In this article, we will list the 5 Best Oil Stocks to Buy Right Now. Please visit 10 Best Oil Stocks to Buy Right Now if you’d like to see an extended list and how we came up with the list of oil stocks.
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. (NYSE:SLB) 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. (NYSE:SLB) 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 (NYSE:AR) 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 (NYSE:AR) was upgraded to Buy from Hold by Benchmark, with the firm setting a $44 price target.
Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) 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 (NYSE:CVX) 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 (NYSE:CVX) 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 (NASDAQ:EXE) 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 (NASDAQ:EXE) 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 (NASDAQ:EXE) 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 (NYSE:XOM) 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 (NYSE:XOM) 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.
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 the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.





