TLDR
- Brent crude pushed above $90 on March 6, 2026, lifting oil stocks across the board
- Exxon reported $28.8 billion in full-year 2025 earnings and returned $37.2 billion to shareholders
- Chevron’s 2025 production rose 12% to 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day
- Shell generated $26 billion in free cash flow in 2025 and raised its dividend by 4%
- ConocoPhillips is the top analyst-rated pick in the group, with 20 Buy ratings from Wall Street
Oil stocks are back in the spotlight. Brent crude crossed $90 a barrel on March 6, 2026, after fresh disruptions in the Middle East rattled energy markets. That move has pushed large oil producers back onto investors’ watchlists.
The five names worth looking at right now are Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and ConocoPhillips. Each one brings a different mix of production scale, cash returns, and analyst support.
Here is a breakdown of each stock and what makes it worth considering today.
Exxon Mobil
Exxon Mobil is trading around $151.21. The company reported full-year 2025 earnings of $28.8 billion and returned $37.2 billion to shareholders last year — made up of $17.2 billion in dividends and $20 billion in buybacks.
In the fourth quarter alone, Exxon posted $12.7 billion in operating cash flow and $5.6 billion in free cash flow. That level of cash generation is what makes it a reliable long-term holding.
Analyst ratings are mixed but still positive. One recent count showed 9 Buy, 8 Hold, and 1 Sell, giving it a Hold consensus. A separate source rated it a Buy based on 18 analysts. Wall Street broadly treats it as a core energy holding.
Chevron
Chevron is priced around $189.94. Its 2025 worldwide production grew about 12% to 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, with strong U.S. output driving much of that growth.
On analyst ratings, Chevron has 13 Buy, 7 Hold, and 4 Sell recommendations from 24 analysts tracked by MarketBeat, giving it a Hold consensus. A separate source lists it as a Buy from 18 analysts.
Chevron is seen as a high-quality, stable name. The Street respects the business but is less convinced about near-term upside after its recent run.
Shell
Shell trades around $84.70. It generated $26 billion in free cash flow in 2025, raised its dividend by 4%, and bought back $13.9 billion in stock during the year.
Analyst sentiment on Shell is more positive than its U.S. peers. One recent summary showed a Moderate Buy consensus from 18 analysts, with 7 Buys, 10 Holds, and 1 Strong Buy.
Shell’s combination of free cash flow and capital discipline makes it one of the stronger international majors to own right now.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is priced around $78.77. The company ended 2025 with gearing near 15% and returned roughly $15.6 billion to shareholders. It has exposure to oil, gas, and LNG alongside investments in lower-carbon energy.
Analyst opinion is divided. MarketBeat shows 7 Buy, 8 Hold, and 2 Sell, implying a Hold consensus. A broader analyst pool gives it a Buy based on 14 Buys, 7 Holds, and 1 Sell.
TotalEnergies offers value and a solid balance sheet for investors who want diversified international energy exposure.
ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips is trading at $117.07. It reported full-year 2025 earnings of $8.0 billion and trades at a price-to-earnings ratio near 13.3. It is the most pure-play upstream name in this group.
Wall Street is most bullish on ConocoPhillips. One source counts 19 Buy ratings, while another shows 20 Buy, 7 Hold, and 1 Sell — giving it the strongest Buy consensus of the five stocks covered here.
For investors who want direct exposure to production growth without owning a fully integrated supermajor, ConocoPhillips is the standout pick.
Final Thoughts
All five of these companies have strong cash flow, proven dividend track records, and the financial strength to ride out weaker commodity periods. With Brent crude back above $90, the backdrop for oil stocks is more supportive than it has been in months.
For investors buying today, Exxon remains the strongest all-around pick. Shell and ConocoPhillips follow closely. Chevron and TotalEnergies round out the list as solid, dependable names for a long-term portfolio.
ConocoPhillips currently holds the most bullish analyst consensus of the five, with 20 Buy ratings from Wall Street.
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