With the energy industry likely to experience continued supply disruptions as the Iran in war continues, investors who are comfortable facing some turbulence may find opportunities in the space. Specifically, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is heavily impacted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—exports from Qatar and the UAE represent roughly one-fifth of the entire global market and slowed to a near standstill over the past month.
But stateside, domestic LNG companies could be the beneficiaries of this situation, not only as the world reckons with a diminished supply of products from the Middle East but also as the European Union prepares for its ban on Russian LNG imports to take effect later this month.
The following three companies could be particularly well-positioned thanks to those developments in the Gulf and in Europe.
America's Biggest Producer Has Already Priced in Some of the Current Scenario, But More Room May Exist
At a market capitalization of about $58 billion, Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE: LNG) is the largest domestic producer of LNG products, with primary operations in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Investors have already realized the critical role this company plays in the domestic LNG space, particularly in light of recent global developments. Over the past year, shares of Cheniere have risen by close to 20% and are up nearly 13% in the last month alone, bringing LNG's year-to-date gain to over 40%.
Yet despite pricing in some of the potential benefits of the current market environment already, shares of Cheniere may still have plenty of room to run. Analysts find modest upside potential based on a consensus price target of $284.29, but with 18 out of 20 ratings set at Buy or equivalent, Wall Street remains highly bullish on Cheniere.
Notably, the LNG company's strengths were evident even before the current conflict in Iran began. In the company's last earnings report for full-year and Q4 2025, revenue surged by 23% year-over-year (YOY) and earnings per share (EPS) beat analyst predictions by an astonishing $6.78. Across 2025, Cheniere generated about $5.3 billion in distributable cash flow, beating guidance, while producing a record of more than 46 million tons of LNG. Its strong financial position gives Cheniere room to accelerate expansion projects at its Corpus Christi sites and elsewhere, further strengthening its domestic dominance.
Venture Global Is Growing Fast, but Expenditures and Debt Risks Remain
Domestic LNG firm Venture Global (NYSE: VG) has a business focus uniquely suited to the current moment: The company converts LNG produced in the United States for export to international markets. Given the massive shift in supply in the oil and gas space, there may be room for Venture to corner new sections of the market that it has not previously accessed.
Specifically, the company has a facility set to shift from spot to long-term contracts this year—a move that could help to drive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) growth and improve margins. This is just one of several major operational developments in the works, helping to collectively drive major growth for the company. For a sense of the scale of Venture's expansion, its revenue nearly tripled YOY to $4.5 billion in the latest quarter.
Venture is not without its risks. High capital expenditures (CapEx) related to its operational growth and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.24 suggest the company is relying fairly heavily on debt to help fund its projects. That may be why it has a Hold rating for the time being, although analysts also predict about 8% in potential upside as well.
Golar LNG Expects Major EBITDA Growth, but Is That Already Priced In?
Golar LNG Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLNG) operates LNG carriers, transport, and other infrastructure, making it a vital part of the overall LNG industry despite not being directly involved in production. GLNG is also a major beneficiary of the Iran war, with shares gaining more than 48% year-to-date and nearly 50% over the past year. In just the past month, GLNG has climbed more than 19%.
Management anticipates that adjusted EBITDA could quadruple to $800 million in the next few years thanks to strength in long-term contracts and better-than-expected operational success. Thanks to refinancing efforts, the company finished 2025 with about $1.2 billion in cash, leaving Golar prepared to face elevated near-term costs related to yard upgrades and other CapEx.
However, investors may question whether Golar's recent share price rally has been overextended. Analysts have a consensus price target of $50.50, but with earnings projected to increase by 17% in the coming year and an overall Moderate Buy rating across Wall Street, there may be reason to expect that the company will continue to thrive in the current environment.
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The article "3 LNG Stocks to Watch as Iran War Continues" first appeared on MarketBeat.
