In this article, we are going to discuss the 12 best LNG stocks to buy in 2026.
American LNG is becoming the backbone of global gas supply amid the Middle East conflict, and could continue to gain ground for years even after a resolution. The Iranian missile attacks on the Qatari LNG infrastructure have significantly disrupted the country’s LNG supplies to buyers, especially in Asia, and repairs could take years.
This presented a significant opportunity for the United States to emerge as the global market’s anchor supplier, and that is exactly what it is doing. US LNG exports hit a record high in March as plants ran above nameplate capacity and new units started up, with shipments to Asia more than doubling from the previous month. The trend continued in April when nearly a quarter of all American LNG shipments went to Asia, marking a sharp increase since the conflict began in late February.
At the same time, Europe also remains a major destination for US LNG, as the bloc moves away from Russian gas supplies amid the invasion of Ukraine. Notably, China has also opened up its doors once again and is set to receive its first shipments of US LNG in more than a year next month, marking a potential thawing of energy ties following President Trump’s recent trip to Beijing.
Given the high demand and access to new markets, the United States, which is already the largest exporter of LNG in the world, is set to double its export capacity by the end of this decade.
With that said, here are the Best LNG Stocks to Buy Now.
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Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we referred to several stock screeners to find companies operating in the liquefied natural gas sector. We then ranked these stocks by the number of hedge funds invested in them at the end of Q4 2025, as per the Insider Monkey database. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. The following are the Best LNG Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.
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).
12. Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) develops and constructs LNG export projects to provide clean, affordable energy to the world. The company is currently one of the largest LNG exporters in the United States.
On May 20, Raymond James bumped up its price target on Venture Global, Inc. from $14 to $16, while keeping an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The target boost reflects an upside of over 15% from the current price level.
The analyst firm views Venture Global, Inc. as an attractive LNG growth platform, citing its differentiated, repeatable development model that enables the execution of rapid American LNG projects. However, Raymond James highlighted the mixed near-term sentiment around the stock, driven by the macro volatility in the LNG sector amid the US-Iran war and the uncertainty surrounding the company’s arbitration issues. The analyst also noted that the Middle East conflict has propelled the LNG pricing curve higher than originally assumed in its positive thesis.
Venture Global, Inc. also received a boost earlier on May 12 when it reported strong results for its Q1 2026, placing it among the 10 Energy Stocks That Crushed Earnings Estimates in the First Quarter.
11. NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ:NEXT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ:NEXT) engages in the construction and development activities related to the liquefaction of natural gas in the United States.
On May 13, Citi initiated coverage of NextDecade Corporation with a ‘Buy’ rating and a price target of $11, indicating an upside of 30% from the current levels.
With approximately 48 million tonnes per annum of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction and in development at its Rio Grande LNG site, NextDecade Corporation offers exposure to one of the last large-scale LNG export facilities on the US Gulf Coast. With the soaring global energy demand and supply disruptions in the Middle East, Citi expects American LNG to become an “increasingly coveted commodity”.
NextDecade revealed earlier this month that it is working to introduce first gas into the facility in the second half of this year and produce the first LNG from Train 1 in the first half of 2027. As of March 2026, Trains 1 and 2 are 67.8% complete. Train 3 is 44.2% complete, and Trains 4 and 5 are 10.6% and 6.8% complete, respectively.
10. TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energy.
A Bloomberg report on May 22 revealed that TotalEnergies SE is exploring the sale of a 50% stake in some of its European renewables assets, as it seeks a partner in operating and monetizing its clean energy portfolio. The French energy major is working with advisors to sell its interest in 1.2 GW of solar and wind farms in France, Germany, Poland, and Spain. A potential deal could fetch several hundred million euros for the company.
The move comes after TotalEnergies SE agreed to divest a 50% stake in 1.4 GW of North American solar assets last year. Moreover, the company also sold 50% stakes in smaller portfolios of renewable assets in some European countries.
While its peers, including Shell and BP, have outright reduced their spending on renewables, TotalEnergies SE is moving ahead with its diversification strategy in which power will represent about 20% of its energy output by the end of this decade.
9. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) is an integrated energy company with operations spanning exploration, production, refining, marketing, and chemical manufacturing, alongside growing investments in biofuels and hydrogen.
