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U.S. natural gas prices are often volatile, depending on weather, production and export demand.
The US. has seen rapid supply growth from major shale basins, keeping long-term pricing competitive.
The top natural gas stocks to buy now include SM Energy, Riley Exploration and ConocoPhillips.
Natural gas remains one of the most closely followed energy commodities in global markets. It heats homes during winter cold spells, supports a growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export market, and increasingly supplies electricity to power energy-intensive infrastructure such as data centers. For investors, the right natural gas stocks can offer income, cyclical upside tied to commodity prices, and participation in long term shifts in global energy supply.
Below, we examine and rank leading natural gas stocks using a blend of Zacks Rank signals, Style Scores, and core fundamental metrics to highlight companies that may offer durable opportunities for patient investors.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
SM Energy is a Permian and Rockies E&P with meaningful natural gas and NGL exposure alongside oil. The company is benefiting from a cleaner balance sheet after closing its $950 million South Texas divestiture and redeeming all outstanding 2026 senior notes, which should reduce interest expense and improve flexibility for buybacks. Its 2026 outlook stresses disciplined spending and a higher base dividend, supporting freer cash flow in a volatile gas tape.
Potential Risks
A more concentrated footprint raises sensitivity to basin differentials, weather and takeaway constraints. Service-cost inflation or weaker gas and NGL pricing could compress margins and slow returns.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Value Score of A, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of B points to favorable estimate revisions. The Price, Consensus & EPS Surprise chart shows 2026 EPS estimates sliding through 2025 before turning up, while 2027 steps higher and recent surprises lean positive.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Riley Exploration Permian is a Permian Basin producer with associated natural gas and NGL exposure alongside oil. The company is gaining flexibility from its Dovetail midstream sale, which removes future midstream capital needs and supports credit facility paydown. Management’s 2026 plan calls for higher activity and production growth, and the build-out of gathering and compression should improve flow assurance and realized pricing as volumes ramp. With a smaller scale, execution gains can show up in per-share cash flow.
Potential Risks
A concentrated asset base can magnify the impact of a few wells, downtime or service-cost inflation. Softer commodity prices could tighten liquidity and limit buybacks.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #1 with a Value Score of A, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B suggests revisions and price action are supportive. The chart shows 2026 estimates easing then stabilizing, with early 2027 ticking higher amid mixed surprises.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
ConocoPhillips is a global upstream producer with meaningful natural gas exposure through Lower 48 gas and LNG-linked projects. In first-quarter 2026, it delivered cash from operations, returned $2.0 billion via dividends and buybacks and executed an LNG tolling agreement in Equatorial Guinea that extends the facility’s life well into the next decade. Management also highlighted improved Lower 48 capital efficiency by drilling more long-lateral wells, supporting free-cash-flow durability.
Potential Risks
The stock is exposed to commodity swings, and the Middle East conflict affected Qatar volumes, complicating guidance. Higher capital spending or project delays could pressure near-term returns, especially if gas prices weaken.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #1 with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of B signals revisions and price strength are aligned. The chart shows 2026 estimates resetting lower, then snapping higher on recent beats, while 2027 rebounds.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Permian Resources is a Delaware Basin-focused oil and gas company with substantial exposure to natural gas and NGLs alongside oil. The company is benefiting from a 2026 plan built to maximize free cash flow per share through better capital efficiency, pairing consistent, well productivity with lower costs. Its Delaware cost structure and local sourcing can protect margins, while bolt-on deals and royalty purchases are designed to extend drilling inventory and support output visibility. The higher base dividend reinforces shareholder returns.
Potential Risks
Delaware differentials and gas-basis volatility can pressure realizations, while service inflation or execution misses could dilute cost gains. Integration risk rises with frequent acquisitions.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #1 with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of C makes revisions the key signal. The chart shows 2026 estimates sliding through 2025 before rebounding, with 2027 stepping higher and surprises mixed.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Magnolia Oil and Gas is an Eagle Ford and Giddings producer with meaningful natural gas and NGL exposure alongside oil. The company is benefiting from a conservative 2026 plan that targets about 5% production growth while keeping spending disciplined, with first-quarter drilling and completion outlays expected to be the year’s high point. A strong cash position and a shrinking share count support per-share cash flow and allow continued repurchases through volatility.
Potential Risks
A single-region footprint increases sensitivity to local differentials, weather and well variability. If gas prices weaken or service costs rise, free cash flow and buybacks can slow.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #1 with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of C highlights strong price action. The chart shows 2026 estimates softening into early 2026, then turning up, while 2027 rises and recent surprises skew positive.
The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that uses trends in earnings estimate revisions and earnings-per-share (EPS) surprises to classify stocks into five groups: #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy), #3 (Hold), #4 (Sell) and #5 (Strong Sell). The Zacks Rank is calculated through four primary factors related to earnings estimates: analysts' consensus on earnings estimate revisions, the magnitude of revision change, the upside potential and estimate surprise (or the degree in which earnings per share deviated from the previous quarter).
Zacks builds the data from 3,000 analysts at over 150 different brokerage firms. The average yearly gain for Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks is +23.62% per year from January, 1988, through June 2, 2025.
Selections for Best Natural Gas Stocks are based on the current top ranking stocks based on Zacks Indicator Score, Style Scores and fundamentals. All stocks have a daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares and have a stock price of at least $5. All information is current as of market open, May 5, 2026.
Natural Gas Stock Market Overview and Forecast
U.S. natural gas prices have historically been volatile, responding quickly to changes in weather, production levels, and export demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), rapid supply growth from major shale basins such as the Marcellus and Permian has helped keep long-term pricing competitive. At the same time, the rise of LNG exports has introduced a powerful structural demand driver, increasingly linking U.S. prices to global energy markets.
