In this article, we are going to discuss the energy stocks that are gaining this week.
The energy sector started off 2026 on a high, with the S&P Energy index jumping by as much as 2.7% on January 5. The surge came in response to the US strikes on Venezuela, which ended with the capture of Nicolas Maduro. President Trump has stated that the US will now take over Venezuela until a ‘safe, proper, and judicious transition’ can take place, paving the way for American oil companies to gain access to the largest oil reserves in the world.
However, reviving Venezuela’s crumbling oil infrastructure will require considerable time and tens of billions of dollars of investment, which is a tough decision to make for American oil majors while the market is already dealing with low prices and oversupply issues. That said, President Trump remains optimistic and stated that the US oil industry would be ‘up and running’ in Venezuela within 18 months, expecting huge investments to pour into the country.
Despite investor optimism around oil stocks, global crude oil prices have retraced lower since January 5. The WTI crude oil futures are currently hovering just above the $56 per barrel mark, only slightly above the 4-year low they touched last month, as traders assess the potential impact of Venezuelan crude, further adding to the global supply glut.
Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we used several stock screeners to identify energy stocks that surged the most between December 30, 2025, and January 6, 2026. The following are the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. These 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 8.13%
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is the world’s premier independent petroleum refiner and a leading producer of low-carbon transportation fuels.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) received a boost following the US blitz in Venezuela, which ended with the arrest of its president, Nicolas Maduro. President Trump has said that the United States would take control of the South American nation for now, giving American companies open access to the largest oil reserves in the world. The news is of special significance to US Gulf Coast refiners like Valero, as their refineries are historically designed to process heavier crudes like that coming from Venezuela and have had to replace Venezuelan oil since 2019 with higher imports from Canada or the Arabian Gulf.
As the largest Gulf Coast refiner, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) stands to benefit the most if the sanctions on Venezuelan oil are lifted. The company already buys Venezuelan crude from Chevron and can process an incremental 300,000 to 400,000 bpd, according to Barclays analyst Theresa Chen.
9. Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 9.89%
Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) is a leading deepwater exploration and production company focused on meeting the world’s growing demand for energy.
Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) shot up when the company provided an operational and financial update on its recent business activities on January 5, highlighting significant progress in its West African assets. The company revealed that it has successfully drilled and completed its second producer well (J-74) in the Jubilee field in Ghana. J-74, which should come online shortly, is expected to produce over 10,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), taking Jubilee’s total output to nearly 70,000 bopd.
In another positive development, Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) reported that in late December, it received approval from the Ghanaian government for license extensions for its West Cape Three Points and Deep Water Tano Petroleum Agreements. The agreements, which have been submitted to the parliament for formal ratification, will now be extended to 2040.
Additionally, Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) reported that the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project in Mauritania and Senegal reached nameplate capacity of 2.7 million tons per annum (mtpa) in December 2025. The floating LNG vessel managed to achieve a peak production rate of about 3 mtpa, and as a result, the partnership now expects cargo liftings to nearly double this year.
8. Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 11.97%
Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE: FTK) develops unique solutions to reduce the environmental impact of energy on air, water, land, and people.
On December 31, Northland reiterated its ‘Outperform’ rating on Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK) and included the stock among its top picks for 2026. While the analyst assigned the stock a price target of $20, it believes that the estimates are conservative, as a couple of customer wins will likely drive the numbers even further.
Northland is of the opinion that this will be a year of inflection for Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK), with its Data Analytics business starting to scale. The analyst also validated meaningful growth opportunities from third parties, particularly in the Power Services and Digital Valuation end markets. Northland expects higher adoption of Flotek’s technology in 2026, as it believes customers value it and understand its benefits.
7. SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 13.18%
SLB N.V. (NYSE: SLB) provides technology for the energy industry worldwide.
SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) garnered widespread investor attention after a US military strike captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with President Trump declaring that the American oil companies would now enter the South American country and invest billions of dollars to rebuild its crumbling energy infrastructure. The President plans to meet with executives of several oil majors this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production, given that the country is sitting atop the largest oil reserves in the world.
While the immediate impact remains unclear, investors are betting that reviving Venezuela’s dilapidated oil infrastructure would require exactly what companies like SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) provide: rigs, crews, and equipment to drill and complete wells. SLB’s technology would prove crucial to boosting Venezuelan crude production, potentially giving the company a strong pipeline of projects and contributing significantly to its revenue.
6. Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 14.64%
Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) designs and manufactures specialized equipment for oil and natural gas operators in the United States.
Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) received a lift on January 5 when Northland raised its price target on the stock from $61 to $70, indicating an upside potential of over 32% from the current share price. The analyst maintained an ‘Outperform’ rating on SEI’s shares and named it a 2026 Top Pick.
Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) revealed in November that it has secured another 500 MW to raise its total generation capacity to approximately 2.2 gigawatts by early 2028. The expansion will result in 900 MW of additional capacity, which the analyst believes will likely be contracted in the first half of 2026.
Moreover, Northland named Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) ‘the leading off-grid power provider to data centers’, noting that the company has ‘a clear appetite to grow’ through more equipment and value-added services, which will help sustain its EBIDTA growth. It should be noted that Solaris successfully began providing primary power to a second data center in the third quarter of 2025.
5. Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 15.54%
Next on our list of Energy Stocks that Gained This Week is Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC), an independent upstream company focused on developing the Santa Ynez Unit in federal waters offshore California.
Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) has shot up by around 80% over the last month after the company succeeded in its efforts to receive federal approval to restart its controversial oil and gas pipeline near Santa Barbara, overriding the strong local opposition to the project. However, Sable continues to face resistance from California residents and environmental groups and was even hit with an emergency lawsuit by the Environmental Defense Center and Center for Biological Diversity seeking to block the restart on December 26.