On May 21, Jefferies analyst Mark Wilson raised the firm’s price target on Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) from $119.70 to $122.40, while keeping a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The target increase, which represents an upside of 43% from the current share price, comes after the analyst firm incorporated Shell’s recent acquisition of ARC Resources into its model.
Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) announced the acquisition of the Canadian energy company ARC Resources last month. The $16.4 billion deal will boost the energy giant’s output by 370,000 boepd, in addition to contributing $1.5 billion in free cash flow per year.
Jefferies estimates that the acquisition will lift Shell’s net income by about 6% across FY26-28, driven primarily by the higher integrated gas earnings following the consolidation of ARC.
Similarly, earlier on May 18, HSBC also turned more bullish on Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) and upgraded the stock from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’, while also raising its price target (read more details here).
8. Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50
Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) is a leading US oil and gas producer with a premier multi-basin portfolio touching the Anadarko Basin, Eagle Ford, Marcellus Shale, Powder River Basin, Williston Basin, and anchored by a world-class acreage position in the Delaware Basin.
On May 22, Morgan Stanley bumped up its price target on Devon Energy Corporation from $59 to $66, while keeping an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The revised target represents an upside potential of almost 40% from the current share price.
The move comes despite Devon Energy Corporation falling behind estimates in its recent Q1 report on May 5. However, its oil production of 387,000 bpd was at the top end of its guidance, and the company managed to achieve this with a capital expenditure of 6% below guidance, providing a boost to its cash flows. Devon also revealed that it remains on track to achieve its target to deliver $1 billion of annual pre-tax free cash flow improvement.
Devon Energy Corporation continues its focus on expansion and emerged as the biggest buyer in the sale of oil and gas drilling rights on federal lands in New Mexico and Texas held by the Trump administration on May 20. A Reuters report indicated that the company accounted for $2.5 billion out of the record $4 billion sale.
7. BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
Next on our list of the Best LNG Stocks is BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP). It is a British multinational company recognized worldwide for quality gasoline, transport fuels, chemicals, and alternative sources of energy such as wind and biofuels.
On May 11, Argus upgraded BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’ after the company exceeded estimates in its Q1 report last month. The British oil major‘s customers and products business, which includes oil trading operations, delivered profit before interest and tax of $3.2 billion during the quarter, its highest level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to Argus, the strong performance is largely attributed to BP’s increased upstream production, materially higher realized refining margins, and strong oil trading contributions. However, the analyst firm noted that these positives were partly offset by weaker price realizations.
The stronger-than-expected Q1 profits come as a tailwind for the new CEO, Meg O’Neill, as she confronts the need to bolster the company’s balance sheet and divest low-returning assets.
Sound Shore Management, an investment management firm, stated the following regarding BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“On the positive front, and in contrast to the above, energy was far and away the best performing sector for the period. Surging oil and gas prices drove holdings Coterra Energy, EQT and BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) higher, each returning close to 20% or more. Our process leads us to sustainable businesses with low-cost reserves and fortress like balance sheets. These are critical attributes in today’s volatile world and, we believe, make these businesses even more valuable. The Iran war and its impact on oil prices will be in focus; however, we continue to find value in these businesses on normalized long-term cash flow.”
6. Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57
As one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of offshore-based LNG infrastructure, Golar LNG Limited (NASDAQ:GLNG) designs, converts, owns, and operates marine infrastructure that turns natural gas into LNG.
On May 21, Deutsche Bank raised the firm’s price target on Golar LNG Limited from $54 to $65, while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The target boost, which reflects an upside of over 24% from the current price level, comes following the company’s recent Q1 report.
Golar LNG Limited reported its first-quarter results on May 20. The company grew its revenue by 120% YoY to $137.5 million, while its adjusted EBITDA of $106 million was $15 million higher than the previous quarter.
Moreover, alongside the solid operational performance at both Hilli and Gimi FLNG, Golar revealed that the construction of its MK II Fuji FLNG asset is progressing on schedule and within budget for delivery in the last quarter of next year.
Golar LNG Limited also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable on May 29 to shareholders as of the June 1 record.
5. Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions for energy and industrial customers worldwide.
On May 19, BofA trimmed its price target on Baker Hughes Company from $80 to $75, but maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The target cut, which still indicates an upside of over 13% from the current levels, comes as the analyst firm updated its oilfield services models for Q1 earnings and 10-Q reports. BofA noted that its forecasts for 2027 and 2028 EBITDA are on average 10% and 16% above consensus, respectively.
