energy stocks There is a surge in 2026, driven by positive factors. Oil prices have remained high near $70 a barrel as OPEC+ production discipline tightened global supply and demand continued to recover and grow in Asia, especially China and India. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have added to the risk premium on crude oil prices. At the same time, the natural gas market has benefited from increased LNG export capacity and continued European demand away from Russian supplies.
Goldman Sachs is bullish on the top ten stocks in the energy sector.
Energy stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 so far in 2026 and are poised to continue this outperformance.
Top energy companies pay reliable, and in some cases huge, dividends.
A recent study found that there’s one habit that can double Americans’ retirement savings and take retirement from a dream to a reality. Read more here.
analysts Goldman Sachs began focusing on the energy sector last year as the sector continued to underperform the overall market. The tables have turned, and energy stocks are now outperforming the S&P 500 by a wide margin. In their Q1 Energy Portfolio Strategy Report, they highlighted ten leading companies in six of Goldman Sachs’ preferred industry sectors. Discussing energy stocks and the industry as a whole, they had this to say in their report:
The repricing of energy stocks has been significant this year, with XLE up 23% and the S&P up 1%. Factors driving the strength include positive revisions to GDP, a broader tech rotation, and positive oil momentum amid a smaller-than-expected surplus and geopolitical uncertainty. We continue to value the stock using a Brent crude oil price of $70 and a Henry Center Cycle mid-cycle view of $3.75. In this report, we discuss 10 ideas that we still think have attractive total returns, with the average total return being around 19%.
we filtered Top 10 stock picks with the biggest upside relative to Goldman Sachs price targets and solid dividend yields. In other words, we are looking for the candidate with the highest total return in the group. All are rated “buy” by Goldman Sachs.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images ·Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Goldman Sachs Is a recognized leader on Wall Street and in the global investment community. The company’s best-in-class research arm continuously provides institutional and high-net-worth clients with the best ideas across the investment universe. This may continue for many years.
as a leading U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE: LNG), with a 0.94% dividend, is poised to benefit from domestic AI-driven demand and international energy demand. Natural gas accounts for 43% of U.S. electricity production, and Cheniere’s ability to quickly scale operations makes it a key player. The company’s export capabilities also serve as a hedge against fluctuations in the domestic market. Some on Wall Street believe that electricity demand could grow as much as 160% by 2030.
Cheniere Energy is a U.S. producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The company supplies clean, safe liquefied natural gas to integrated energy companies, utilities and energy trading companies around the world. The company operates two natural gas liquefaction and export facilities: one in Sabine Pass, Louisiana (Sapine Pass LNG Terminal) and the other near Corpus Christi, Texas (Corpus Christi LNG Terminal).
Sabine Pass The LNG terminal has a natural gas liquefaction facility consisting of six operating trains, with a total LNG production capacity of approximately 30 million tons per year (mtpa).
corpus christi The LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas, consists of three LNG production trains, three LNG storage tanks and two offshore berths, with a total LNG production capacity of approximately 15 tons per year. It also owns and operates a 94-mile natural gas supply pipeline connecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal to several large interstate and intrastate pipelines.
Goldman Sachs The stock price target is $275, representing a 25% upside.
this company EQT Corp. (NYSE: EQT), one of the largest U.S. natural gas producers with a 1.14% dividend yield, is particularly active in the Appalachian Basin and is known for its low-cost production. It is a leading vertically integrated U.S. natural gas company with production and midstream operations focused primarily in the Appalachian Basin. It has operations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
its strategic nature Being located in the Southeast, especially close to data center hubs like Northern Virginia, makes it a prime provider of AI-powered energy services. EQT has secured agreements to supply natural gas to major data center campuses, including the redevelopment of a former coal-fired power plant in Homer, Pennsylvania, into a natural gas-powered data center.
EQT owns or lease approximately 610,000 net acres in Pennsylvania. Most of the area is in the southwestern region of the state, with much of it in Greene and Washington counties. The company is developing Marcellus and Upper Devonian shales in the area. It also owns or leases 405,000 net acres in West Virginia. Most of the acreage is in the northwestern region of the state, with much of it in Doddridge, Marion, Taylor and Wetzel counties.
it owns Or leases 65,000 net acres in eastern Ohio and is developing the Utica Shale in Belmont County. The company operates Utica wells throughout the Ohio region. The Marcellus Shale is located 1 mile or more below the surface in much of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia.
one of us Wall Street’s top 24/7 writers provide a thorough review of EQT stocks and explain in depth why they’re worth a big buy now.
Goldman Sachs The price target is $66. Reaching the target will result in a 16% return.
this is a The company is on Goldman Sachs’ Conviction List, with a dividend yield of 2.26% and significant upside potential to its price target. Golar LNG Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLNG) designs, owns and operates marine infrastructure for natural gas liquefaction and regasification, storage and offloading of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its fleet includes two floating liquefied natural gas carriers (FLNG).
corporate Market segments include:
Floating LNG
Enterprise and other
Shipping
Floating LNG This segment covers the operations of FLNG vessels and projects. It converts LNG carriers into floating LNG carriers, builds new ships, and contracts them to customers. This segment includes vessels such as FLNG Hilli, FLNG Gimi and MKII FLNG.
Shipping This segment focuses on the transportation business of LNG carriers.
enterprise Other divisions include administrative tasks, ship operations and maintenance services. It also provides FLNG commercial, operational and technical support; crew management services and supervision; and company secretarial, accounting and financial services.
Goral LNG Business scope:
Bermuda
U.K.
Norway
Cameroon
Croatia
Goldman Sachs A $56 price target was set, representing a 27% upside from current levels.
Viper Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: VNOM) owns and acquires minerals and royalties from oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin. This mid-cap energy stock has a 5.39% dividend yield and significant upside relative to Goldman Sachs’ price target. Viper Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and extraction of unconventional onshore oil and natural gas reserves, primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas.
company It focuses primarily on oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin, which covers approximately 75,000 square miles centered in Midland, Texas.
viper energy Assets include 1,197,638 gross acreage and 34,217 net royalty interests located primarily in the Permian Basin.
estimate Proven oil and natural gas reserves total 179,249 thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent (MBOE). The company’s proven undeveloped reserves include approximately 529 horizontal well locations. The company’s proven reserves include approximately 50% oil, 25% liquefied natural gas and 25% natural gas.
Goldman Sachs The $54 price target implies an impressive 23% upside from current levels.
The utility giant It will work with large technology companies to provide the power needed for data centers and cloud computing, and pay a small dividend of 0.56%. Vistra Corporation (NYSE: VST) is an integrated retail electric and generation company that provides critical resources to customers, businesses and communities from California to Maine.
company It operates a portfolio of reliable power generation facilities, including natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar and battery storage, while employing an innovative, customer-focused approach to its retail business.
its market segments include
retail
Texas
East
The west
asset closing
retail industry This segment sells electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Texas and East The segment is engaged in power generation, wholesale energy sales and procurement, commodity risk management activities, fuel procurement and logistics management.
The west The segment includes performance in the CAISO market, including the Moss Landing Power Plant battery ESS project.
asset closing This segment is engaged in the decommissioning and recycling of decommissioned plants and mines.
Goldman Sachs The stock has a price target of $205, representing a 28% upside.
Most Americans vastly underestimate how far they will need to retire and overestimate how ready they are. But data shows that people who have a habit will have more than double Savings for those who don’t.
No, it has nothing to do with increasing your income, saving, cutting coupons, or even reducing your lifestyle. It’s simpler (and more powerful) than any of them. Frankly, it’s shocking that more and more people aren’t adopting this habit, considering how easy it is.
