We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Gas Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) stands against the other best gas stocks to buy.

The Future of Natural Gas: Sustained Growth Ahead?

The global gas industry plays a crucial role in the energy landscape, providing a relatively cleaner alternative to coal and oil. As countries aim to reduce carbon emissions and transition to more sustainable energy sources, natural gas has become increasingly important. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the global natural gas market was valued at $1.029 trillion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% during 2024-2028 to reach a value of $1.518 trillion by the end of the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region was the largest market for natural gas globally in 2023.

The International Energy Agency’s 2024 Global Gas Security Review indicates that natural gas consumption rose by 2.8% in the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the previous year, surpassing the average growth rate of 2% seen from 2010 to 2020. Most of this increase came from rapidly growing markets in Asia. However, estimates show that the growth rate slowed to below 2% in the third quarter of 2024, partly due to a recovery in demand that began in late 2023 and also because higher gas prices affected consumption.

For the full year of 2024, global gas demand is projected to increase by over 2.5%, reaching a record high of 4,200 billion cubic meters (bcm). The Asia-Pacific region is expected to contribute nearly 45% of this additional demand. A significant portion of this growth is driven by industrial and energy use, supported by ongoing economic growth in Asia. Additionally, Europe’s industrial gas demand is recovering. Looking ahead, global gas demand is anticipated to rise by another 2.3% in 2025, with Asia continuing to play a crucial role in driving this growth.

READ ALSO: 10 Undervalued Chemical Stocks to Invest In and 11 Small Cap EV Stocks to Invest In.

The demand for natural gas in the electric power sector is a major growth driver. Natural gas plants are more efficient and produce fewer emissions compared to traditional coal-fired plants. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2023, the United States consumed 32.50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which represents around 36% of the country’s total energy consumption. The electric power sector was the largest user, consuming approximately 40% of the total natural gas. Natural gas accounted for about 42% of the energy used in electricity generation in 2023.

In addition to this, innovations in extraction technologies, such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, have made it easier and more cost-effective to produce natural gas. These advancements are enhancing supply capabilities and driving down costs, further supporting market growth.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 12 best gas stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used stock screeners from Finviz and Yahoo Finance. We sorted our results based on market capitalization and picked the largest gas companies by market cap. We also consulted various online resources and reviewed our own rankings. This exercise provided us with a list of more than 30 gas stocks. We focused on the top 12 gas stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 database of 900 elite hedge funds. The 12 best gas stocks to buy were then ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is a leading American multinational energy company with a strong focus on oil and gas. The company produces crude oil and natural gas and also manufactures fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals. CVX ranks among the best gas stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

In the third quarter of 2024, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) achieved a 7% increase in worldwide net oil-equivalent production compared to the previous year, driven by record output from the US and the Permian Basin. The company has also successfully launched key projects in the Anchor, Jack/St. Malo, and Tahiti fields in the Gulf of Mexico. These initiatives are expected to boost Gulf production to 300,000 barrels of net oil equivalent per day by 2026. The corporation’s innovative approach includes the use of high-pressure deepwater technology at the Anchor project and water injection operations at its Jack/St. Malo and Tahiti facilities. These efforts will allow Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) to enhance oil and natural gas recovery while maintaining some of the lowest carbon intensity levels in its operations.

Additionally, the corporation is optimizing its asset portfolio. In November 2024, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) announced a $6.5 billion sale of its interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and Duvernay shale assets in Canada. This move is part of a broader strategy to divest $10 to 15 billion in assets by 2028, further streamlining its operations. Financially, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) returned a record $7.7 billion to shareholders in Q3 2024 through share repurchases and dividends. This commitment to returning capital makes Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) an attractive investment option.

With strong production growth, strategic project developments, and a focus on shareholder returns, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) stands out as a solid stock for investors looking for stability and growth in the energy sector.

Overall, CVX ranks 5th on our list of the best gas stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of CVX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CVX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.