In this article, we are going to discuss the 14 best energy stocks to buy according to Wall Street analysts.

As of the writing of this piece, the S&P Energy index has surged by 33.25% since the beginning of 2026, a stark contrast from the decline of 4.40% posted by the overall S&P 500 during the period.

The sharp uptick this year has been driven by events that have recently shaken the global energy landscape, such as the regime change in Venezuela and, most importantly, the ongoing war in Iran. The ouster of Nicolás Maduro gave American companies open access to the largest oil reserves in the world. Moreover, these reserves contain sour crude, which happens to be perfectly compatible with the American Gulf Coast refineries.

Now, the ongoing US-Iran war has resulted in Tehran blocking the ever-important waterway of Hormuz, and thus choking around a fifth of the global oil and LNG supply. Low supply means high prices, and that’s exactly what happened when Brent crude prices soared past the $100 per barrel mark, hitting their highest levels since Russia invaded Ukraine back in 2022.

While the war has proven catastrophic for Middle Eastern producers, it has come as a boon for the Western oil companies. The skyrocketing prices have provided a much-needed financial cushion for the operators on the other side of the world, especially after 2025 ended on a low.

According to Jefferies, American producers will generate an extra $5 billion cash flow this month alone from the multi-year high prices. Moreover, if the current price levels are maintained, the US oil companies are set to receive a $63 billion windfall this year, according to the intelligence firm Rystad Energy. This has inevitably pushed several American oil majors, including Exxon and Chevron, to their all-time highs, while also getting the analysts over at Wall Street to finally turn more bullish on the industry.

With that said, here are the Best Energy Stocks to Invest in According to Wall Street.

Our Methodology

To collect data for this article, we referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks with the highest upside potential according to Wall Street analysts, as of March 22, 2026. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. The following are the Best Energy Stocks According to Analysts.

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).

14. Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 11.37%

Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) is a publicly traded Delaware corporation focused on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests, primarily in the Permian Basin.

On March 20, JPMorgan increased its price target on Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) from $47 to $52, while keeping an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The raised target reflects an upside potential of almost 10% from the current share price.

According to JPMorgan, the oil market fundamentals have ‘shifted on a dime’ following the war in the Middle East. The conflict has disrupted around a fifth of the global oil supply after Tehran closed down the Strait of Hormuz, ‘quickly evaporating’ the previous fears of a global supply glut in 2026. The analyst firm even stated that it wouldn’t be surprised if a $5-$10 per barrel geopolitical risk premium gets embedded into the oil price in the long run due to the conflict.

With a robust annual dividend yield of 4.65%, Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) was also recently included in our list of the 13 Oil Stocks with Highest Dividends.

13. California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 12.15%

California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) operates as an independent energy and carbon management company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Oil and Natural Gas, and Carbon Management.

On March 18, Citi upped its price target on California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) from $51 to $67, while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating on the shares. The bumped target, which indicates an upside of almost 5% from the current prices, comes as the analyst firm sees CRC as a ‘prime beneficiary’ of the soaring oil prices from the US-Iran war.

The war has led to Iran blocking off the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around a fifth of the global crude oil and LNG supply. Moreover, there have been several attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure from both sides, leading to further supply disruption that could even last for years.

The higher prices will help create a significant financial cushion for California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) during the quarter. This comes after the company already generated $543 million in free cash flow in FY 2025, the highest level since 2021. CRC is also known for its strong commitment to shareholders and returned 94% of this FCF to them last year. The company currently boasts an annual dividend yield of 2.54% and was recently ranked in our list of the 14 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now.

12. Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) 

Upside Potential as of March 22: 12.19%

Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the development of crude oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas reserves in the United States.

Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) received a significant boost on March 17 when the company announced that it is now rated investment grade by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. The announcement comes after S&P raised its issuer credit rating on Permian Resources Corporation to ‘BBB-‘ from ‘BB+’ on March 17, with the upgrade driven by the company’s increased scale and improved operating efficiency in the Permian basin.

The rating agency acknowledged how Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR) has expanded its footprint in the Permian basin through numerous acquisitions over the last few years, and projects its production to average 400,000-430,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in FY 2026. Moreover, S&P expects the company to continue this momentum and deliver a further organic production growth of 5%-10% also in 2027.

The announcement comes after PR’s initial investment grade credit rating from Fitch, which upgraded the energy operator to BBB- in July last year.

James Walter, Co-CEO of Permian Resources Corporation (NYSE:PR), stated:

“We appreciate Fitch and S&P’s acknowledgment of the strength of our business and our balance sheet. Over the past ten years, we have run our business with an investment grade mindset, pairing high-quality assets with a fortress balance sheet to create outsized shareholder value through commodity cycles. Achieving investment grade status further enhances our ability to continue our track record of driving free cash flow and shareholder returns going forward.”

11. Crescent Energy Company (NYSE:CRGY)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 20.29%

Next on our list of the Best Energy Stocks is Crescent Energy Company (NYSE:CRGY). The company engages in the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States, with activities focused in the Eagle Ford, Permian, and Uinta Basins.

On March 17, Mizuho raised its price target on Crescent Energy Company (NYSE:CRGY) from $12 to $14, while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating on the shares. The bumped target indicates an upside of 12% from the current price levels.

