Piper Sandler Says These 3 Energy Stocks Are Top Picks for 2026

Company Overview - Diamondback Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company, primarily operating in the hydrocarbon-rich Permian Basin, utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods [1][2][3] - The company was founded in 2007 and has a market capitalization exceeding $42 billion, with its headquarters in Midland, Texas [3] Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter (3Q25), Diamondback generated a revenue of $3.92 billion, marking a 48% increase year-over-year and surpassing estimates by $394.3 million [6] - The non-GAAP EPS for the same quarter was $3.08, exceeding expectations by 14 cents per share [6] Dividend and Share Repurchase - Diamondback declared a dividend of $1 per share on November 20, resulting in an annualized rate of $4 per share, which gives a forward yield of 2.7% [7] - The company has an active share repurchase policy and recently entered an agreement to repurchase up to 3 million shares from its largest shareholder, SGF FANG Holdings [7] Analyst Ratings and Market Outlook - Mark Lear from Piper Sandler has rated Diamondback as a top large-cap exploration and production (E&P) company, citing its low-cost operations and strong asset performance [8] - The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 21 recent analyst reviews, with 20 Buys and 1 Hold, and is currently priced at $146.31, with a price target of $219 indicating a potential upside of 50% [8] Industry Trends - The energy sector is experiencing downward pressure on hydrocarbon prices due to global supply gluts, rising inventories, and lower-than-expected demand, leading to expectations of lower prices in 2026 [4] - The near-term opportunity in the energy sector is perceived to favor gas equities over oil, primarily due to the significant pullback in gas prices [4]