In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 high-yield crude oil stocks to buy after Trump’s blitz in Venezuela.
After a dismal year in 2025, the American crude oil industry is back in the spotlight following the recent US actions in Venezuela, which ended with the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. The United States is now taking control of Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, with President Trump pushing American companies to spend at least $100 billion to help revive the South American country’s crumbling oil infrastructure.
While the President seems optimistic, American oil operators remain cautious, mostly due to their troubled past in Venezuela. The country has had a complicated relationship with international oil firms and has a history of nationalizing their assets and forcing them to leave. Therefore, while the oil executives see an opportunity, they have ongoing concerns about the country’s political stability and whether they could trust the interim government in Caracas being run by Delcy Rodriguez.
Moreover, the decision to invest tens of billions of dollars in a country marred by uncertainties is especially hard in the current low-priced environment. Brent crude futures dipped by 19% in 2025, marking their third straight year of losses, while US WTI crude also fell by nearly 20% YoY.
However, Venezuela’s oil reserves still present a significant opportunity for some, and here are the Best Oil Dividend Stocks that Could Benefit from the US Action in Venezuela.
Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we observed various companies operating in the crude oil sector and then shortlisted the ones with an annual dividend yield of over 2% as of January 12, 2026. Then we ranked these stocks by the number of hedge funds invested in them at the end of Q3 2025, as per the Insider Monkey database. To keep our list relevant to the topic, we have only selected American companies that stand to potentially benefit from the US action in Venezuela. The following are the Best Oil Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 3.27%
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP), together with its subsidiaries, provides drilling solutions and technologies for oil and gas exploration and production companies.
On January 7, TD Cowen analyst Marc Bianchi raised the firm’s price target from $33 to $35, while maintaining a ‘Hold’ rating on the shares. The revised target, which comes as part of the firm’s Q4 preview, indicates an upside of over 14% from current levels.
The analyst noted that many oilfield stocks posted gains on the news of the US action in Venezuela, which has led to American oil companies potentially gaining access to the largest oil reserves in the world. However, American companies will require significant time and guarantees from the White House before they commit to investing tens of billions to revive Venezuela’s crumbling oil infrastructure. TD Cowen believes that while the market’s excited reaction to the news may be overdone, some oil stocks still remain ‘cheap’.
It needs mentioning that Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP) is still trying to get paid on $90 million of invoices and recover 11 drilling rigs seized by Venezuela in 2010. So the current US action to oust President Maduro and gain control of the country’s oil reserves may just prove to be of assistance.
9. PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 3.35%
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners and suppliers of unbranded transportation fuels, heating oil, petrochemical feedstocks, lubricants, and other petroleum products in the United States.
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) received a boost on January 8 when Piper Sandler double upgraded the stock from Underweight to Overweight. However, the analyst also reduced its price target on the stock from $42 to $40, still indicating an upside potential of 22% from the current share price. The revision comes as Piper Sandler expects West Coast balances to tighten materially this year.
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) disclosed on January 5 that it now expects the rebuild activities at its Martinez refinery to progress into February. The 157,000 bpd refinery was damaged by a fire in February 2025 and has been operating at partial capacity since early in the second quarter of 2025. Despite the delay, Piper Sandler believes that the petroleum refiner remains among the most levered to PADD 5.
Moreover, the analyst highlighted that while PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF)’s organic cash flow generation falls behind its peers, the insurance proceeds from the fire incident will help support its balance sheet and may even offer the potential of shareholder returns if margins rise. PBF is the only US refiner trading well below its recent highs, and at around 4X EV/EBITDA, the analyst thinks that the stock remains inexpensive.
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) stands to benefit from the US blitz in Venezuela as it already buys the country’s crude from Chevron and could potentially take more, as it is well-suited to its refining operations. The potential of large amounts of cheaper Venezuelan oil entering the country would also reduce the prices that US buyers pay to Canadian producers and help increase their margins.
8. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 3.46%
Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that is engaged in refining, transporting, and marketing fuels.
Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) announced on January 5 that it had agreed to acquire the assets and infrastructure of Lindsey Oil Refinery in northern England, expanding the company’s footprint in the UK. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Phillips 66 revealed that it does not plan to restart standalone operations at the refinery and instead aims to integrate its assets into the company’s Humber Refinery complex in North Lincolnshire.
Paul Fursey, UK lead executive of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), stated:
“Agreeing to acquire Lindsey Oil Refinery assets and associated infrastructure marks an important step for Phillips 66 Limited as we continue to invest in the UK’s energy security.”
Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is positioned to benefit from the situation in Venezuela as its refineries are specifically designed to process heavy sour grade crude like that from the South American country. According to the company’s CFO, Kevin Mitchell, Phillips 66 has the capacity to process a couple of hundred thousand barrels per day of cheaper Venezuelan crude at its Sweeny and Lake Charles refineries.
With a robust annual dividend yield of 3.46% as of the writing of this piece, Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) was recently included in our list of the Best Energy Stocks to Buy for a Retirement Stock Portfolio.
7. Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 2.13%
Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is one of the largest providers of products and services to the energy industry in the world.
On January 7, Susquehanna raised its price target on Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) from $29 to $36, while maintaining a ‘Positive’ rating on the shares. The revised target indicates an upside of over 10% from current levels. The analyst believes that the US drilling and completions activity ‘appears to have held in better than most were expecting’, since the country’s rig and frac spread count remained flattish from Q3 levels as we enter the Q4 earnings season.
Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) has surged by over 15% since the beginning of 2026, as the market weighs the potential impact of the US action in Venezuela. While the situation remains unclear for now, investors believe that reviving the South American country’s crumbling oil infrastructure would require exactly what companies like Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) provide: rigs, crews, and equipment to drill and complete wells.
Moreover, just before Maduro’s arrest, Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) had filed an international arbitration case against Venezuela over hundreds of millions in broken contracts and accounts receivable, after it had to leave the country entirely in 2020 due to sanctions. So the company could expect some compensation if the Trump administration manages to replace the Maduro regime with a more US-friendly administration.
6. HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 4.04%
HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO) is an independent petroleum refiner in the United States with operations throughout the mid-continent, southwestern, and Rocky Mountain regions.
HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO) announced on January 8 that it has completed the acquisition of Industrial Oils Unlimited, a leader in industrial lubricants and specialty fluids, following satisfaction of all requisite closing conditions. First announced in December 2025, the $38 million deal will bolster HF Sinclair’s position as an innovative leader in lubricants and specialty fluids.
Matthew Joyce, President of Lubricants & Specialties at HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO), stated when the deal was first announced last month:
“This acquisition represents a strategic step forward for HF Sinclair’s Lubricants & Specialties segment, allowing us to combine our strengths and deliver even greater value to our customers. We are very pleased to welcome the team from IOU into the HF Sinclair family. IOU brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and along with honoring its significant reputation in the local community and the marketplace they serve, we believe this transaction will further enhance our value proposition and go-to-market strategy in the U.S., accelerating innovation and driving operational excellence.”
HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO) received another boost on January 8 when Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd upgraded the stock from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Overweight’, calling it the most investable of the SMID-cap refiners. The analyst also raised DINO’s price target from $64 to $68, indicating an upside of over 34% from the current levels.
HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE:DINO) could also benefit from the cheaper Venezuelan crude arriving in the US Gulf Coast, as it would displace demand and reduce the prices that US buyers pay to producers, leading to higher margins.
5. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 2.52%
Next on our list of the Best Oil Dividend Stocks to Invest in is Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), the world’s premier independent petroleum refiner and a leading producer of low-carbon transportation fuels.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) soared to an all-time high on January 8 as investors recognized the company to be among the biggest beneficiaries if President Trump succeeds in his mission to flood the US markets with cheaper Venezuelan oil. Valero is the largest refiner on the Gulf Coast, and its refineries are historically designed to process heavier crudes like those coming from Venezuela. While the company has already been buying some amount of Venezuelan oil from Chevron, it has the capacity to process an incremental 300,000 to 400,000 bpd, according to Barclays analyst Theresa Chen.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is also favored by the legendary investor Michael Burry, who mentioned the stock in the following blog post on Substack on January 5:
“Realize that many Gulf Coast refineries were purpose-built for Venezuelan heavy crude. So they have been running with suboptimal feedstock for years. This will, in time, produce better margins across jet fuel, asphalt, and diesel … I have owned Valero since 2020, and I am more resolved to holding it even longer after this weekend.”
Moreover, on January 9, Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar further added to the bullish sentiment around Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) when he raised the firm’s price target on the stock from $192 to $197, expecting the company to report a strong quarter in Q4. That said, Mizuho maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating on VLO.
Following the recent rally, the share price of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) has surged by almost 35% over the last year.
4. SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 2.52%
SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide.
SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) received a lift on January 6 when Evercore ISI upgraded the stock from ‘In Line’ to ‘Outperform’, while also increasing its price target from $38 to $54. The upgrade comes as the analyst believes that SLB’s outlook is clearer than it has been in over two years.
