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Buy 5 Low-Beta High-Yielding Stocks Amid Recent Wall Street Volatility

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Key Takeaways

  • COP, VNOM and TTE offer low-beta exposure and attractive dividend yields.
  • SU leverages its integrated operations and expanded global sales network to navigate market volatility.
  • EC focuses on exploration and production opportunities in Colombia and northern Peru, with a 4.02% yield.

U.S. stock markets have seen an astonishing rally in the past four years barring some minor fluctuations. However, over the past month Wall Street has been suffering from severe volatility. Prolonged war in the Middle East, soaring crude oil prices, sticky inflation, and concerns about the sustainability of massive spending for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure have shaken market participants’ confidence in risky assets like equities.

At this stage, it should be prudent to invest in low-beta (beta >0<1) high dividend yielding stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank to protect your portfolio. Five of these stocks are: ConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) , Viper Energy Inc. (VNOM - Free Report) , TotalEnergies SE (TTE - Free Report) , Suncor Energy Inc. (SU - Free Report) and Ecopetrol S.A. (EC - Free Report) . 
Each of our picks currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks year to date.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips offers an attractive long-term profile supported by a deep low-cost shale inventory, expanding global LNG exposure and a broader portfolio of capital-efficient international opportunities. 

Record Permian output highlights the quality of COP’s Lower 48 position, while LNG projects are expected to begin contributing in 2027. Willow remains on track for first oil in early 2029, with Alaska exploration adding resource optionality around existing infrastructure. 

Cost reductions are ahead of plan, shareholder distributions remain a priority and COPt continues to target a sizable free-cash-flow inflection by 2029. Portfolio high-grading adds flexibility. These drivers should lower COP’s future reinvestment needs, broaden cash-flow sources and support durable returns.

ConocoPhillips has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 17.7% and 89%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 8.6% over the last 30 days. COP has a beta of 0.16 and a current dividend yield of 2.29%.

Viper Energy Inc.

Viper Energy offers an attractive way to participate in Permian development through a capital-light royalty model that requires no drilling or completion spending. VNOM’s deep inventory of active and line-of-sight wells supports continued production growth, while acquisitions and share repurchases add to per-share expansion. 

VNOM’s broad third-party activity complements Diamondback-operated development and reduces dependence on a single operator. Financial flexibility and ample liquidity support VNOM’s disciplined growth. The higher base dividend strengthens recurring shareholder returns, while retained cash can fund buybacks, debt reduction or accretive acquisitions.

Viper Energy has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 76.8% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 3.3% over the last 30 days. VNOM has a beta of 0.49 and a current dividend yield of 3.32%.

TotalEnergies SE

TotalEnergies presents a favorable investment case, supported by its expanding global portfolio, resilient production outside disrupted regions and exposure to the entire global LNG value chain and emerging hydrocarbon basins. 

Contributions from new project start-ups and acquired assets are expected to boost TTE’s volumes and support cash generation across market cycles. Investments in low-carbon businesses also provide a longer-term transition path and help TTE align operations with emissions goals.

TotalEnergies has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 17.7% and 84.3%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 9.1% over the last 30 days. TTE has a beta of 0.14 and a current dividend yield of 4.34%.

Suncor Energy Inc.

Suncor Energy’s upstream and downstream businesses continue to offset market volatility by capturing value across the barrel. SU’s refineries can process varied crude slates, while its logistics network broadens product outlets.  

SU has expanded its refined-product and crude marketing network over several years, creating a wider set of outlets beyond domestic channels. SU said its sales footprint has grown from just over 20 countries to the mid-40s, supported by time-chartered vessels and export access from both coasts.

Suncor Energy has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 29.6% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 18.5% over the last 30 days. SU has a beta of 0.22 and a current dividend yield of 2.30%.

Ecopetrol S.A.

Colombia-based energy company. Ecopetrol operates through four segments: Exploration and Production, Transport and Logistics, Refining and Petrochemicals, and Energy Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions.

EC is focused on identifying opportunities primarily within the eastern Llanos Basin of Colombia, as well as in other areas in Colombia and northern Peru. EC’s operations include the extraction, collection, treatment, storage and pumping or compression of hydrocarbons.

Ecopetrol has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 31.1% and 99.2%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 20.7% over the last 30 days. EC has a beta of 0.45 and a current dividend yield of 4.02%.

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