The Motley Foolยท2025-11-13 09:35Core Viewpoint - The energy sector is crucial to the global economy and can be volatile, making careful stock selection essential for investors, especially those focused on dividends [1]. Group 1: Chevron - Chevron is an integrated energy company with exposure across the entire energy value chain, which helps mitigate the volatility associated with commodity prices [3]. - The company boasts a strong balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22x, allowing it to manage downturns effectively and maintain its dividend, which has been increased annually for 38 consecutive years [4]. - Chevron's current dividend yield is 4.4%, making it a more attractive option compared to ExxonMobil's 3.5% yield [6]. Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners operates as a master limited partnership (MLP) and focuses on midstream energy infrastructure, charging fees for the use of its assets, which reduces exposure to commodity price fluctuations [7]. - The company has increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years, with a distribution yield of approximately 7% [8]. - While the MLP structure may lead to slower growth, it is appealing for conservative dividend investors [10]. Group 3: TotalEnergies - TotalEnergies is transitioning from traditional oil and gas profits to renewable energy, with its renewable division growing 17% in 2024 and 3% in the first nine months of 2025 [11]. - The company maintains its dividend during this transition, offering a yield of 6.1% [13]. - Unlike peers BP and Shell, which cut dividends to fund clean energy initiatives, TotalEnergies has committed to its clean energy strategy without sacrificing dividends [13]. Group 4: Investment Considerations - Chevron, Enterprise Products Partners, and TotalEnergies are all viable options for investors seeking energy sector exposure with dividend income, each catering to different investment strategies [14].