Energy stocks are back in the spotlight as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and other key shipping corridors raise fresh questions about supply security and transport costs. For investors watching oil and gas exploration and production companies, these risks are not just headlines; they feed directly into revenue potential, capital spending plans, and balance sheet resilience. This article looks at 3 stocks from our Energy Sector Stocks (Oil & Gas Exploration and Production) screener that appear especially exposed to the latest U.S. and Gulf region developments, helping you decide whether they deserve a closer look or a place on your watchlist.

WhiteHawk Minerals (WHK)

Overview: WhiteHawk Minerals is a Philadelphia based company that acquires and manages natural gas and oil mineral and royalty interests across the United States. It aims to build a focused, income oriented portfolio tied directly to production volumes rather than operating wells itself.

Operations: WhiteHawk Minerals currently generates about US$69 million in revenue from natural gas and oil mineral interests.

Market Cap: US$693.27 million

WhiteHawk Minerals provides royalty exposure to US natural gas and oil at a time when concerns over the Strait of Hormuz and other shipping routes are putting supply risk back on the table, which can support pricing for producers and royalty holders. The company is unprofitable today, with a modest loss and a return on equity that has room to improve. WhiteHawk Minerals is trading below one DCF based fair value estimate and has attracted fresh analyst coverage following its recent IPO. Investors still need to weigh that valuation appeal against relatively high liquidity risk, reliance on external borrowing and the usual uncertainties related to commodity prices and future drilling on its acreage.

WhiteHawk Minerals looks like a pure play on royalty cash flows, yet the real story may sit in how its current pricing lines up against one detailed valuation view in the DCF valuation analysis for WhiteHawk Minerals and what that could be missing

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical (SASE:2380)

Overview: Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical is a Saudi based refiner and petrochemicals producer that runs an integrated complex turning crude oil and liquids into fuels and a wide range of chemicals used in plastics, detergents, textiles, auto parts, packaging, and other everyday products across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and global markets.

Operations: Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical generates most of its revenue from refined products at about SAR30.8b, with petrochemicals contributing roughly SAR7.9b.

Market Cap: SAR31.8b

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical sits at the heart of Saudi crude processing as talk of a 20% toll on Strait of Hormuz cargo and wider shipping risks keeps attention on regional supply routes and refining margins. The company has moved from losses to a quarterly profit, and analysts expect revenue and earnings growth. The stock trades modestly below one estimated fair value with a relatively low P/S ratio. At the same time, high reliance on external borrowing, past shareholder dilution and share price volatility mean the upside story is not without real funding and governance questions. For investors following this energy screener, the key consideration is how these strengths and vulnerabilities balance out under sustained Gulf shipping uncertainty.

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical has moved from losses to profit and sits close to one fair value estimate, but its high borrowing and past dilution raise hard questions that the 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs (2 are major!) only starts to answer

Matador Resources (MTDR)

Overview: Matador Resources is a Dallas based independent energy company that drills for oil and natural gas in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas, while also running midstream assets that gather, process, transport, and dispose of hydrocarbons and produced water for itself and third parties.

Operations: Matador Resources generates about US$3.2b from exploration and production and US$739.2m from midstream services, with group revenue of roughly US$3.6b after eliminations, all from the United States.

Market Cap: US$6.38b

Matador Resources offers direct exposure to U.S. shale production at a time when Gulf shipping risks and discussion of a 20% toll on Hormuz cargo are keeping attention on secure onshore supply. Its expanding midstream arm, including a planned Cardinal Midstream acquisition, adds fee based revenue that is less tied to commodity price movements. Analysts have highlighted earnings growth potential and the stock is trading below one fair value estimate, yet recent margin pressure, high debt, and dividends that are not fully backed by free cash flow mean the balance sheet still requires close monitoring. With index inclusions, hedging in place to help the business navigate volatility, and a focused Delaware Basin footprint, Matador Resources is a company many investors may want to understand in more detail ahead of future results.

Matador Resources is pricing in growth, but the real tension lies between its planned Cardinal Midstream acquisition and a balance sheet already carrying high debt. Get the full story in the 3 key rewards and 3 important warning signs

The three stocks covered here are only a starting point, as the full Energy Sector Stocks (Oil & Gas Exploration and Production) screener surfaced 20 more companies with equally compelling energy stories tied to exploration, production, balance sheet strength, and exposure to key shipping routes. Use Simply Wall St to identify, filter, and analyze the exact catalysts and narratives that matter to you, so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this theme.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.