3 No-Brainer Energy Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

Industry Overview - The energy sector is crucial for the economy, but energy stocks have experienced volatility and underperformance compared to the broader market due to factors like slower growth in China and stabilized energy prices [1] - Many energy companies are adopting a disciplined capital management approach, strategically deploying capital while rewarding shareholders through dividends and share repurchase programs [2] Company Analysis: ExxonMobil and Chevron - ExxonMobil and Chevron are two of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the U.S., operating across the entire oil and gas supply chain, which includes exploration, production, transportation, and refining [3] - Their diversified business model helps stabilize performance in the volatile energy sector, with exploration and production thriving during high oil prices, while transportation and refining mitigate volatility during price declines [4] - Both companies have a strong history of dividend growth, with ExxonMobil increasing dividends for 42 years and Chevron for 38 years [4] - ExxonMobil and Chevron have improved their financial positions by using past windfall profits to pay down debt, with long-term debts peaking at $66 billion and $44 billion, respectively, and they have since paid down 43% and 45% of these debts [6] - The dividend yields for ExxonMobil and Chevron are attractive at 3.5% and 4.1%, respectively, and both stocks are trading around 12 times forward earnings, indicating reasonable pricing and strong potential for shareholder rewards [7] Company Analysis: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners is a leading provider of midstream services in the U.S., with a vast network of over 50,000 miles of pipelines and significant storage capacity for crude oil, natural gas, and refined products [8] - The company offers a high dividend yield of 6.25%, supported by stable cash flows from long-term contracts, and has recently achieved record volumes across its systems [9] - The current political environment, particularly the Trump administration's focus on deregulation, could benefit pipeline operators like Enterprise Products, potentially expediting project approvals [9][10] - Enterprise Products has approximately $7.6 billion in projects under construction, with $6 billion expected to come online in 2025, positioning the company well for future growth [10] - The stable dividend payout and the increasing demand for energy, particularly for powering data centers, make Enterprise Products a solid investment opportunity [11]