What are the best LNG stocks to buy?

Although state-owned companies are a force in the LNG market, they’re not alone. Several publicly traded energy companies rank among the LNG market's biggest producers. Here are five top options for investors to consider: Cheniere Energy: It's the leader in producing and exporting LNG in the U.S. ConocoPhillips: The U.S. oil and gas giant has a large and growing global LNG portfolio. ExxonMobil: The U.S.-based supermajor has interests in LNG projects around the world. Shell: It's a world leader in LNG. Its integrated business includes gas supply, LNG export and import infrastructure, and a leading marketing operation. TotalEnergies: It's a leading player in the global LNG market.

Who is the largest producer of LNG?

The U.S. had the largest operating LNG capacity in 2025 at 102.3 million metric tons, according to Statista. That was ahead of Australia (81.8) and Qatar (77.1).

Who is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas?

The U.S. was the largest LNG exporter in 2025. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it exported 15 billion cubic feet per day, putting it ahead of Australia and Qatar.

What is liquefied natural gas?

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas turned into a liquid through cooling. Liquefaction facilities cool the gas to roughly -260° Fahrenheit. Once the gas becomes a liquid, it can be stored or transported by specialized gas-carrying ships to global export markets, where it can be re-gasified and moved through the local pipeline system.

How can investors reduce risk when investing in LNG stocks?

The best way to reduce risk when investing in LNG stocks is to buy shares of an integrated energy company. Companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and TotalEnergies have diversified businesses across upstream production and downstream refining and marketing assets. This integration and diversification help reduce their risk profiles compared to companies focused solely on LNG.

How often does LNG pay dividends?

Most LNG producers that pay dividends do so on a quarterly basis.

How volatile are LNG stocks?

LNG stocks tend to be more volatile than the S&P 500 due to the high volatility of oil and LNG prices.

Best Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Stocks in 2026

Best Liquefied Natural Gas Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Mar 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

LNG demand is set to rise by 60% by 2040, fueled by economic growth in Asia.
Cheniere Energy is already the leading U.S. LNG producer and is planning significant capacity expansions by 2030.
Investors can capitalize on growing LNG demand through leading energy stocks like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is becoming one of the most important fuels in the global energy transition. Demand is rising fast, driven by Asia’s growth, energy security concerns, and the need for lower-carbon alternatives to coal and oil.

Here’s what investors need to know.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)	$150.3 billion	2.63%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG)	$56.6 billion	0.78%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM)	$643.8 billion	2.61%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL)	$250.5 billion	3.22%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE)	N/A	N/A	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Chevron (NYSE:CVX)	$384.4 billion	3.59%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET)	$70.1 billion	6.50%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels

Data as of May 6, 2026. Showing 7 of 7 tickers.

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NYSE: LNG

Cheniere Energy

Today's Change

(-3.00%) $-8.10

Current Price

$261.42

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$57B

Day's Range

$259.91 - $266.61

52wk Range

$186.20 - $300.89

Volume

2.4M

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

28.97%

Dividend Yield

0.78%

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2. ConocoPhillips

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NYSE: COP

ConocoPhillips

Today's Change

(-3.58%) $-4.42

Current Price

$118.90

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$150B

Day's Range

$117.42 - $120.00

52wk Range

$84.28 - $135.87

Volume

13M

Avg Vol

9.7M

Gross Margin

23.54%

Dividend Yield

2.63%

ConocoPhillips (COP -3.58%) is becoming a major player in the global LNG market. The U.S. oil and gas giant owns interests in LNG production facilities in Australia, Qatar, and Equatorial Guinea.

The company is actively expanding its global LNG portfolio. It has a 30% interest in Port Arthur LNG, which should start up in 2027. It's also an investor in two new LNG expansions in Qatar (North Field South and North Field East). Additionally, the company has signed LNG purchase agreements for projects on the U.S. Gulf Coast and the west coast of Mexico. It has also signed regasification agreements in Europe and sales contracts in Asia.

ConocoPhillips' investments in LNG will help fuel considerable free cash flow growth, adding $1 billion to its annual total in both 2027 and 2028 as its trio of projects start production.

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3. ExxonMobil

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NYSE: XOM

ExxonMobil

Today's Change

(-4.00%) $-6.19

Current Price

$148.69

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$644B

Day's Range

$147.09 - $150.33

52wk Range

$101.19 - $176.41

Volume

21M

Avg Vol

22M

Gross Margin

20.92%

Dividend Yield

2.61%

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NYSE: SHEL

Shell Plc

Today's Change

(-2.80%) $-2.51

Current Price

$87.20

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$251B

Day's Range

$86.58 - $87.77

52wk Range

$64.81 - $94.90

Volume

11M

Avg Vol

7.8M

Gross Margin

16.66%

Dividend Yield

3.22%

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Shell (SHEL -2.80%) was an early pioneer in the LNG market and has grown into a dominant force over the years. The company has LNG supply projects in 10 nations representing around 40 million tons of capacity. It also has interests in a couple of regasification plants that turn LNG back into gas so it can flow through local pipeline systems.

