An AI just scored 357 stocks. Here's what it found. (From TradingTips)
Why One Energy Expert Is Betting on These 3 Oil Stocks Now Written by Bridget Bennett on March 5, 2026 
Key Points - Oil-price volatility tied to Middle East risk is keeping energy stocks in focus, with North America-facing operators viewed as less exposed to overseas disruption.
- Marc Lichtenfeld’s picks span the supply chain: a producer (APA), a refiner (Marathon Petroleum), and a midstream “toll collector” (Enterprise Products Partners).
- The common thread is cash flow: value in upstream, potential margin upside in refining, and steadier income in midstream.
- Special Report: Elon Musk already made me a "wealthy man" (From The Oxford Club)
 Energy markets have been anything but calm lately. Oil prices surged before pulling back again as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East sent shockwaves through global markets. While that kind of volatility can make investors uneasy, it can also create opportunities. In a recent conversation with Marc Lichtenfeld of the Oxford Club, the discussion focused on how investors can navigate this environment and where some of the most compelling opportunities may be in the energy sector right now. Lichtenfeld shared three companies he believes offer a mix of strong fundamentals, income potential and exposure to key parts of the energy supply chain. Back in the day, you could park your cash in a stock and yield hefty 8% dividend checks, giving you capital gains and cash flow to offset rising costs. But in today's market, you're lucky to get much more than 1% in dividends. After more than a decade trading the markets with contacts that include a former hedge fund manager, a trading champion, and a former bank VP, I've put together 5 dividend-investing cheat sheets that show you every single detail I look for before I even touch any stock for dividends, including the two dividend stocks I personally put $50,000 of my own money into. Check out these dividend cheat sheets free Geopolitical Tensions Are Driving Oil Price Volatility Recent geopolitical developments have quickly reminded markets how sensitive oil prices are to global events. Supply disruptions and concerns about key transportation routes can quickly send prices higher. Lichtenfeld pointed specifically to tensions involving Iran as a major catalyst for the recent moves. “Given what’s happening geopolitically… oil prices are going to spike,” Lichtenfeld explained. “I’d be surprised if oil comes all the way back down and settles where it was before the war started.” One key factor investors are watching is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil supply. If that route faces disruption, the impact on prices could be significant. Until the situation stabilizes, Lichtenfeld expects continued pressure on energy markets. “Until we know that the Strait of Hormuz is wide open and traffic can flow through there freely, there’s going to be price pressure on oil,” he said. Because of that uncertainty, Lichtenfeld is focusing on companies operating primarily in North America rather than relying on overseas supply chains. APA Offers Value in the Upstream Segment The first stock highlighted in the conversation was APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA), an oil and gas producer operating primarily in the Permian Basin as well as the North Sea. APA represents the upstream portion of the energy industry—companies that pull oil and gas out of the ground. Lichtenfeld believes the company stands out because of its improving financial performance and attractive valuation. “It’s a company that’s been around for a long time, it’s well managed and generating lots of cash flow,” Lichtenfeld said. “It trades at just eight times earnings and less than three times cash flow, so I think it’s a bargain.” The company has also made significant progress on its cost-reduction strategy, reaching savings goals earlier than expected. That improvement in efficiency could help boost margins and continue driving earnings growth. For investors looking for exposure to oil producers without paying premium valuations for larger names, APA may represent an attractive opportunity. Investment researcher Andy Howard identified Sui at just 57 cents in August 2024 before it surged 840% in six months, and now he's pounding the table on Digital Oil, the asset he believes can skyrocket as $382 trillion floods onto America's new financial infrastructure. When Trump signed the Clarity Act moving our entire financial system onto a blockchain-based Money Grid by April 2027, he laid the groundwork for what could be the biggest wealth migration in American history, and BlackRock, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Fidelity are all quietly accumulating the same scarce fuel that powers this grid. Discover what Wall Street's been quietly accumulating Marathon Petroleum Could Benefit From Refining Margins The second company discussed was Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: MPC), which represents the downstream side of the energy industry. Marathon Petroleum operates the largest refining system in the United States and can process roughly three million barrels of oil per day. That scale gives the company a powerful position when refining margins expand. Periods of oil price volatility can actually benefit refiners. “When oil prices are volatile or rising, you tend to see margins improve at refineries,” Lichtenfeld explained. That dynamic has already begun to show up in the company’s results. The business has posted strong earnings growth and continues to generate significant cash flow. Lichtenfeld also emphasized that the stock’s technical trend supports the bullish outlook. “I like to buy things that are rising,” he said. “I’m not a bottom feeder. I don’t try to pick the bottom.” With the stock already trading in a strong uptrend, the company could continue benefiting if oil market volatility keeps refining margins elevated. Enterprise Products Partners Provides Income and Stability The final stock on Lichtenfeld’s list focuses on the midstream segment of the energy industry: pipeline infrastructure. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) operates a vast network of pipelines that transport oil and natural gas throughout the United States. Midstream companies often generate stable cash flow because they operate more like infrastructure providers than commodity producers. “These companies are basically toll collectors,” Lichtenfeld said. “The companies transporting their oil and gas just pay a fee to use the pipeline.” Because of that structure, Enterprise Products Partners produces consistent income for investors. The partnership currently offers a distribution yield of nearly 6% and has increased its payout for more than 25 consecutive years. The company’s master limited partnership structure also offers potential tax advantages for investors, making it particularly attractive for those seeking income. Diversification Within Energy One key theme from the conversation with Marc Lichtenfeld was diversification within the energy sector itself. Rather than focusing only on producers or refiners, Lichtenfeld prefers a mix of companies across the supply chain—upstream, midstream and downstream. That approach helps balance risk because each segment tends to perform differently depending on market conditions. With oil prices reacting to global events and supply risks, energy stocks could remain in focus throughout the year. For investors looking to position themselves in the sector, these three companies offer exposure to different parts of the energy ecosystem while potentially benefiting from continued volatility. Read this article online › Recommended Stories Related Video: 
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