The move comes after Mizuho increased its oil price projection for 2026 by 14% to $73.25 per barrel, driven by the ongoing US-Iran war. The conflict has led to Tehran closing down the Strait of Hormuz and effectively choking around a fifth of the global crude oil supply. As a result, crude prices soared to their highest levels since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

While it is still too early to tell whether the war will raise the structural price of global crude, Mizuho believes that the bias is likely higher. Overall, the analyst firm remains positive on the overall oil and gas sector.

10. BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV) 

Upside Potential as of March 22: 21.32%

BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV)’s core business is to produce natural gas from its owned and operated upstream businesses, which are supported by the company’s four business lines: natural gas production; natural gas gathering, processing, and transportation; power generation; and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration.

On March 17, Mizuho bumped its price target on BKV Corporation (NYSE:BKV) from $36 to $39, while keeping an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The revised target indicates an upside of over 34% from the current levels.

The move comes after Mizuho raised its 2026 oil price outlook by 14% to $73.25 amid the US-Iran war, which has created significant supply disruptions in the Middle East and choked around a fifth of the global oil and LNG supply. The conflict has resulted in serious damage to the energy infrastructure in the Gulf, raising concerns of even higher energy prices in the near future. While it is still too early to say whether the war will raise the structural price of global oil, Mizuho believes that the bias is likely higher.

The analyst firm remains positive on the overall oil and gas sector. However, while it highlighted that the natural gas fundamentals remain constructive, Mizuho lowered its fiscal 2026 price outlook for the commodity by 6%.

9. Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 24.79%

Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC) is a provider of production optimization, artificial lift, and methane abatement solutions for the oil and natural gas industry.

On March 19, Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC) announced an underwritten public offering by certain affiliates of GEC Advisors LLC priced at $22 per share. The selling stockholders are offering 7.8 million shares of the company’s Class A common stock, with an option for underwriters to purchase up to an additional 1.17 million shares within 30 days.

Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC) clarified that it would not issue or sell any shares in the offering and would also not receive any proceeds from the shares sold. However, the company did announce plans to purchase 780,000 shares from the underwriters at the same price received by the selling stockholders. The buyback will be part of Flowco’s existing share repurchase program. However, the buyback can only happen once the offering closes on March 23, subject to customary closing conditions.

Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC) was also recently included in our list of the 11 Oil Stocks with Highest Upside Potential.

8. Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 25.09%

Formed in 2024 by the merger of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Southwestern Energy Company, Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) operates as an independent natural gas production company in the United States.

On March 17, Mizuho bumped its price target on Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:EXE) from $142 to $145, while maintaining an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The updated target indicates an upside of around 35% from the current levels.

The revision comes after Mizuho raised its 2026 oil price outlook by 14% to $73.25 amid the US-Iran war. The conflict has led to serious supply disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around a fifth of the global oil and LNG supply. Moreover, both sides have carried out numerous attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure, which could take years to repair. While it is still too early to tell whether the war will raise the structural price of global oil, Mizuho believes that the bias is likely higher.

At the same time, while the analyst firm remains constructive on natural gas fundamentals, it lowered its price outlook on the commodity for 2025 by 6%.

7. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Upside Potential as of March 22: 29.16%

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced, eco-efficient solar modules.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) had a setback on March 17 when Guggenheim analyst Joseph Osha lowered the firm’s price target on the stock from $312 to $269, but maintained a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The reduced target still indicates an upside potential of over 39% from the current share price.

The development comes after the analyst updated First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)’s model following the company’s weak guidance in its Q4 2025 report. The renewable energy operator forecasted its revenue to range between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion in FY 2026, far below the consensus estimate of $6.16 billion. It needs mentioning that First Solar’s revenue grew by 24% YoY to $5.2 billion in FY 2025, so the guidance of flat to a decline in revenue for 2026 didn’t sit well with both analysts and investors.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) clarified that the weak guidance is driven partially by the strategic underutilization of its Southeast Asian factories, with the company describing its strategy as ‘buying some time to see how these tariffs ultimately get played out’. The solar energy firm is expecting a total tariff impact of $125 million to $135 million in 2026.

6. Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ:WFRD) 

Upside Potential as of March 22: 29.51%

Next on our list of the Best Energy Stocks According to Analysts is Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ:WFRD). The company provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil, geothermal, and natural gas wells worldwide.

On March 18, RBC Capital initiated coverage of Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ:WFRD) with an ‘Outperform’ rating and a price target of $105, indicating an upside of over 15% from the current levels.

According to RBC, Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ:WFRD) offers its investors ‘peer-leading’ cash generation and returns. The firm believes that the stock trades at an attractive entry point due to the war in the Middle East, which has created significant supply disruptions by choking around 20% of the global oil and LNG supply.

RBC believes that WFRD is discounting the meaningful risk associated with the US-Iran war. The firm contended that the stock should re-rate higher on Weatherford’s solid free cash flow and return on equity metrics.

Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ:WFRD) reported an adjusted free cash flow of $222 million for its Q4 2025 last month, indicating a sequential growth of 124% and a YoY increase of 37%. The company is targeting a free cash flow conversion rate in the range of ‘low to mid-40%’ for FY 2026.

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