The energy sector continues to distinguish itself as one of the market’s strongest performers in early 2026, extending gains both on the session and year to date.
On Thursday, the energy segment of the S&P 500 advanced 1.3%, supported by a similar 1.3% rise in crude oil (CL1:COM
That performance stands in sharp contrast to the broader S&P 500 (SP500
Dividend-paying energy companies have been particularly attractive. With elevated yields and improving balance sheets, many large-cap names are offering a combination of capital appreciation and steady income—a compelling mix in an environment where broader equity gains have been harder to find.
Outlined below are the top 10 U.S.-listed energy dividend names with market capitalizations above $10B and dividend yields of at least 3.5%. The list is ranked by year-to-date performance:
- Antero Midstream Corporation (AM
, +25.2% YTD. - Chevron Corporation (CVX
, +20.9% YTD. - Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI
, +19.2% YTD. - Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM
, +16.6% YTD. - Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA
, +13.9% YTD. - Energy Transfer LP (ET
, +12.7% YTD. - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD
, +12.0% YTD. - ONEOK, Inc. (OKE
, +12.0% YTD. - Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (CQP
, +9.9% YTD. - MPLX LP (MPLX
, +9.7% YTD.
Energy ETFs: (XLE
Oil ETFs: (USO
Dividend ETFs: (VIG