12 Best Crude Oil Stocks to Buy for Dividends

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10. SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44

Dividend Yield as of Dec. 25: 4.23%

SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States.

On December 16, SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share to be paid on January 9, 2026, to stockholders as of the December 26 record. The company currently boasts a robust annual dividend yield of 4.23%, as of the writing of this piece.

SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) also received a significant boost on December 18 when the company received early termination by the FTC for its previously announced merger with Civitas Resources, clearing a key regulatory hurdle. The two parties agreed to merge in November, with the combined company boasting a portfolio of around 823,000 net acres, with expected annual synergies totaling $200 – $300 million. The $12.8 billion transaction, marking one of the year’s largest shale-sector consolidations, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.

In other news, on December 10, KeyBanc lowered its price target on SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) from $36 to $28, but maintained its ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. Despite the cut, KeyBanc remains confident regarding the aforementioned merger and expects robust free cash flow, rapid deleveraging, and a prudent plan to manage the debt stack.

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