3 No-Brainer Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now

By Keith Speights – Mar 19, 2026 at 4:44AM ESTKey PointsExxonMobil is arguably the world's most efficient cash flow machine. Chevron is well-positioned to profit from the potential relaxation of restrictions to operate in Venezuela.Energy Transfer has significant growth opportunities in supplying natural gas to data centers.What's the best-performing sector so far in 2026? The answer probably won't be a shocker: It's the energy sector. Skyrocketing oil prices have propelled many energy stocks into the stratosphere. You could throw a dart at a board full of energy stock names and likely land on a good stock to scoop up. However, I think three energy stocks stand out as especially no-brainer picks to buy right now. Image source: Getty Images. 1. ExxonMobil ExxonMobil (XOM 0.77%) truly is a no-brainer to top our list. It's the world's second-largest energy company by market cap (trailing behind only Saudi Aramco) and the largest U.S. energy company. But ExxonMobil isn't a great stock to buy solely because of its size. The company is arguably the world's most efficient cash flow machine. ExxonMobil generates roughly $1 billion in free cash flow every two weeks when oil is priced at $100 or more per barrel. ExpandNYSE: XOMExxonMobilToday's Change(-0.77%) $-1.22Current Price$157.59Key Data PointsMarket Cap$657BDay's Range$157.53 - $160.1852wk Range$97.80 - $160.45Volume15KAvg Vol21MGross Margin21.56%Dividend Yield2.56% This energy giant is also remarkably efficient at oil production. Its proprietary proppant (a material used in fracking) enables ExxonMobil to recover around 20% more oil per acre than rivals. The company is developing new technologies that it expects to double its recovery levels in the next decade. ExxonMobil's dividends also offer attractive returns for shareholders. The forward dividend yield is roughly 2.6%. The company has increased its dividend for an impressive 43 consecutive years by a compound annual growth rate of around 6%. ExxonMobil distributed $150 billion of cash to shareholders between 2021 and 2025. In 2025, it distributed more cash than all but five members of the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.36%). 2. Chevron Chevron (CVX +0.32%) ranks as the world's third-largest energy company by market cap. Its acquisition of Hess last year has strengthened the company's position for delivering growth for years to come. Oil production at Chevron reached a record high last year, even after the company sold assets in Canada and Congo. It exceeded production growth targets in the Gulf of Mexico, Permian Basin, and the Tengiz oil field in western Kazakhstan. The acquisition of Hess also boosted production considerably, thanks to its Guyana and Bakken assets. ExpandNYSE: CVXChevronToday's Change(0.32%) $0.64Current Price$198.61Key Data PointsMarket Cap$396BDay's Range$198.51 - $200.7352wk Range$132.04 - $200.73Volume11KAvg Vol12MGross Margin14.66%Dividend Yield3.48% Chevron was the only major U.S. oil company that never fully shut down operations in Venezuela. As a result, it's well-positioned to profit as the country makes it easier for U.S. companies to conduct business and form joint ventures with domestic oil producers. Income investors continue to like Chevron for its dividend. The company's forward dividend yield is 36%. Chevron has increased its dividend payout for 39 consecutive years. Management expects to extend that streak even if oil prices fall below $50 per barrel, which doesn't seem like much of a threat right now. 3. Energy Transfer LP Integrated oil giants aren't the only attractive choices for investors. Energy Transfer LP (ET 0.69%) is one of the best pipeline stocks on the market. The company operates more than 140,000 miles of pipeline that transport crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and refined products throughout the U.S. Its assets also include processing plants, storage facilities, and terminals. ExpandNYSE: ETEnergy TransferToday's Change(-0.69%) $-0.13Current Price$18.66Key Data PointsMarket Cap$64BDay's Range$18.66 - $18.8652wk Range$14.60 - $19.30Volume612Avg Vol16MGross Margin12.27%Dividend Yield7.10% Although oil is currently making headlines because Iran is blockading the Strait of Hormuz, natural gas has become increasingly important to the global economy. Energy Transfer has significant growth opportunities driven by demand from data centers powered by natural gas, including three data centers operated by Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) and CloudBurst's Central Texas data center. This limited partnership offers one of the juiciest distributions available, with a yield topping 7.1%. Energy Transfer's management targets average annual distribution growth of 3% to 5% and is committed to maintaining a strong distribution coverage. Read NextMar 19, 2026 •By Thomas Niel3 of the Best Energy Stocks to Buy Right NowMar 18, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo3 Monster Dividend Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 YearsMar 17, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo4 Dividend Stocks to Double Up On Right NowMar 17, 2026 •By Austin Smith3 Ultra High Yield Energy Stocks Paying 5% to 11% That Most Investors OverlookMar 16, 2026 •By Justin PopeIs Energy Transfer Stock a Buy Right Now?Mar 14, 2026 •By Geoffrey Seiler3 Pipeline Stocks to Buy in MarchAbout the AuthorKeith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.TMFFishBizStocks MentionedEnergy TransferNYSE: ET$18.66(-0.69%)-$0.13ExxonMobilNYSE: XOM$157.59(-0.77%)-$1.22ChevronNYSE: CVX$198.61(+0.32%)+$0.64S&P 500 IndexSNPINDEX: ^GSPC$6,624.70(-1.36%)-$91.39OracleNYSE: ORCL$152.90(-1.16%)-$1.79*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.