Oil stocks are in focus today, as yet another major merger takes shape in the critical Permian Basin region. Following high-profile Permian acquisitions last year by sector giants Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), investors are now responding to news of a $26 billion cash-and-stock bid for privately held Endeavor Energy Resources.
As a result, energy stocks are diverging from oil prices to start the week; crude futures for March delivery (CLH24) are slightly lower at last check, while the sector-focused S&P 500 Energy Sector SPDR (XLE) is up more than 1%. Against this backdrop, here's a closer look at a selection of top-rated energy stocks that Wall Street analysts believe offer plenty of upside potential to complement their dividend yields.
