Best Energy Stocks for Long-Term Investors: Exxon, ConocoPhillips and Chevron Lead

TLDR

• Exxon Mobil reported $28.8 billion in earnings and $52 billion in operating cash flow for 2025, backed by Guyana and Permian growth
• ConocoPhillips plans $12 billion in 2026 capital spending while targeting $1 billion in cost reductions following its Marathon Oil integration
• Cheniere Energy expects record LNG exports in 2026 and has expanded its buyback plan to over $10 billion through 2030
• Chevron reported Q4 2025 earnings of $2.8 billion, raised its dividend 4%, and targets up to $20 billion in share repurchases in 2026
• Analyst sentiment is strongest for Cheniere and ConocoPhillips, both carrying near-unanimous buy ratings on Wall Street

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Four large-cap energy companies are drawing attention from long-term investors in 2026. Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Cheniere Energy, and Chevron each offer a different way to invest in energy, from oil production to liquefied natural gas exports.

These are companies with large asset bases, steady cash flow, and multi-year growth plans. Here is what each one reported and what Wall Street currently thinks.

Exxon Mobil

Exxon is one of the largest energy companies in the world. It operates across oil, gas, chemicals, and refining, which gives it more diversification than a pure oil producer.

Exxon Mobil Corporation, XOM

For full-year 2025, Exxon reported earnings of $28.8 billion. Cash flow from operations came in at $52.0 billion.

The company returned $37.2 billion to shareholders, made up of $17.2 billion in dividends and $20.0 billion in share repurchases.

Its key growth projects are in Guyana and the Permian Basin. Management has also focused on structural cost savings to protect earnings when oil prices fall.

Wall Street sentiment is broadly positive. MarketBeat shows 10 buys, 11 holds, and 0 sells.

ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips is a pure upstream oil and gas company. That means its earnings are more directly tied to oil prices than a company like Exxon.

ConocoPhillips, COP

The company reported 2025 earnings of $8.0 billion. For 2026, it plans around $12 billion in capital spending.

ConocoPhillips is also targeting a $1 billion reduction in capital and costs this year. That effort is partly driven by the integration of Marathon Oil, which the company acquired.

It has a large inventory of U.S. shale assets and a disciplined approach to returning cash to shareholders.

Analyst support is strong. MarketBeat shows 17 buys, 9 holds, and 1 sell.

Cheniere Energy

Cheniere is not an oil company. It exports liquefied natural gas from the United States, which makes it a different kind of energy investment.

For 2026, Cheniere guided for $6.75 billion to $7.25 billion in consolidated adjusted EBITDA. Distributable cash flow guidance is $4.35 billion to $4.85 billion.

The company expects record LNG exports in 2026 and has expanded its share buyback program to more than $10 billion through 2030.

In February, Cheniere filed plans to build a 24 million tonne per annum Stage 4 expansion at its Corpus Christi facility. That project could add meaningful export capacity if it gets approved.

Analysts are the most bullish on Cheniere out of this group. MarketBeat shows 17 buys, 2 holds, and 0 sells.

Chevron

Chevron combines large-scale oil production with a strong balance sheet and consistent dividend payments.

In its fourth-quarter 2025 results, Chevron reported earnings of $2.8 billion and adjusted earnings of $3.0 billion. Cash flow from operations was $10.8 billion.

The company recorded adjusted free cash flow of $4.2 billion in the quarter and posted record production growth for full-year 2025.

Chevron raised its dividend by 4% and previously lifted its 2026 free cash flow guidance to $12.5 billion. Its share repurchase target for 2026 is between $10 billion and $20 billion.

Long-term growth is tied to the Permian Basin and Guyana, through its pending acquisition of Hess.

MarketBeat shows 18 buys, 5 holds, and 3 sells, giving Chevron a moderate buy consensus.

Final Thoughts

All four companies posted strong results in 2025 and carry broadly positive analyst ratings heading into 2026. Cheniere and ConocoPhillips have the most unanimous buy support on Wall Street, while Exxon and Chevron remain steady options for investors who prefer more diversified, lower-risk energy exposure. Each stock offers something different depending on whether an investor wants oil production, LNG exports, or a mix of both.

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