In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Oil Stocks to Buy Right Now.
On March 13, 3Fourteen’s Warren Pies appeared on CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ to talk about his view of the equity markets and whether oil prices are driving equities lower. Pies said that he is concerned, as they downgraded stocks a month ago from Overweight to Benchmark weight. According to him, this week has been about broader markets starting to embed the impact of the conflict in Iran, and oil is driving the bus right now. Next week is crucial, according to Pies, and if we don’t have a resolution or are at least moving towards a clear path to a resolution, it will be problematic for stocks.
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Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and former CIA Director, also appeared on CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell Overtime’ on March 13 to talk about the scenario around the Iran war, and stated that the problem right now is that Iran feels that as long as it can keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, it is going to produce “tremendous pressure” in terms of the price of oil. We have experienced the largest disruption in oil in recent history, accompanied by a dramatic increase in fuel prices. That gives Iran leverage, and for that reason, Panetta stated that he is a little surprised that there was no plan to deal with the closure in place.
With these broader trends in view, let’s look at the best oil stocks to buy right now.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to compile a list of the best stocks operating in the oil industry and selected the top 10 most popular among elite hedge funds as of Q3 2025. We sourced the hedge fund data from Insider Monkey’s database. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.
Note: All data was recorded on March 13.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Best Oil Stocks to Buy Right Now
10. Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR)
Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) received a rating update from Piper Sander on March 12, with the firm raising the price target on the stock to $27 from $24 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that it raised its mid-cycle crude price forecast to $75 per barrel from $70 amid the Iran war, and cited its increased price deck for the bump in the price targets for the stocks in the sector. Piper anticipates lasting supply impacts and stated that higher prices are required to incentivize investment in production.
Previously, Piper Sandler adjusted the price target on Permian Resources Corporation to $24 from $20 on March 5 and maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. It told investors that the rotation trade got a shot in the arm that week, with the Iran war putting 20% of global oil, product, and gas supply at risk. It added that although the fiscal Q4 results and FY26 outlooks have been overshadowed by the war, the firm expects little change from U.S. operators in the wake of the conflict.
Permian Resources is an independent natural gas and oil company specializing in acquiring, optimizing, and developing oil and natural gas properties. A significant majority of the company’s assets are concentrated within the Delaware Basin in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, and Reeves and Ward Counties, Texas.
9. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG)
EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Barclays lifted the price target on EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) to $140 from $133 on March 13 and reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. It believes that cash flow tailwinds for the exploration and production group are continuing to remain underappreciated, and while the oil spike is “unlikely to last for long”, the firm believes that the market is underappreciating the cash flow benefit, as well as the the “durable benefit”, it will have on the group’s capacity to raise cash returns beyond the conflict.
UBS also raised the price target on EOG Resources, Inc. to $158 from $149 on March 5 and reaffirmed a Buy rating on the shares. It told investors in a research note that prolonged conflict in the Middle East and potential Qatar gas supply disruptions appear to be underpriced by the market, and this may lift oil and natural gas prices while driving the strongest free cash flow upside for companies producing both oil and gas.
EOG Resources, Inc. explores, develops, produces, and markets natural gas and crude oil. Its operations are divided into the following geographical segments: the United States, Trinidad, and Other International.
8. Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO)
Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Goldman Sachs lifted the price target on Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO) to $237 from $203 on March 12, maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that estimates across the U.S. Majors and Canadian Oils have been updated to reflect recent Middle East disruptions, with price targets raised despite strong year-to-date equity performance. Previously, Goldman Sachs removed Valero Energy Corp from its US Conviction List on March 2 as part of its monthly update.
In its fiscal Q4 and full year 2025 results, Valero Energy Corp reported net income attributable to stockholders of $1.1 billion, or $3.73 per share, for the quarter and $2.3 billion, or $7.57 per share, for the year. Reported adjusted net income attributable to Valero Energy Corp stockholders was $1.2 billion, or $3.82 per share, for fiscal Q4 and $3.3 billion, or $10.61 per share, for the full year 2025.
Valero Energy Corp operates in the oil refining/marketing industry and is involved in the manufacture and marketing of transportation fuels and other petrochemical products. It conducts operations through the following business segments: Refining, Ethanol, and Renewable Diesel.
7. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. On March 13, Barclays lifted the price target on ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) to $128 from $118 and reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares, lifting 2026 oil price estimates on the Iran war.
ConocoPhillips also received a rating update from Piper Sandler on March 12. The firm raised the price target on the stock to $154 from $111 and reaffirmed an Overweight rating on the shares, stating that it is revising price targets and forward estimates on the back of a $5.00/bbl increase in its mid-cycle WTI price forecast, driven by the lasting effects of the conflict in Iran. Piper stated that although the duration of outages in the Middle East remains highly uncertain, its commodity macro team expects that 2026 crude balances will tighten by about 2.0 Mb/d compared to previous expectations, with lingering impacts/risk premiums and global resource tightening raising the bar on future investment.
ConocoPhillips is an exploration and production company that explores, transports, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas, and bitumen. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, Asia Pacific, and Other International.
6. Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY)
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) received a rating update from Barclays on March 13, with the firm lifting the price target on the stock to $59 from $55 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the shares. It told investors in a research note that even though the oil spike is “unlikely to last for long,” the market is underappreciating the cash flow benefit and the “durable benefit” it will have on the group’s capacity to increase cash returns beyond the conflict.
