Energy Stocks Show Resurgence, Indicating a Lasting Rise. Which Charts Stand Out?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 02 2025
0mins
Source: Barron's
Energy Sector Performance: The energy sector is experiencing a resurgence, with exploration and production stocks beginning to align with equipment stocks.
Leading ETFs: The VanEck Oil Services ETF is leading the sector with an 8% year-to-date increase, followed by the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF at 6%.
Exploration & Production ETF: The State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF has seen a modest increase of 2% this year.
Market Trends: Overall, the performance of these ETFs indicates a positive trend in the energy market, particularly in oil services and exploration sectors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy APA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on APA
Wall Street analysts forecast APA stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
10 Hold
5 Sell
Hold
Current: 30.370
Low
21.00
Averages
26.17
High
40.00
Current: 30.370
Low
21.00
Averages
26.17
High
40.00
About APA
APA Corporation is an independent energy company. The Company owns subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt, and the United Kingdom, and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname. The Company’s upstream business has oil and gas operations in three geographic areas: the United States, Egypt and offshore the United Kingdom in the North Sea (North Sea). It also has active exploration and appraisal operations ongoing in Suriname, as well as interests in Uruguay and other international locations. It maintains a diversified asset portfolio, including conventional and unconventional, onshore and offshore, oil and natural gas exploration and production interests. In the United States, operations are primarily focused on the Permian Basin of West Texas. The Company has conventional onshore assets in Egypt’s Western Desert, and offshore assets on the United Kingdom’s Continental Shelf.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Mixed Close for US Stocks Amid Iran War Impact
- Mixed Market Performance: On Monday, the S&P 500 closed up 0.04%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.15%, and the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.13%, reflecting a divergence in market sentiment influenced by the ongoing war in Iran, with increased demand for defense and energy stocks.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices soared over 6% to an 8.25-month high following Iran's attack on oil tankers, which is expected to elevate inflation expectations and impact the overall economic environment and investor confidence.
- Strong Manufacturing Index: The US February ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly rose to 52.4, surpassing the market expectation of 51.5, indicating economic resilience that could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction, leading to shifts in future rate hike expectations.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: More than 90% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 73% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing market support despite geopolitical risks.
See More
Iran War Drives Market Volatility and Sector Performance
- Market Reaction: Stocks initially retreated following the US and Israel's joint military actions against Iran, but rebounded after the February ISM manufacturing index exceeded expectations, indicating investor focus on economic data.
- Surge in Energy Prices: The halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran's attacks on three oil tankers led to WTI crude oil prices soaring over 65% to an 8.25-month high, potentially exacerbating global inflationary pressures.
- Defense Stocks Rise: The ongoing conflict in Iran has bolstered earnings prospects for defense companies, with Aerovironment's stock rising over 12%, while Northrop Grumman and RTX Corp also saw increases of over 4%, reflecting market optimism about defense spending.
- Economic Data Focus: Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming economic data releases, including ADP employment changes and the ISM services index, which are expected to influence future monetary policy directions amid rising inflation concerns.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Iran War Escalation
- Market Retreat: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.69% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.65%, both hitting 1.5-week lows, indicating a heightened risk-off sentiment among investors due to the escalating conflict in Iran, which may lead to a reassessment of risk asset allocations.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices soared over 8% to an 8.25-month high as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz largely halted, raising inflation expectations and potentially impacting overall economic growth forecasts.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks faced declines, with American Airlines down over 5% and Delta Air Lines down more than 2%, reflecting the negative impact of rising oil prices on profit outlooks in the aviation sector.
- Defense Stocks Rise: Defense stocks like Aerovironment surged over 15% amid expectations of increased defense spending due to the Iran war, indicating a potential boost in earnings prospects for companies in this sector.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid Escalating Conflict in Iran
- Oil Price Surge: West Texas Intermediate futures jumped over 8% to around $72 per barrel following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, marking the largest one-day rally since March 2022, indicating heightened market fears of supply disruptions.
- Strait of Hormuz Significance: Approximately 20 million barrels of oil transit the Strait of Hormuz daily, accounting for 20% of global oil consumption, with over 80% heading to Asia, highlighting the region's critical role in global energy supply, particularly for Japan and South Korea, which rely on it for 72% and 65% of their crude imports, respectively.
- Impact of Conflict Duration: Geopolitical experts predict the Iran conflict could last one to three weeks, potentially extending to two months; if Gulf exports are disrupted for more than two weeks, around 14 million barrels per day could be at risk, likely raising inflation expectations and increasing market volatility.
- Energy Stocks Rally: In response to rising oil prices, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) surged 4% in premarket trading as investors shifted towards oil producers, reflecting strong market interest and confidence in energy equities amid geopolitical tensions.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
- Oil Price Surge: Brent crude prices soared approximately 8% to about $78.70 per barrel on Monday, driven by heightened concerns over potential supply disruptions due to U.S.-Iran hostilities.
- Market Reaction: Following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, traders rushed to gain energy exposure, resulting in significant pre-market gains for related ETFs, highlighting the market's sensitivity to energy price fluctuations.
