We recently compiled a list of the 10 Most Promising Energy Stocks According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) stands against the other promising energy stocks.

In the next decade, global power demand is expected to grow by over 30%, largely fueled by economic growth in emerging markets and the electrification of various sectors. Data centers and artificial intelligence are becoming major energy consumers, increasingly relying on renewable sources like solar and wind power. Although efforts to improve energy efficiency may help mitigate some of this demand, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to account for a significant portion of the increase, capturing 66% of the total growth in electricity demand.

In response to the rising demand, there is a strong focus on clean energy sources to meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, as well as to qualify for tax incentives, reshaping the entire industry. Renewable energy is projected to increase by more than 740 gigawatts each year from now until 2035. By that year, carbon-free resources, including renewables, hydropower, nuclear energy, and battery storage, are expected to make up 70% of the total installed generation capacity.

This shift is also driving significant investments and various initiatives across the industry. This includes renewable energy startups, traditional oil and gas companies, and associated manufacturing and technology firms. Investment in the energy transition is gaining momentum, with the US experiencing a 22% increase in 2023, reaching $303 billion. While this amount is substantial, it remains relatively small compared to the global total of $1.77 trillion.

Read Also: 7 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks To Buy Now and 13 Best Natural Gas and Oil Dividend Stocks To Buy.

In the United States, fossil fuels and nuclear power together account for 75% of energy production, while renewables contribute just under 25%. On a global scale, renewable sources now represent 30% of electricity generation.

Another emerging trend in the energy sector is the rise of mergers and acquisitions. According to Bloomberg, over $155 billion in deals were finalized in the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, exceeding the total from the previous five quarters combined. As companies face challenging market and economic conditions, consolidation within the oil and gas industry, particularly among upstream, midstream, and oil field services companies, is expected to continue.

Oil prices significantly influence the performance of energy stocks, leading to a volatile year for the sector. Stock prices have fluctuated in response to changing oil prices. Despite this volatility, there are still investment opportunities within the energy sector, including traditional oil and gas companies, midstream businesses, and firms focused on renewable energy. With this context in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 most promising energy stocks according to hedge funds.

Our Methodology

To shortlist the 10 most promising energy stocks, we used stock screeners like Yahoo Finance and Finviz to identify the largest energy companies. From there, we refined our selections to 10 stocks based on hedge fund sentiment using our database of 912 top hedge funds as of Q2 2024. The most promising energy stocks have been ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds holding a stake in them.

Note: Although the theme of the article is Oil and Gas stocks, we’ve also added renewable energy stocks since many oil and gas companies are also diversifying in renewable energy.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is a major player in the global energy industry, operating a diverse range of conventional and unconventional assets across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company’s balanced portfolio positions it to effectively navigate and benefit from the evolving energy market landscape.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) recently announced plans to acquire Marathon Oil in an all-stock transaction valued at $22.5 billion. This strategic move positions ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) to capitalize on current market trends and the company expects to achieve at least $500 million in cost and capital savings within the first full year after the transaction closes.

In Q2, ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) reported strong performance, with production reaching 1,945 MBOED, an 8% year-over-year increase, and an average petroleum price of $81.30 per barrel—10% higher than the previous year. The stock has received a consensus “Strong Buy” rating from analysts.

Here’s what Invesco Growth and Income Fund said about ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“Stock selection in the industrials and health care sectors detracted from relative performance during the quarter. Selection and an underweight in consumer staples also hurt relative return as the sector was one of just two index sectors with a positive return for the quarter. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP): The company announced its acquisition of Marathon Oil in May. The deal is expected to increase earnings and will increase the scale of Conoco’s production assets. However, the stock traded lower on the news.”

Overall COP ranks 7th among the most promising energy stocks according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of COP as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than COP but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.