The plaintiffs argued that the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) had ‘bypassed the required public notice, opportunity for public participation, statement of reasons for its decisions, and other conditions’ required under the federal Pipeline Safety Act. However, the pipeline regulator responded by saying that it had granted an emergency permission to Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) based on a national energy emergency declared by President Trump last year.
Resultantly, on January 2, a federal court denied the request to stay PMHSA’s decision to take over oversight of Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) plans to restart the Santa Ynez unit, marking a major victory for the company and potentially clearing its way to resume oil production locally.
Following the court’s decision, Benchmark analyst Subash Chandra reiterated the firm’s ‘Buy’ rating on Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) and assigned the stock a price target of $20. The analyst believes that Sable’s Santa Ynez unit is ‘the closest it has been’ to restarting, but noted that the case hasn’t been dismissed, with responses and briefs due over the next few months.
4. Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 24.71%
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) announced on January 2 that it is prepared to make a positive final investment decision (FID) and begin construction of the proposed Phoenix in-situ recovery uranium mine, pending final regulatory approvals. The company revealed that the project is in a construction-ready state with first production targeted for mid-2028, provided that regulatory approvals are granted in the first quarter of this year.
David Cates, President and CEO of Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN), commented:
After another year of significant investment and progress, Denison stands ready to make a final investment decision and commence construction of the Phoenix ISR mine proposed for our flagship Wheeler River property. With the recent conclusion of the CNSC public hearing, and receipt of an initial approval to commence construction activities from the Province of Saskatchewan, we are poised to start 2026 with a series of positive catalysts that will mark the beginning of a new era in our Company’s long history.
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) received a further lift on January 5 when Canaccord raised its price target on the stock from C$4.4 to C$5, while maintaining a ‘Speculative Buy’ rating on the shares.
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:DNN) has also received strong support from the recent surge in the prices of uranium, with US uranium futures rising to their highest in two months on January 6, driven by the US announcing awards worth billions for domestic uranium providers and by recent buying by physical uranium funds.
3. Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 26.26%
Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) is a trusted supplier of nuclear fuel and services to the nuclear energy industry.
The U.S. Energy Department announced on January 5 that it was awarding orders totaling $2.7 billion to Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) and two other companies, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to boost domestic uranium production and enrichment, and reduce reliance on imports from Russia. In a major milestone for the company, Centrus Energy is set to receive $900 million of funding in the form of task orders, which will go toward the development of next-generation reactor fuel.
Following the development, BofA raised its price target on Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) from $285 to $340 on January 6, indicating an upside potential of 9% from the current share price. The firm maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating on LEU shares. The analyst believes that while the $900 million funding is less than the $1.7 billion award that Centrus was expecting, the prospects for more government funding for the company down the road ‘should not be entirely ruled out’.
Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) has also benefited from the recent rebound in uranium prices, with US uranium futures hitting a two-month high on January 6, driven by buying from physical uranium funds and the Trump administration’s efforts to increase domestic production of nuclear fuel.
Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) posted gains of over 264% last year, putting it among the 11 Best Performing Energy Stocks in 2025.
2. Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 29.06%
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) is a leading US-based critical minerals company, focused on uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium, and medical isotopes.
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) announced on December 29 that it had surpassed its previously disclosed guidance for finished uranium production, mined uranium ore production, and uranium concentrate sales for FY2025. The company’s Pinyon Plain Mine in Arizona and La Sal Complex in Utah produced over 1.6 million pounds of nuclear fuel in 2025, around 11% more than the top end of its previously reported guidance.
Meanwhile, Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill in Utah reported an output of over 1 million pounds of finished U3O8 last year, also exceeding guidance. Moreover, the company expects to shift to commercial-scale production of dysprosium and terbium, marking the first commercial production of highly sought-after heavy rare earths in America in many years.
Additionally, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) revealed that it expects to sell a total of 360,000 pounds of U3O8 in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a sequential increase of 50%. The company also announced two new long-term uranium sales contracts with US nuclear-power generating companies, adding to its delivery commitments for 2027 to 2032. It is projecting deliveries of 780,000-880,000 pounds of U3O8 under its long-term contracts in 2026, with additional potential sales in spot and term markets.
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) was also among the uranium stocks that rose on January 5 when the U.S. Energy Department announced orders totaling $2.7 billion to three American nuclear fuel makers, aimed at boosting domestic production and enrichment of nuclear fuel. The strategic move comes as the Trump administration throws its weight behind efforts to expand the US nuclear industry.
1. Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO)
Share Price Gains Between Dec. 30 – Jan. 6: 33.48%
Topping our list of Energy Stocks that Gained This Week is Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO). Backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, the company develops advanced fission power plants to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale to customers in the United States.
Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) was among the small modular reactor (SMR) stocks that popped on January 5 following reports that the US House of Representatives’ Energy subcommittee would officially begin the review of the current status of the nuclear sector in the United States. The subcommittee will hold hearings on how best to support the deployment of nuclear power plants, with the expectation that new implementing regulations may be issued to advance several executive orders President Trump issued last year to reduce red tape and increase the country’s nuclear energy capacity.
Full committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Energy Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio) stated:
This hearing will offer a chance to discuss the current state of our nuclear industry, addressing the licensing and deployment of nuclear power while examining how the implementation of recent laws and policies can support the industry’s growth — growth that will be vital to meeting our energy and security needs.
Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) garnered significant investor attention last year, driven in particular by multiple contracts the company won from the Department of Energy. As a result, the stock posted impressive gains of 238% in 2025.
While we acknowledge the potential of OKLO 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 OKLO and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 10 Best Natural Gas Stocks to Buy Right Now and 11 Best Performing Energy Stocks in 2025.
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.
