5 Energy Dividend Stocks for Volatile Oil Markets
- Iran-Israel Conflict: The conflict between Iran and Israel has paused after Israel's missile attack on Iran's Isfahan region, reducing risk premium in the oil market.
- Energy Demand Forecast: Despite the conflict pause, energy demand forecasts remain strong due to robust U.S. consumer data and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
- Investment Recommendations: Investors are advised to consider dividend-paying midstream stocks for stability in the volatile oil market.
- Top-Rated Midstream Operators:
- Targa Resources (TRGP): Strong Buy rating with a 1.77% dividend yield.
- Enterprise Products Partners (EPD): Strong Buy rating with a 6.95% dividend yield.
- Energy Transfer (ET): Strong Buy rating with a 7.89% dividend yield.
- Williams Companies (WMB): Moderate Buy rating with a 4.72% dividend yield.
- Kinder Morgan (KMI): Moderate Buy rating with a 6% dividend yield.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on WMB
About WMB
About the author

- Stock Surge: The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB) saw its stock price increase by 8.01% between February 6 and February 13, 2026, making it one of the top-performing energy stocks this week, reflecting market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Earnings Highlights: Despite reporting an adjusted EPS of $0.55 for Q4 2025, falling short of expectations by $0.02, the company forecasts FY 2026 adjusted earnings between $2.20 and $2.38 per share, exceeding Wall Street's consensus of $2.28, indicating growth driven by new pipeline and offshore projects.
- Revenue Growth: The company's quarterly revenue reached $3.2 billion in 2025, marking a 16.6% year-over-year increase and beating expectations by nearly $12 million, showcasing its strong performance and rising market demand in the energy infrastructure sector.
- Investment and Dividends: WMB completed 1.1 Bcf/d of pipeline transmission projects in 2025 and upsized its Aquila and Apollo projects with an additional $900 million investment, while also raising its annual dividend by 5% to $2.10 for 2026, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns.
- Investment Wave: Japan has initiated its $550 billion investment commitment, focusing on U.S. LNG exports, power generation, and critical minerals, which is expected to revitalize the American energy and industrial markets.
- LNG Exporters Benefit: Trump highlighted a new LNG facility in Texas on social media, aimed at expanding export capacity and further solidifying America's dominance in the global energy market, drawing increased investor attention.
- GE Vernova Growth Potential: As a specialist in power generation equipment and energy infrastructure, GE Vernova stands to benefit from the rising global demand for reliable gas-based electricity generation, enhancing its market share.
- Critical Minerals in Focus: Critical minerals are essential for defense systems and advanced manufacturing, and with foreign capital flowing into U.S. strategic industries, bullish sentiment towards LNG exporters and rare earth producers continues to grow.
Stock Performance: Williams Companies' stock rose by 1.8% after reporting mixed fourth-quarter earnings, with adjusted earnings per share falling short of forecasts, but revenue exceeding expectations.
Natural Gas Demand: The company is a major player in transporting natural gas and is projected to see a 35% increase in demand over the next decade, driven by industrialization and power generation needs.
Market Trends: Despite a mixed season for energy stocks, Williams Companies is positioned in the midstream sector, benefiting from strong demand for natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
Investment Outlook: Analysts maintain a bullish outlook on the stock, although it appears stretched in the near term, suggesting a cautious approach while acknowledging the underlying positive trends in the energy market.
- Position Change Analysis: In the latest batch of 39 13F filings, 12 hedge funds held Williams Cos Inc (WMB), with 2 funds increasing their positions from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025, indicating sustained interest in the company.
- Aggregate Holdings Increase: The total shares held by hedge funds as of December 31, 2025, reached 267,533,791, up from 262,718,806 shares on September 30, 2025, reflecting an increase of 4,814,985 shares or approximately 1.83%, showcasing growing confidence in WMB.
- New Positions Insight: Among the latest 13F filers, 3 funds established new positions in WMB, suggesting rising investor interest in the stock, which may indicate potential for future growth.
- Investor Behavior Insights: While 13F filings only reveal long positions, analyzing changes across multiple funds provides a more comprehensive understanding of market sentiment and investor strategies, offering valuable insights for future investment decisions.

Project Extensions: The Williams Companies have extended their agreements related to the Aquila and Apollo projects.
Duration of Agreements: The new agreements have been extended to a duration of 12.5 years.