Evercore also highlighted SLB’s $8 billion acquisition of ChampionX last year, in addition to its reduced exposure to APS through the Palliser exit, which the analyst thinks has repositioned the company towards the well head and production and reduced its overall risk profile. As a result, Evercore raised its 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates for SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) to $3.00 and $3.40 from $2.97 and $3.30, respectively.
SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) has surged by almost 18% since the beginning of 2026, as investors believe that the company could seriously benefit from the United States gaining access to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves. The South American country’s oil infrastructure is in a crumbling state following years of neglect, and rebuilding it will need significant investment and exactly the kind of services that SLB provides. The oilfield services provider’s technology would prove crucial to boosting Venezuelan crude production, potentially giving SLB a strong pipeline of projects and contributing significantly to its revenue.
3. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 3.33%
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is one of the world’s largest independent E&P companies based on oil and natural gas production and proved reserves.
On January 8, Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd reduced the firm’s price target on ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) from $115 to $109, but maintained an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The lowered target still indicates an upside of almost 12% from the current share price.
As we enter 2026, the analyst believes that the crude oil outlook still looks bearish, making it difficult for the sector to outperform the wider market. However, Piper Sandler believes that the oil refining market looks even better than last year, driven by what it expects to be incrementally tighter S/D and crude differential tailwinds.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) stands to gain from the recent American action in Venezuela as it is already owed billions by the South American country’s government, which seized the company’s assets without compensation when then-President Hugo Chávez effectively nationalized the country’s oil industry in 2007. As a result, ConocoPhillips took the Venezuelan government to the arbitration court and has since won awards totalling up to $12 billion. However, the South American country has reportedly only paid out a fraction of the amount.
While it is still unclear whether ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) will actually receive those claims or reinvest in Venezuela, the prospects of the company recovering billions in damages and regaining access to massive new oil reserves have helped the stock garner strong attraction from investors.
With an impressive annual dividend yield of 3.33% as of the writing of this piece, ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is included in our list of the 12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy for Dividends.
2. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 89
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 4.21%
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) manufactures and sells a range of high-quality refined products, including gasoline, diesel, marine and aviation fuels, premium base oil, finished lubricants, and fuel oil additives.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is the only American oil company still working in Venezuela, operating under a US license allowing it to produce and export oil despite sanctions from the US. The oil and gas giant already holds about 25% of operations in Venezuela, boasting an output of around 250,000 barrels per day.
While Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) was allowed to export this 250,000 bpd of output to the United States before, the Trump administration, as part of its campaign to put pressure on the Maduro regime, put additional restrictions on the company’s special license last summer and lowered the volume it could export to some 100,000 bpd.
With the Maduro regime ousted and the US taking full control of Venezuela’s oil assets, it was reported on January 9 that Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is now in talks with the US government to expand its key license and allow it to go back to previous export levels. Moreover, the company is looking for permission to provide Venezuelan crude to its business partners that could then allocate the cargoes in markets other than the United States, as it used to happen in the past.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)’s long-established presence in Venezuela gives it a significant head start in the race for the biggest oil reserves in the world. The company remains committed to its joint ventures with the country’s state oil company, PDVSA, and is even ready to boost output by ‘100% essentially effective immediately’.
1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 93
Dividend Yield as of Jan. 12: 3.32%
Topping our list of the Best Oil Stocks for Dividends is Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world.
The plunge in global crude oil prices has taken its toll on Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and the company announced on January 7 that the lower prices could reduce its Q4 2025 upstream earnings by as much as $1.2 billion compared to the previous quarter. It needs mentioning that Brent crude futures fell by 19% in 2025, posting their third straight year of losses, while the WTI crude prices dipped nearly 20% YoY. According to LSEG, Wall Street analysts now expect Exxon to report adjusted earnings of $1.66 per share in its Q4 report later this month, down from $1.88 per share in the previous quarter.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is among the list of companies that were forced to exit Venezuela after then-President Hugo Chávez nationalized the country’s oil industry in 2007. As a result, the South American country now owes Exxon around $2 billion in arbitration claims. However, according to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, while those claims need to be paid, they are not an immediate priority.
Despite its troubled past in the country, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) was recently invited by President Trump to invest again in Venezuela and help revive its oil industry. The company now understandably remains cautious, and its CEO, Darren Woods, even called Venezuela ‘uninvestable’ without significant changes to its commercial frameworks, legal system, and hydrocarbon laws. However, the chief executive’s comments apparently annoyed the President, who later made his feelings known by saying that he will now probably be inclined toward excluding Exxon from drilling in Venezuela.
While we acknowledge the potential of XOM to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than XOM and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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