39.1% of energy stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect energy stocks to rise by 11.85% over the next year.

3.92% of energy stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 14.71% of energy stocks are rated B (Buy), 65.2% are rated C (Hold), 12.75% are rated D (Sell), and 3.43% are rated F (Strong Sell).