In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 energy stocks positioned to outperform as the strait remains closed.
As of the writing of this article, the S&P Energy index has surged by 7.6% over the last month. This compares to a decline of 2.1% by the overall S&P 500 during the period.
The energy sector’s strong performance is driven mainly by the recent uptick in global crude oil prices. The US-Iran war has led to Tehran closing down the Strait of Hormuz and effectively choking around a fifth of the global oil and LNG supply. Moreover, several major oil facilities in the region have been targeted during the conflict, including Iran’s Kharg Island and the Fujairah oil trading hub in the UAE, further curtailing the fuel’s supply in the near term.
While several tankers have now been allowed to pass Hormuz, President Trump’s calls for a naval coalition to open the waterway have gone mostly unanswered, further adding to the uncertainty. As a result, the Brent crude oil price is hovering at just around the $103 per barrel mark as of the writing of this piece, reaching its highest level since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The situation could get even worse as Iran has warned that oil prices could even soar to $200 per barrel as it continues to target ships crossing Hormuz.
That said, the multi-year high in oil prices provides a significant cash boost to Western producers. According to Jefferies, American producers will generate an extra $5 billion cash flow this month alone from the soaring prices. Moreover, if the crude 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.
With that said, here are the Top Energy Stocks Positioned to Outperform Amid the US-Iran War.
Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have surged the most between March 9 and March 16, 2026. Then we further shortlisted the stocks that have a ‘Strong Buy’ rating from analysts. The following stocks have been touted by Wall Street to outperform the market, with investors already piling into them and pushing their prices higher. The stocks are ranked according to their share price surge during this period.
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).
10. Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE)
Share Price Gains Between March 9 and March 16: 2.32%
Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE) is an integrated energy company that operates across the full oil and natural gas value chain in exploration, production, refining, transportation, and retail.
On March 12, Goldman Sachs bumped its price target on Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE) from $22 to $29, while keeping a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The revised target, which reflects an upside of over 24% from the current levels, comes as the analyst firm updated its estimates across the major US and Canadian oil producers to reflect the recent supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE) also received a lift earlier on March 10 when Veritas upgraded the stock from ‘Sell’ to ‘Buy’, while assigning it a price target of C$35.
Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE) has also benefited from the sharp surge in crude oil prices amid the supply disruptions caused by the US-Iran war. With Brent crude oil price currently hovering above the $100 per barrel mark, the Canadian producer is expected to receive a significant financial cushion in the ongoing quarter.
9. Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR)
Share Price Gains Between March 9 and March 16: 4%
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) is an independent upstream oil and gas company focused on the acquisition, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and NGL reserves.
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) reported strong results for its Q4 2025 on March 13, with its adjusted EPS of $0.50 topping estimates by $0.23. The company’s revenue also grew by 65% YoY to $387.5 million and exceeded expectations by $28 million.
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR)’s revenue for the full-year 2025 came in at $1.2 billion, while its net income for the year stood at $143 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the year totaled $593 million, while the company’s operating cash flow reached $507 million.
Notably, Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR)’s total proved reserves grew by 109% YoY and reached 705 MMboe at the end of 2025, as the company expanded its asset base through acquisitions and continued development across its portfolio. Mach reported a PV-10 value of $3.1 billion for its proved reserves at the end of the year.
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) is targeting its total net production to range from 150 MBoe/d to 157 MBoe/d in FY 2026, with plans to invest between $315 million and $360 million in development capital.
