Oil Stocks Are Hot. Here Are 9 Worth Getting To Know.

Oil and gas stocks have been big winners amid the Iran war and the jump in oil prices, though there are laggards too. Breaking the energy sector into its constituent oil and gas industry groups helps pinpoint the leaders.

IBD tracks a total of 241 oil and gas industry stocks sorted into 10 separate industry groups. Among those, two groups have led so far this year.

The 14 stocks in the international exploration and production group, and the nine stocks in the Canada-based exploration and production group, have each climbed 49% since the start of the year. In the month since the start of the Iran war, international E & P has led, rising 15% vs. a 7% advance for the Canadian group.

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Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) helped hoist the 29-stock field services group to a year-to-date gain of 38%, including a 7% rise in the past month.

Oil and gas drillers, a nine-stock group, rallied about 7% since the start of the Iran war. It is up 36% this year. Integrated oil, led by Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), also rallied 36% so far this year. As a group, the integrated oil 22 stocks gained 6% since the start of the Iran war.

These are some of the top oil stocks from the top-performing oil and gas groups, according to MarketSurge.

Oil & Gas Drilling: Top Oil Stocks

Noble Corporation (NE), Transocean (RIG) and Valaris (VAL) lead the oil and gas drilling group by market value. But all nine midcap and small-cap stocks in this group have been acting well.

The offshore drilling market faced a tough 2025. Challenges included higher rig attrition, lower utilization, high supply chain costs, low oil prices and geopolitical sanctions, according to the Westwood Global Energy Group. Even before the onset of the Iran war, the firm had forecast the offshore rig outlook would brighten from late 2026.

In February, Noble CEO Robert Eifler signaled “a transitional year from an earnings perspective.” The company’s 2027 backlog is “already eclipsing” the current year’s, he said.

Rival Transocean is poised to acquire Valaris in a $5.8 billion deal announced in February. The merger could shake up the offshore drilling industry. It would mark Transocean’s return to the jack-up market and make it the leader in drillships, with nearly twice as many drillships as Noble Corp.

Analysts expect Noble’s earnings per share to almost double in 2027 after a sharp slide in 2025, MarketSurge shows. For Transocean, EPS is set to quadruple to 20 cents in 2026 after a pivot to profitability in recent quarters.

Transocean earns a best-possible IBD Composite Rating of 99. Valaris owns a CR of 95 and Noble a 90.

The oil and gas drilling group ranks No. 3 out of 197 industry groups tracked by IBD.

Oil & Gas Field Services

SLB (SLB), formerly Schlumberger, and Halliburton (HAL) dominate this group by market value. Both stocks are returning to form after briefly declining when the Iran war broke out. But smaller names in this 29-stock group, such as Tidewater (TDW), have held up even better.

These firms provide support services to exploration and production companies, such as drilling rigs, site evaluation, well completion and optimizing production.

Oil field services giants SLB and Halliburton eye an earnings recovery in 2027. They are betting on deep water projects and on strong growth overseas, especially the Middle East and Asia, to offset weak demand in North America.

They are also seen as key beneficiaries in the massive spending needed to revive Venezuela’s struggling oil industry, following the U.S. removal of President Nicolaus Maduro in early January.

Unlike SLB and Halliburton, Tidewater successfully navigated a challenging 2025 for the offshore industry. It managed to grow revenue by 1% and adjusted EBITDA by 7%, while delivering free cash flow in what management called “one of the best years in recent memory.”

Tidewater operates one of the largest fleets of offshore support vehicles. Comments from offshore drillers suggest a recovery as the year progresses and into 2027, management said in February.

Tidewater earns a superior IBD Composite Rating of 95 out of a best-possible 99. SLB shows a CR of 88 and Halliburton an 86.

The oil and gas field services group ranks No. 4 out of the 197 industry groups tracked by IBD.

Oil & Gas Exploration and Production

The energy markets are bracing for U.S. oil production to plateau near highs through 2026. But natural gas production is seen rising because of data centers and export demand. In March, U.S. liquefied natural gas exports hit a record high on global panic buying amid the Iran war.

Stalwarts in the 16-member exploration and production group include ConocoPhillips (COP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY). Both oil stocks have surged despite earnings woes. By comparison, smaller peer Vista Energy (VIST) boasts standout growth.

Mexico-based Vista Energy targets shale fields in Argentina. The company describes Vaca Muerta as the most important shale play outside North America.

Since 2021, Vista has achieved furious growth. Production has jumped an estimated threefold and earnings fourfold over that period, according to a November 2025 investor presentation. In 2025, Vista earnings per share surged 57% as revenue jumped 51%, MarketSurge shows.

Vista stock earns a perfect Composite Rating of 99. ConocoPhillips bears a Comp Rating of 84 while Occidental Petroleum owns a 78.

The oil and gas exploration and production group ranks No. 5 out of 197 industry groups tracked by IBD.

ConocoPhillips is set to report first-quarter earnings on April 30.

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