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The spike in oil prices due to the disruption caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict has rattled global stock markets. However, the situation bodes well for oil companies, including attractive names that pay steady dividends.
The recommendations of top Wall Street analysts can be very useful in this regard, as the selection of these experts is backed by an in-depth analysis of a company’s financials and growth opportunities.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Chord Energy
Oil producer Chord Energy (CHRD) is first on this week’s dividend list. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the company returned about 50% of its adjusted free cash flow to shareholders through a base dividend of $1.30 per share and share repurchases of $10 million. At an annualized dividend of $5.20 per share, CHRD stock offers a dividend yield of 4.2%.
In a recent report on North American oil and gas companies, UBS analyst Josh Silverstein reiterated a buy rating on Chord Energy stock and raised his price target to $142 from $119, noting the rise in energy prices amid intense geopolitical risks. TipRanks’ AI Analyst has an “outperform” rating on CHRD stock with a price target of $134.
Silverstein added that his revised price target reflects an increase in his multiple to 3.50-times from 3.25-times to reflect higher oil prices over the near term. The analyst highlighted that the upgraded multiple marks a modest premium to CHRD’s five-year average multiple of 3.0x, which he believes is justified, given the company’s inventory growth and improved capital efficiency compared to historical averages.
Chord Energy has a strong position in the Williston Basin. The five-star analyst highlighted that the company is among the largest beneficiaries of rising crude prices, given higher costs of production in the Williston region.
Additionally, Silverstein expects Chord to accelerate its attempt to return leverage to below 0.5-times, backed by higher cash flow over the near term amid surging oil prices. This would help the company to “more quickly lift its capital returns from 50% of its Adj. FCF [adjusted free cash flow] to 75%, boosting our forecast for the company’s 2026 buybacks.”
Silverstein ranks No. 419 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 66% of the time, delivering an average return of 11.9%. See Chord Energy Stock Buybacks on TipRanks.
Permian Resources
Permian Resources (PR) is an independent oil and natural gas company having assets in the Permian Basin, with a concentration in the core of the Delaware Basin. The company recently announced a quarterly base dividend of 16 cents per share, payable on March 31. PR stock offers a dividend yield of about 3.2%.
Recently, RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reiterated a buy rating on Permian stock and increased the price target to $20 from $18. Interestingly, TipRanks’ AI Analyst is also bullish on PR stock and has assigned a price target of $20.50.
Hanold noted the consistent strength in Permian Resources’ operational and financial results. He said he thinks that the setup for 2026 is better than expected. The analyst expects Permian Resources to progress towards the upper half of the 186 to 192 Mb/d oil production range (up 4% year over year) and stay near the midpoint of the $1.75 billion to 1.95 billion capital expenditure outlook (down 6% year over year).
“Similar well targeting and productive performance along with longer laterals should make this one of PR’s most capital-efficient years,” said Hanold.
The five-star analyst also emphasized Permian Resources’ continued focus on natural gas commercialization, which has significantly reduced the company’s exposure to low WAHA gas prices. Hanold also noted the company’s balance sheet flexibility, which allows it to make opportunistic share buybacks and pursue acquisitions.
Hanold ranks No. 19 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 73% of the time, delivering an average return of 27.5%. See Permian Resources Statistics on TipRanks.
EOG Resources
EOG Resources (EOG) is an oil and gas exploration and production company. It generated $4.7 billion in free cash flow in 2025 and returned 100% to shareholders through regular dividends and $2.5 billion in share repurchases. EOG recently declared a dividend of $1.02 per share, payable on April 30. EOG stock offers a dividend yield of 3.1%.
Following a meeting with the management, Jefferies analyst Lloyd Byrne reiterated a buy rating on EOG Resources stock with a price target of $146. TipRanks’ AI Analyst has an “outperform” rating on EOG stock with a price target of $142.
The analyst noted that EOG stock is the best-performing large-cap oil company following the Middle East conflict. Byrne credited the stock’s outperformance to a combination of positioning and insights from management’s recent conference call, which highlighted stabilization of production in Delaware and capital efficiency opportunities of more than 10 years.
Byrne was also encouraged by management’s explanation that the reason for the increase in shallower zone allocation is the application of high-intensity completions, which improve well results and help expand Williston Middle inventory, an aspect that the company first highlighted in 2023.
The top-rated analyst added that recent changes made to the company’s drilling schedule and completion rate should benefit well productivity when broadly applied. Byrne noted that in the New Mexico shallower zone, well productivity improved considerably, especially in First Bone Spring/Avalon, which now competes with primary zones such as Third Bone Spring and Upper Wolfcamp. Among the key takeaways from his meeting with the management, Bryne noted that EOG’s cost disclosures confirm strong returns, with the Utica wells standing out at $600 per foot.
Byrne ranks No. 157 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 63% of the time, delivering an average return of 21.5%. See EOG Resources Financials on TipRanks.