The benchmark Henry Hub natural gas price, tracked by Trading Economics, has moved through pronounced cycles over the past decade. Periods of oversupply have pressured prices, while cold winters, infrastructure constraints, or export disruptions have triggered sharp rallies.
LNG export capacity continues to expand, positioning the United States as a key supplier to Europe and Asia. Among the companies shaping this trend are:
Cheniere Energy (LNG - Free Report) – The largest U.S. LNG exporter, backed by long-term international contracts.
Sempra (SRE - Free Report) – Which is developing LNG export terminals through its Sempra Infrastructure platform.
Meanwhile, major producers have adjusted drilling activity in response to price signals, helping moderate supply during downturns. Key players include:
EQT Corporation (EQT - Free Report) – The largest U.S. natural gas producer.
Antero Resources (AR - Free Report) – Leading Appalachian Basin producer with meaningful natural gas liquids exposure.
Comstock Resources (CRK - Free Report) – Which is heavily leveraged to Haynesville gas near Gulf Coast LNG facilities.
Is now a good time to invest in natural gas stocks?
Natural gas investing often depends more on timing than many other sectors. Periods of low prices can create opportunities in financially disciplined producers with low production costs and manageable debt.
Investors should monitor several key indicators:
Storage levels (EIA weekly reports).
Rig counts and production trends.
LNG export volumes.
Seasonal weather forecasts.
When production growth slows and export demand strengthens, natural gas equities have historically shown the ability to outperform.
General Questions about Natural Gas Stocks
What are the benefits of buying natural gas stocks?
Exposure to a critical fuel source. Gas remains essential for electricity generation and industrial use.
LNG export growth. U.S. exports have structurally increased global demand.
Dividend potential. Midstream operators such as Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Williams Companies (WMB) offer income-focused exposure.
Cyclical upside. Gas producers can see rapid earnings expansion when prices spike.
What are the risks of buying natural gas stocks?
Commodity price volatility.
Weather dependency (mild winters hurt demand).
Regulatory and environmental pressures.
High leverage in some exploration and production companies.
Natural gas producer stocks vs. pipeline stocks: which is better?
Producers (EQT, AR, CRK): Higher upside when prices rise, but more volatile.
Midstream/pipeline (KMI, WMB): Fee-based contracts provide steadier cash flow and dividends.
Income-focused investors often prefer pipelines. Growth-oriented investors may favor producers.
What’s the outlook for natural gas stocks if prices rise?
Producers typically see expanding margins and cash flow during price rallies. Companies with low breakeven costs, like EQT, tend to benefit most. Pipeline operators may see incremental volume growth but are less sensitive to price spikes.
How do natural gas stock prices correlate with commodity prices?
Producer stocks generally move in tandem with natural gas prices. However, hedging programs can mute the impact. Midstream stocks often correlate more with volume growth than spot prices.
Natural gas stocks vs natural gas ETFs
Individual stocks offer targeted exposure and dividend potential. ETFs provide diversification. Examples include:
United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG - Free Report) – Tracks natural gas futures.
Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) – Focused on midstream MLPs.
ETFs reduce company-specific risk but may dilute upside.
What factors should I consider before buying natural gas stocks?
How important is free cash flow for natural gas companies?
Free cash flow is critical. Companies that generate excess cash during strong pricing cycles can:
Pay dividends.
Reduce debt.
Repurchase shares.
For example, Williams Companies emphasizes steady distributable cash flow tied to long-term contracts.
What debt levels are considered risky for gas producers?
High leverage magnifies downside risk when prices fall. Investors often monitor:
Net debt-to-EBITDA ratios.
Interest coverage.
Debt maturity schedules.
Producers operating near 3.0x–4.0x leverage can face pressure during downturns.
How do hedging strategies affect natural gas stock performance?
Hedging locks in future prices. This reduces volatility but may limit upside during rallies. Companies that hedge aggressively may lag during sharp commodity spikes.
Strategy and Portfolio Building with Natural Gas Stocks
Are natural gas stocks suitable for beginners?
They can be — if investors understand commodity cycles. Midstream dividend stocks may be more beginner-friendly than highly leveraged producers.
What natural gas stocks are good for long-term investing?
Long-term candidates often include:
Cheniere Energy (LNG) – Long-term LNG export contracts.
Williams Companies (WMB - Free Report) – Extensive U.S. pipeline network.
Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) – Diversified gas infrastructure footprint.
These companies benefit from structural LNG demand growth rather than short-term weather swings.
How do natural gas stocks fit into an energy portfolio?
Natural gas can balance oil-heavy portfolios. Gas demand tends to be driven more by electricity and heating than transportation. Combining oil majors with gas-focused names adds diversification across commodities.
What are common mistakes investors make with natural gas stocks?
Buying after price spikes.
Ignoring balance sheet risk.
Overestimating short-term weather events.
Confusing LNG infrastructure stocks with upstream producers.
Should investors time the natural gas market or dollar-cost average?
Because natural gas is highly cyclical, dollar-cost averaging can reduce timing risk. However, experienced investors sometimes increase exposure during periods of low prices and production cutbacks.
What are the alternatives if you’re bearish on natural gas prices?
Focus on integrated majors with diversified revenue streams.
Invest in midstream companies less sensitive to price swings.
Allocate to renewable energy or utility stocks instead.
Bottom Line
The best natural gas stocks combine disciplined balance sheets, strong free cash flow, and exposure to long-term LNG export growth. Companies like EQT, Cheniere Energy, and Williams Companies illustrate different ways to gain exposure — from pure production leverage to fee-based infrastructure income.
As always, natural gas investing requires attention to commodity cycles, storage data, and global demand trends. For investors willing to tolerate volatility, the sector can offer both income and upside potential in an evolving global energy market.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Strong Buy 