- Strait of Hormuz Risks: The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for over 27% of global crude oil shipments, has raised alarm among retail traders, further exacerbating market uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
- Military Action Outlook: President Trump indicated that the current military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, intensifying market expectations for future oil price volatility and prompting investors to reassess their energy asset allocations.
See More
S&P 500 Futures Drop in Pre-Market Session; AES and Carnival Underperform
- Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
- AeroVironment Inc. Performance: AeroVironment Inc. (AVAV) saw a 10.2% increase in pre-market trading.
- SM Energy Co. Performance: SM Energy Co. (SM) experienced a 9.5% rise in pre-market trading.
- Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains indicate positive sentiment among investors for these companies.
See More
Mixed Close for US Stocks Amid Iran War Impact
- Mixed Market Performance: On Monday, the S&P 500 closed up 0.04%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.15%, and the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.13%, reflecting a divergence in market sentiment influenced by the ongoing war in Iran, with increased demand for defense and energy stocks.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices soared over 6% to an 8.25-month high following Iran's attack on oil tankers, which is expected to elevate inflation expectations and impact the overall economic environment and investor confidence.
- Strong Manufacturing Index: The US February ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly rose to 52.4, surpassing the market expectation of 51.5, indicating economic resilience that could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction, leading to shifts in future rate hike expectations.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: More than 90% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 73% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing market support despite geopolitical risks.
See More
Iran War Drives Market Volatility and Sector Performance
- Market Reaction: Stocks initially retreated following the US and Israel's joint military actions against Iran, but rebounded after the February ISM manufacturing index exceeded expectations, indicating investor focus on economic data.
- Surge in Energy Prices: The halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran's attacks on three oil tankers led to WTI crude oil prices soaring over 65% to an 8.25-month high, potentially exacerbating global inflationary pressures.
- Defense Stocks Rise: The ongoing conflict in Iran has bolstered earnings prospects for defense companies, with Aerovironment's stock rising over 12%, while Northrop Grumman and RTX Corp also saw increases of over 4%, reflecting market optimism about defense spending.
- Economic Data Focus: Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming economic data releases, including ADP employment changes and the ISM services index, which are expected to influence future monetary policy directions amid rising inflation concerns.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Iran War Escalation
- Market Retreat: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.69% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.65%, both hitting 1.5-week lows, indicating a heightened risk-off sentiment among investors due to the escalating conflict in Iran, which may lead to a reassessment of risk asset allocations.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices soared over 8% to an 8.25-month high as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz largely halted, raising inflation expectations and potentially impacting overall economic growth forecasts.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks faced declines, with American Airlines down over 5% and Delta Air Lines down more than 2%, reflecting the negative impact of rising oil prices on profit outlooks in the aviation sector.
- Defense Stocks Rise: Defense stocks like Aerovironment surged over 15% amid expectations of increased defense spending due to the Iran war, indicating a potential boost in earnings prospects for companies in this sector.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid Escalating Conflict in Iran
- Oil Price Surge: West Texas Intermediate futures jumped over 8% to around $72 per barrel following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, marking the largest one-day rally since March 2022, indicating heightened market fears of supply disruptions.
- Strait of Hormuz Significance: Approximately 20 million barrels of oil transit the Strait of Hormuz daily, accounting for 20% of global oil consumption, with over 80% heading to Asia, highlighting the region's critical role in global energy supply, particularly for Japan and South Korea, which rely on it for 72% and 65% of their crude imports, respectively.
- Impact of Conflict Duration: Geopolitical experts predict the Iran conflict could last one to three weeks, potentially extending to two months; if Gulf exports are disrupted for more than two weeks, around 14 million barrels per day could be at risk, likely raising inflation expectations and increasing market volatility.
- Energy Stocks Rally: In response to rising oil prices, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) surged 4% in premarket trading as investors shifted towards oil producers, reflecting strong market interest and confidence in energy equities amid geopolitical tensions.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions
- Oil Price Surge: Brent crude prices soared approximately 8% to about $78.70 per barrel on Monday, driven by heightened concerns over potential supply disruptions due to U.S.-Iran hostilities.
- Market Reaction: Following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, traders rushed to gain energy exposure, resulting in significant pre-market gains for related ETFs, highlighting the market's sensitivity to energy price fluctuations.
- Strait of Hormuz Risks: The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for over 27% of global crude oil shipments, has raised alarm among retail traders, further exacerbating market uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
- Military Action Outlook: President Trump indicated that the current military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, intensifying market expectations for future oil price volatility and prompting investors to reassess their energy asset allocations.
See More
S&P 500 Futures Drop in Pre-Market Session; AES and Carnival Underperform
- Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
- AeroVironment Inc. Performance: AeroVironment Inc. (AVAV) saw a 10.2% increase in pre-market trading.
- SM Energy Co. Performance: SM Energy Co. (SM) experienced a 9.5% rise in pre-market trading.
- Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains indicate positive sentiment among investors for these companies.
See More
