We recently published a list of 8 Most Profitable Natural Gas Stocks To Invest In. In this article, we are going to look at where Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) stands against other most profitable natural gas stocks to invest in.

On November 4, the Canadian government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced preliminary regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the oil and gas sector by 35% from 2019 levels over the next eight years. These regulations are set to be implemented through a cap-and-trade system, which will establish a legal limit on the sector’s emissions, allowing companies to buy and sell a limited number of emissions allowances. The cap is expected to be enforced starting in 2030, with gradual reductions until Canada achieves net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan is set to be finalized in the coming year and phased in starting in 2026. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers has expressed concerns that the cap will lead to production cuts and a reduction in business investment. The effectiveness and implementation of this policy remains uncertain, as the governing Liberal Party faces a significant challenge from the Conservative Party, which is leading in the polls ahead of the next election, scheduled no later than October 2026.

READ ALSO: 10 Oil Stocks with Biggest Upside Potential According to Analysts and 7 Best Emerging Markets Stocks To Buy Now.

Natural Gas Shows Signs of Recovery

In an interview with CNBC on September 11, Katie Stockton, Founder of Fairlead Strategies discussed the potential for a natural gas trade as the market shows signs of basing and improving momentum. Stockton began by noting that natural gas prices have experienced a significant decline, with a 75% drop from September 2022. This dramatic decrease has put natural gas in a long-term downtrend, making it a challenging and volatile asset to trade.

One of the key indicators Stockton highlighted is the long-term momentum gauge for natural gas prices. For the first time since the beginning of 2023, this gauge has flipped to a buy signal, indicating a significant shift in the long-term trend. This is a positive sign, as it suggests that the downward momentum may be reversing. Additionally, natural gas has been showing signs of basing for several months, which is a positive signal for potential upside movement. Stockton also pointed out that short-term momentum has been improving. Natural gas futures have recently moved above their 50-day moving average, a key technical level that often signals short-term strength. The prices are now testing the 200-day moving average, another critical resistance level. Breaking through this level could trigger more buying interest and potentially lead to a sustained upward trend.

Natural gas has become a key part of the world’s energy supply, serving as a bridge between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. This increased demand is expected to help stabilize prices and open up new opportunities for investors.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the 8 most profitable natural gas stocks to invest in, we used Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the 30 largest gas companies. We shortlisted companies with a 5-year net income compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15% and a minimum net income of $1 billion in the trailing twelve months (TTM) as informed by SeekingAlpha. Then we used Insider Monkey’s Hedge Fund database to rank 8 stocks according to the largest number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.

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).

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 86

5-Year Net Income CAGR: 18.13%

TTM Net Income: $33.70 Billion

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), founded in 1870 and headquartered in Spring, Texas, is one of the largest international oil and gas companies. The company focuses on gas through its Upstream segment, which involves searching for and extracting crude oil and natural gas both in the United States and internationally.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is advancing plans for a Gas to Energy Project in collaboration with the Government of Guyana. This initiative aims to harness natural gas from the company’s offshore operations in the Liza Phase 1 and 2 fields. The project involves constructing a pipeline to transport approximately 50 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day from these offshore sites to onshore gas processing facilities. As of Q3, the company has completed the tie-ins for the Gas-to-Energy project. Once the government completes the associated power plant, this project will provide electricity that is significantly cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is also leveraging its technological advancements and operational excellence to optimize gas production and reduce environmental impact. Furthermore, the company is expanding its gas portfolio through strategic investments and partnerships. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is continuously exploring new opportunities in regions with high gas potential, such as the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The company is also committed to innovation and research to enhance gas recovery and processing techniques and is investing in advanced technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and methane emission reduction, to make gas operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Overall, XOM ranks 1st on our list of one of the most profitable natural gas stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of XOM to grow, 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 XOM 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.