Baker Hughes Company exceeded estimates in its Q1 2026 report last month, as the robust demand in its industrial and energy technology unit offset drilling weakness caused by the disruptions in the Middle East. The company achieved total orders of $8.2 billion during the quarter, including $4.9 billion from IET, driven by the growth in electricity demand from data centers, along with investments in LNG, gas infrastructure, and grid equipment.
Baker Hughes Company is expecting total revenue of $6.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $1.13 billion in Q2. Moreover, the company reaffirmed its guidance of $27.25 billion in revenue and $4.85 billion in adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2026.
4. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
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 May 22, Morgan Stanley boosted its price target on ConocoPhillips from $149 to $153, while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The revised target reflects an upside of 27% from the current price level.
ConocoPhillips exceeded profit estimates in its Q1 results posted last month. However, the company lowered its full-year 2026 production guidance to 2.295-2.325 MMBOED, down from its prior forecast of 2.33-2.36 MMBOED. The energy giant attributed this change to “the full exclusion of Qatar production from guidance for the quarter, the Surmont royalty rate adjustment, and planned second quarter maintenance”.
ConocoPhillips is a partner in QatarEnergy’s LNG export plant that was struck by Iranian missiles during the war, and repairs on the facility are expected to take three to five years.
ConocoPhillips boasts a steady dividend growth history and an impressive annual yield of 2.74%, putting it among the 14 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for Steady Growth.
3. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) is the largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the United States and the second-largest LNG operator in the world.
On May 13, Scotiabank upped its price target on Cheniere Energy, Inc. from $288 to $290, while maintaining an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The revised target indicates an upside of over 20% from the current levels.
Scotiabank outlined that the LNG sector is among the most immediately impacted areas in the broader energy infrastructure space. However, the firm remains optimistic, since the ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted around a third of the global LNG supply, creating significant long-term opportunities for American LNG even after a resolution.
Cheniere Energy, Inc. reported a net loss of $3.5 billion for its Q1 on May 7, driven primarily by the billions of dollars in losses tied to derivative contracts. However, the company raised its 2026 adjusted core profit guidance to between $7.25 billion and $7.75 billion, versus its previous range of $6.75 billion to $7.25 billion, on higher LNG production forecasts and stronger market margins.
2. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
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.
On May 22, Morgan Stanley analyst Devin McDermott raised the firm’s price target on Chevron Corporation from $212 to $214, while keeping an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The target boost represents an upside of almost 12% from the current levels.
Chevron garnered positive attention from a number of analysts after the company exceeded earnings estimates in its Q1 report earlier this month. The oil major’s upstream business received a significant boost from the soaring oil prices amid the US-Iran war.
However, it needs mentioning that while analysts seem bullish on Chevron, Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its stake in the company by selling around $8 billion worth of its stock in the first quarter. The Omaha-based conglomerate capitalized on the soaring oil prices, which pushed the American energy giant’s stock to a record high (read more details here).
Carillon Tower Advisers, an investment management company, stated the following regarding Chevron Corporation in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“Chevron Corporation shares contributed to the quarter’s performance due to the war in the Middle East sending commodity prices of crude oil and natural gas, to multi-year highs. We estimate that 10% to 15% of total supply could be removed from the global market for an extended period. Chevron has significant exposure to spot commodity prices and is expected to benefit immediately from a higher price regime in its upstream energy segment. Also, the company is positioned to benefit from improved refining margins. Chevron shares reflect improved earnings and cash flow from this event.”
1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 98
Topping our list of the Best LNG Stocks is Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM). It is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world.
A New York Times report on May 21 revealed that Exxon Mobil Corporation is in talks to acquire rights to produce oil in Venezuela nearly two decades after it was effectively expelled from the country. The deal, which could be finalized and announced as soon as this month, would mark a major victory for President Trump, who has been pushing American oil majors to invest in the South American country’s dilapidated infrastructure.
According to the report, Exxon is looking to sign contracts to produce oil in up to six fields in several regions in Venezuela. The move comes after the company’s CEO, Darren Woods, called the country “uninvestable” without durable protections for new investment.
Exxon Mobil Corporation left Venezuela in 2007 when the country’s government under Hugo Chavez nationalized oil projects owned by foreign companies. In fact, Venezuela’s government still owes Exxon around $1 billion in damages awarded in the legal battles that followed.