Shell operates an integrated gas business. It controls supply by producing gas from a variety of fields. The company also operates LNG export facilities and markets LNG -- from its own facilities and those operated by third parties -- to customers around the world. The combination enables Shell to keep costs low to maximize the value of the LNG it produces.

Shell is actively expanding its leading global LNG business. It aims to add as many as 12 million tons of capacity by the end of the decade. It has projects underway in Canada, Qatar, Nigeria, and the UAE. Shell is also a partner with Exxon and Chevron in the Gorgon project. Once complete, they'll help extend the company's dominance in the global LNG market.

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5. TotalEnergies

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NYSE: TTE

TotalEnergies

Today's Change

(0.00%) $0.00

Current Price

$0.00

Key Data Points

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TotalEnergies (TTE -3.93%) has made LNG a priority in recent years. The French energy giant focuses on investing in renewable energy, electricity, and natural gas. It aims to have gas -- natural gas, hydrogen, and biogas -- supply 50% of its energy mix by 2030.

TotalEnergies has acquired and developed several LNG projects over the past few years. The investments pushed it up the global rankings for production capacity. Combined with its third-party supply agreements, it was the world's third-largest LNG player.

TotalEnergies expects to continue expanding its LNG empire in the coming years. It joined forces with GIP and NextDecade (NEXT -5.20%) to participate in the Rio Grande LNG project in the U.S., which will grow its capacity from 12 MTPA to more than 15 MTPA by 2030. It also took a 16.6% stake in the Energia Costa Azul LNG project in Mexico. Additionally, the company resumed development of a massive $20 billion LNG project in Mozambique in early 2026, which it expects will begin producing by 2029. Finally, it agreed to a long-term offtake agreement for 2 MTPA of LNG from the proposed Alaska LNG project in early 2026.

6. Chevron

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NYSE: CVX

Chevron

Today's Change

(-3.84%) $-7.39

Current Price

$185.25

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$384B

Day's Range

$183.13 - $186.75

52wk Range

$133.77 - $214.71

Volume

453K

Avg Vol

12M

Gross Margin

13.31%

Dividend Yield

3.59%

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Chevron is a major player in the global LNG market. It operates the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects in Australia, making it a major LNG supplier to Japan. It also owns an interest in Angola LNG, one of the largest energy projects in Africa and the first LNG project in Angola. Additionally, the company operate the Leviathan gas field offshore Israel, including a floating LNG terminal.

In addition to operating LNG facilities, Chevron has contracts to buy LNG from several third-party terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Starting in 2026, its LNG contracts will enable it to export 7 million metric tons of LNG per year from the U.S. Gulf Coast.

7. Energy Transfer

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NYSE: ET

Energy Transfer

Today's Change

(-2.53%) $-0.52

Current Price

$19.88

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$70B

Day's Range

$19.77 - $20.19

52wk Range

$16.18 - $20.66

Volume

1.1M

Avg Vol

17M

Gross Margin

12.27%

Dividend Yield

6.50%

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LNG FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in covering dividend-paying companies, particularly in the energy and REIT sectors, since 2012. He also covers pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in Chevron and ConocoPhillips. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cheniere Energy and Chevron. The Motley Fool recommends ConocoPhillips. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Liquefied Natural Gas Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Key Points

Key Data Points

2. ConocoPhillips

Key Data Points

3. ExxonMobil

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

5. TotalEnergies

Key Data Points

6. Chevron

Key Data Points

7. Energy Transfer

Key Data Points

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LNG FAQ

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LNG FAQ

What are the best LNG stocks to buy?

Who is the largest producer of LNG?

Who is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas?

What is liquefied natural gas?

How can investors reduce risk when investing in LNG stocks?

How often does LNG pay dividends?

How volatile are LNG stocks?

An overview of the LNG market

Top LNG stocks to consider

1. Cheniere Energy

2. ConocoPhillips

3. ExxonMobil

5. TotalEnergies

7. Energy Transfer

Why LNG demand is growing

Benefits and risks of investing in liquefied natural gas stocks

Future outlook of LNG

How to Invest in Liquefied Natural Gas Stocks

Key Trends in the LNG Industry

Related investing topics

FAQ

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

4. Shell

6. Chevron