In another development, Occidental Petroleum Corporation was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral by Piper Sandler on March 12, with the firm lifting the price target on the stock to $66 from $54. The firm raised its mid-cycle crude price forecast to $75 per barrel from $70 amid conflict in Iran, expecting lasting supply impacts. It attributed the upgrade to its increased price deck and stated that higher prices are required to incentivize investment in production.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation is involved in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. The company’s operations are divided into the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing.
5. SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB)
SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Bernstein adjusted the price target on SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) to $56.10 from $52.30 on March 12, reiterating an Outperform rating on the shares and telling investors that it is adjusting its model after the company’s announcement that the fiscal Q1 2026 revenue will be “lower than expected”. Bernstein said that this may correspond to a Q1 revenue/EBITDA/EPS of $8.7B/$1.871B/53c, according to the firm’s estimates. Somewhat counter-intuitively, the firm takes advantage to raise its price target as it rolls over its DCF to highlight a still very supportive environment for oil services stocks.
SLB N.V. provided an update on its operations in the Middle East and fiscal Q1 outlook on March 11, stating that SLB revenue for fiscal Q1 will be lower than expected. The company also expects to incur extra costs, resulting in an impact of approximately 6-9 cents of earnings per diluted share for Q1.
SLB N.V. is involved in the provision of energy technology, with its operations divided into the following business segments: Digital, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, Production Systems, and All Other.
4. Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR)
Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Barclays lifted the price target on Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) to $43 from $41 on March 13, reaffirming an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm told investors that it believes cash flow tailwinds for the exploration and production group remain underappreciated and has lifted its 2026 oil price estimates due to the Iran war. Barclays also stated that while the oil spike is “unlikely to last for long,” the cash flow benefit is being underappreciated by the market, as is the “durable benefit” it will have on the group’s capacity to raise cash returns beyond the conflict.
Antero Resources Corporation also received rating updates from Goldman Sachs and Benchmark on March 13 and March 5, respectively. Goldman Sachs lifted the price target on the stock to $44 from $39 and reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. Meanwhile, Antero Resources Corporation was upgraded to Buy from Hold by Benchmark, with the firm setting a $44 price target.
Antero Resources Corporation operates in the oil and gas production segment, and operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production, Marketing, and Equity Method Investment in Antero Midstream. Its Exploration and Production segment is involved with the development and production of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and oil.
3. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. On March 13, Barclays raised the price target on Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) to $180 from $172 and reaffirmed an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors in a research note that it raised its 2026 oil price estimates on the Iran war, and believes that the cash flow tailwinds are still underappreciated for the exploration and production group. Barclays also told investors that although the oil spike is not likely to last for long, the market is underappreciating the cash flow benefit and the “durable benefit” it will have on the group’s capacity to lift cash returns beyond the conflict.
Chevron Corporation also received a rating update from Piper Sandler on March 12, with the firm adjusting the price target on the stock to $242 from $179 and reiterating an Overweight rating on the shares. Piper said that although the duration of outages in the Middle East remains highly uncertain, the firm’s commodity macro team, led by Global Energy Strategist Jan Stuart, expects the 2026 crude balances to tighten by about 2.0 Mb/d compared to prior expectations.
Chevron Corporation provides oil and gas energy solutions, including crude oil and natural gas, the manufacture of transportation fuels, petrochemicals, lubricants, and additives, and the development of technologies that boost business and the industry. Its operations are divided into the Upstream and Downstream segments.
2. Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE)
Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) received a rating update from Barclays on March 13. The firm lifted the price target on the stock to $127 from $125 and reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. Piper Sandler also raised the price target on Expand Energy Corporation to $138 from $136 on March 12 and reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares, citing its increased price deck for the target revision.
In a separate development, Expand Energy Corporation announced on March 3 that it has formed and strengthened partnerships with leading brands aimed at streamlining and enhancing its operations, with each partnership reflecting the benefits of the adoption of the latest technology. These partnerships include deploying Leucipa’s automated field production solution to improve operational efficiencies with partner Baker Hughes, adopting a leading data integration platform to unify and activate data for smarter operational decision-making with partner Snowflake, and bringing next-generation, low-emission electric pressure pumping technology to NE App with partner Evolution Well Services.
Expand Energy Corporation is involved in the production and development of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Its operations include Haynesville, Northeast Appalachia, and Southwest Appalachia.
1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the best oil stocks to buy right now. Barclays lifted the price target on Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) to $163 from $145 on March 13, maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares and telling investors in a research note that it raised 2026 oil price estimates due to the Iran war. It believes that cash flow tailwinds for the exploration and production group are continuing to remain underappreciated, and while the oil spike is “unlikely to last for long”, the firm believes that the market is underappreciating the cash flow benefit, as well as the “durable benefit” it will have on the group’s capacity to raise cash returns beyond the conflict.
Exxon Mobil Corporation also received a rating update from Piper Sandler on March 12, with the firm adjusting the price target on the stock to $186 from $145 and reiterating an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm told investors that, driven by the lasting effects of the war in Iran, it is revising forward estimates and price targets on the back of a $5.00/bbl rise in its mid-cycle WTI price forecast. Piper further stated that although the duration of outages in the Middle East remains highly uncertain, its commodity macro team expects 2026 crude balances to tighten by about 2.0 Mb/d vs. prior expectations. Furthermore, lingering impacts/risk premiums and global resource tightening will raise the bar on future investment.
Exxon Mobil Corporation is involved in the exploration, development, and distribution of oil, gas, and petroleum products. The company’s operations are divided into the following segments: Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products.
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