Global diesel supplies are tight, with export bans from China and Russia pushing governments to put energy security ahead of everything else. When fuel flows get complicated, pricing power often shifts toward the biggest producers and refiners. That is why the largest listed oil and gas operators are back in focus. This article highlights three of the strongest US oil and gas stocks from our screener that may be worth a closer look.
The three stocks covered below are just a starting sample, and the full screen surfaced 32 more oil and gas companies with equally compelling narratives that are not covered in this article.
To identify and analyze your own highest conviction ideas in the sector, head straight to the Oil and Gas screener
Chord Energy (CHRD)
Chord Energy is a pure play on upstream oil and gas, with its entire business focused on producing crude oil, natural gas, and liquids from the Williston Basin. It generated about US$6b in revenue from this activity while carrying a roughly US$7.5b market value.
For investors looking at tight diesel markets and wider concerns about energy security, Chord Energy offers direct exposure to US shale barrels. Its Williston Basin drilling program is central to that story and is now attracting fresh interest.
"Strong execution of longer-lateral (4-mile) drilling, with early results significantly outperforming expectations, positions Chord to lower breakeven costs and increase access to previously marginal acreage. This enables volume growth with reduced capital intensity and supports higher net margins and free cash flow in the coming years."
What matters next is how one less visible pressure in this playbook ultimately feeds through into the durability of those improved margins.
That quiet pressure point is exactly what the full narrative for Chord Energy unpacks, showing how execution, capital discipline and risk trade offs could reshape Chord Energy’s next chapter.
Viper Energy (VNOM)
Viper Energy gives you exposure to the Permian Basin oil and gas theme through ownership of mineral and royalty interests rather than drilling rigs, with about US$1.9b from acquiring oil and natural gas properties in the US and a roughly US$14.9b market value.
Instead of running wells itself, Viper Energy lets other operators handle the heavy lifting while it collects production-linked royalties from key Permian acreage.
"Viper avoids drilling capital, but it also gives up drilling control. Operators decide when to develop the acreage."
What happens if a single assumption about how quickly that third party drilling turns mineral rights into royalty cash flows eventually shifts?
That timing risk is exactly what the full narrative for Viper Energy unpacks, showing how operator decisions could either stall royalty cash flows or accelerate Viper Energy’s payout engine.
ConocoPhillips (COP)
ConocoPhillips is a large upstream oil and gas producer focused on crude oil, natural gas, NGLs and LNG, earning most of its roughly US$63.5b operating revenue from the Lower 48 at about US$44.0b, with Alaska and Canada adding around US$6.1b and US$6.3b respectively, and the group valued near US$155.4b.
For investors who want exposure to large scale oil and gas production rather than just refining or services, ConocoPhillips offers a globally spread portfolio that leans heavily on Lower 48 shale, Alaska fields and LNG projects, with one key LNG growth swing now attracting fresh attention.
"Global LNG market tightness, combined with ConocoPhillips securing 12 MTPA of LNG offtake and expecting first LNG from projects such as Port Arthur from 2027, points to a growing contribution from LNG marketing that could support higher revenue and cash flow than currently reflected in the stock."
What really matters is how one assumption about future project execution and capital discipline ultimately filters through to long term margins and cash generation.
That execution question is where the full narrative for ConocoPhillips goes further. It maps how project timing, capital choices and LNG exposure could accelerate or stall ConocoPhillips’ long term cash engine.
Seeking Alternatives Before The Crowd Moves?
Fresh ideas move first. Stocks gaining quiet momentum can be flying under the radar for now, before the crowd catches on and pricing shifts.
- Spot resilient cash generators before they are widely talked about by scanning the list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (25 results) that filters for sturdy finances and cleaner fundamentals.
- Review the 7 dividend fortresses built around businesses offering higher payout streams.
- Explore early movers in digital assets exposure by using the curated 20 cryptocurrency and blockchain stocks focused on companies building businesses related to cryptocurrencies and blockchain infrastructure.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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