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The Zacks Analyst Blog United States Oil, XOP, ENOR,XRT, INDY and JETS
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For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – February 20, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include United States Oil Fund, LP (USO - Free Report) , Energy – SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP - Free Report) , Norway – iShares MSCI Norway ETF (ENOR - Free Report) , SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT - Free Report) , iShares India 50 ETF (INDY - Free Report) and ETF U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Oil Prices Surge on Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions: ETFs to Gain/Lose
Oil prices jumped more than 4% on Feb. 18, 2026 after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Iran failed to meet key American demands during recent nuclear negotiations and warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy breaks down, as quoted on CNBC. United States Oil Fund, LP added 4.9% on Feb. 18 while the fund gained 0.8% after hours.
Rising Geopolitical Tensions Add Supply Concerns
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Iranian officials in Geneva. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as constructive. Oil prices had fallen earlier after markets interpreted these comments as a sign that negotiations could succeed.
However, sentiment reversed after Vance said Tehran had not addressed core U.S. “red lines,” as mentioned in the same CNBC article. Meanwhile, Iran conducted military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for global energy shipments — raising fears that oil flows could be disrupted in the event of conflict.
Note that about one-third of all waterborne crude exports pass through this narrow waterway, according to data from energy consulting firm Kpler, as quoted on CNBC. The United States too has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East by deploying aircraft carriers, signaling readiness if negotiations collapse.
Escalating tensions could threaten supply of oil through key shipping routes. If oil prices gain in the near term, the below-mentioned ETF areas are likely to gain and lose.
ETFs to Gain
Energy – SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
This is the most obvious choice. If oil prices are staging an uptrend on reduced supplies, oil exploration and production stocks are sure to benefit as these companies will tend to pump more oil ahead.
Norway – iShares MSCI Norway ETF
Norway is among the top 10 nations famous for oil exports and with its comparatively low population, oil forms the key part of the country’s GDP. Per U.S. Norway is one of the largest oil producers and exporters in Western Europe.
ETFs to Lose
Retail
Rising energy prices do not bode well for retailers as consumers’ wallets get squeezed from higher outlays on gas stations. In fact, not only oil, overall inflation will be rising, hurting consumers’ buying power. Thus, SPDR S&P Retail ETF will lose in a rising oil price environment.
India
India is almost entirely dependent on imports to back its oil needs. An oil price rise could thus be a major headwind to India investing, putting iShares India 50 ETF in focus.
Airlines
The airline sector performs better in a falling crude scenario, as energy costs form a major portion of the overall cost of this sector. Hence, airlines ETF U.S. Global Jets ETF is likely to underperform in the current situation.
Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights
Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.
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Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog United States Oil, XOP, ENOR,XRT, INDY and JETS
For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – February 20, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include United States Oil Fund, LP (USO - Free Report) , Energy – SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP - Free Report) , Norway – iShares MSCI Norway ETF (ENOR - Free Report) , SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT - Free Report) , iShares India 50 ETF (INDY - Free Report) and ETF U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Oil Prices Surge on Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions: ETFs to Gain/Lose
Oil prices jumped more than 4% on Feb. 18, 2026 after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Iran failed to meet key American demands during recent nuclear negotiations and warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy breaks down, as quoted on CNBC. United States Oil Fund, LP added 4.9% on Feb. 18 while the fund gained 0.8% after hours.
Rising Geopolitical Tensions Add Supply Concerns
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Iranian officials in Geneva. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as constructive. Oil prices had fallen earlier after markets interpreted these comments as a sign that negotiations could succeed.
However, sentiment reversed after Vance said Tehran had not addressed core U.S. “red lines,” as mentioned in the same CNBC article. Meanwhile, Iran conducted military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for global energy shipments — raising fears that oil flows could be disrupted in the event of conflict.
Note that about one-third of all waterborne crude exports pass through this narrow waterway, according to data from energy consulting firm Kpler, as quoted on CNBC. The United States too has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East by deploying aircraft carriers, signaling readiness if negotiations collapse.
Escalating tensions could threaten supply of oil through key shipping routes. If oil prices gain in the near term, the below-mentioned ETF areas are likely to gain and lose.
ETFs to Gain
Energy – SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
This is the most obvious choice. If oil prices are staging an uptrend on reduced supplies, oil exploration and production stocks are sure to benefit as these companies will tend to pump more oil ahead.
Norway – iShares MSCI Norway ETF
Norway is among the top 10 nations famous for oil exports and with its comparatively low population, oil forms the key part of the country’s GDP. Per U.S. Norway is one of the largest oil producers and exporters in Western Europe.
ETFs to Lose
Retail
Rising energy prices do not bode well for retailers as consumers’ wallets get squeezed from higher outlays on gas stations. In fact, not only oil, overall inflation will be rising, hurting consumers’ buying power. Thus, SPDR S&P Retail ETF will lose in a rising oil price environment.
India
India is almost entirely dependent on imports to back its oil needs. An oil price rise could thus be a major headwind to India investing, putting iShares India 50 ETF in focus.
Airlines
The airline sector performs better in a falling crude scenario, as energy costs form a major portion of the overall cost of this sector. Hence, airlines ETF U.S. Global Jets ETF is likely to underperform in the current situation.
Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF Insights
Zacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.
Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!
Get it now >>
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.