3 Energy Stocks Retail Investors Are Watching As Oil Prices Stay Elevated

Oil and gas producers are back in the spotlight as the Iran war and elevated Middle East risks keep crude and jet fuel prices under pressure. While airlines wrestle with higher costs and fare hikes, some upstream companies could see a very different set of outcomes. This article walks through three stocks from our Global Energy Producers screener that are directly exposed to these headlines and explores what that might mean for your watchlist.

The stocks highlighted below are just a starting sample from this theme. The full screen surfaced 43 more companies with equally interesting stories that are not covered here. To identify and analyze the highest conviction candidates for your own watchlist, head straight into the Global Energy Producers (Oil & Gas Exploration and Production) screener.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group (HOSE:PLX)

Vietnam National Petroleum Group is a major fuel importer and distributor that links directly into the Global Energy Producers theme, giving you exposure to refined product pricing and regional fuel demand rather than airline cost pressure. The group runs a broad operation that spans importing and trading petroleum products, logistics, LPG, lubricants, asphalt and chemicals, along with related transport and port services in Vietnam and abroad. With a market cap of about ₫45,741.3b, Vietnam National Petroleum Group sits firmly in the large cap bracket of this screener universe.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group gives you a way to be on the other side of higher fuel prices, with H1 2026 revenue of ₫234.92t and net income of ₫2,045.8b showing how sensitive its results can be to refined products and regional demand. The investment case is not one way, though. Margins remain slim, the company leans heavily on external borrowing and governance quality is a live question. On the positive side, strong recent earnings, a sizeable P/E gap to the industry and a large discount to a DCF estimate hint at a different story to what the share price implies today, especially for investors who can tolerate governance and funding risk during periods of fuel price stress.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group’s slim margins and earnings sensitivity to fuel prices could be masking a mispriced story. Get the full picture in the DCF valuation analysis for Vietnam National Petroleum Group to see where governance and funding risk really bite.

Exxaro Resources (JSE:EXX)

Exxaro Resources is a South African mining and energy group that gives you indirect exposure to the Global Energy Producers theme through its coal and broader fossil fuel linked revenues. The company earns most of its income from coal, with about ZAR25.1b from commercial operations in the Waterberg, ZAR8.5b from tied coal and ZAR8.1b from commercial Mpumalanga, alongside smaller contributions from energy at ZAR1.4b and other activities. With a market cap of roughly ZAR46.0b, Exxaro Resources is a large player in this screener’s mid to upper size range.

Investors looking at Exxaro Resources are weighing a coal heavy business that still throws off cash and pays sizeable dividends against a world that is steadily tightening the screws on fossil fuels. The company’s portfolio is anchored by long life coal assets and a growing energy arm. Recent half year results showed ZAR22,128m in sales and an interim dividend of 700 cents per share, even as net income eased to ZAR3,264m and higher fuel and freight costs bit into margins. Analyst expectations for future growth, a P/E that screens as inexpensive versus many peers and a balance sheet that leans on external funding together create a stock where both the upside from firmer energy prices and the long term decarbonisation risk deserve a closer look.

Exxaro Resources could have an earnings story that current sentiment and a simple P/E comparison are masking. Head straight into the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign to see how its coal cash flows and future pressure points really stack up

World Kinect (WKC)

World Kinect is a global energy management and fuel distribution company that fits this Global Energy Producers theme through its role in sourcing and managing jet fuel, marine fuel and land fuels for customers when crude and refined prices move around. It runs three main segments, with aviation fuelling and services generating about US$22.6b of revenue, land fuels and services around US$10.4b, and marine about US$8.7b, which gives you broad exposure to fuel volumes and pricing rather than a single commodity bet. With a market cap of roughly US$1.8b, World Kinect sits in the mid cap bracket of this screener’s range.

World Kinect may be worth a closer look if you want exposure to fuel price volatility without owning a pure upstream producer. The company focuses on fuel procurement, logistics and data driven services to earn margins across aviation, marine and land. This business model can benefit when higher prices and interest rates put smaller competitors under pressure. At the same time, you are dealing with thin margins, a history of losses, high reliance on external funding and a dividend that current earnings and cash flows do not comfortably cover. The key question is whether cost cuts, renewables growth and improving aviation profitability can change that risk mix into an earnings recovery.

World Kinect’s thin margins and funding reliance could be masking a sharper earnings swing than the market is pricing in. Review the 3 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (2 are major!) to see the one factor that could change this narrative.

Seeking Alternatives Before The Crowd

Fresh ideas move first and slow research often gets caught chasing momentum after prices are already flying. Scan these curated stock sets while it matters and consider them before others do.

• Identify resilient cash generators early by reviewing the 257 high quality undervalued stocks that still appear under the radar for now, before any potential breakout move begins.
• Explore structural demand for critical materials by checking the curated 30 best rare earth metal stocks and see which producers could gain momentum while attention is still elsewhere.
• Assess electrification trends and infrastructure spending by scanning the focused 39 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks where potential compounders may be quietly building strength.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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