While the S&P 500 has fallen nearly 5% since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict, three dividend-paying stocks are bucking the trend: Crescent Energy, Viper Energy Partners, and Unum Group. Crescent Energy benefits from its Permian Basin operations and recent analyst upgrades. Viper Energy's royalty model shields it from operational risks while offering a 3.3% dividend yield. Unum Group, a life and disability insurer, stands out as a non-energy play with expected 8%-12% EPS growth and 30% upside potential.

Goldman Sachs upgraded its oil price forecasts following the Strait of Hormuz closure, expecting Brent crude to average $80-$100/barrel in 2026 and $75/barrel in 2027. The bank identified seven energy stocks as winners, with Permian-focused E&Ps and major oil companies positioned to benefit from higher oil prices and strong cash flow generation through major projects.

Webs Creek Capital Management sold 1.27 million shares of Viper Energy (worth ~$48.2 million) in Q4 2025, reducing its stake to 1.87% of AUM. Despite the fund's reduction, Viper Energy returned $131 million to shareholders last quarter through dividends and buybacks, with a 5% dividend yield and recent 15% base dividend increase. The stock has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past year despite strong operational metrics.

Viper Energy announced an underwritten public offering of 17.4 million shares of Class A common stock by Diamondback Energy and affiliates of EnCap Investments and Oaktree Capital Management. Viper will not receive proceeds from the sale but has agreed to purchase 1 million units in its operating company from Oaktree affiliates at the offering price. J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs are joint book-running managers.

Guardian Wealth Management invested $5.1 million in Viper Energy during Q3 2025, acquiring 133,874 shares, representing 3.02% of their assets under management. Viper Energy is a royalty-based oil and gas company with strong historical performance.

Oaktree Capital Management acquired a new $240.2 million stake in Viper Energy, representing 6.3 million shares and 3.7% of its reportable assets, following the merger with Sitio Royalties Corp.

Viper Energy reported Q2 2025 results with revenue of $297 million, exceeding analyst expectations, but earnings per share declined. The company expanded through significant acquisitions, increased oil production by 58%, and maintained shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks.

Viper Energy, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, has closed a $1 billion acquisition of mineral and royalty interests in the Permian Basin from Diamondback. The transaction was approved by Viper's shareholders.

Viper Energy, Inc. announced the pricing of a $1.1 billion public offering of its Class A common stock. The proceeds will be used to fund the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests from its parent company, Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Viper Energy, Inc. announced the pricing of a $413.7 million public offering of 10 million shares of its Class A common stock at $42.50 per share. The company plans to use the proceeds to fund a pending acquisition of mineral and royalty-interest owning subsidiaries of Tumbleweed Royalty IV, LLC.

Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) announced the launch of an underwritten public offering of 8.5 million shares of its Class A common stock to fund a portion of the cash consideration for its previously announced pending acquisition of certain mineral and royalty-interest owning subsidiaries of Tumbleweed Royalty IV, LLC.

Viper Energy, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, announced the acquisition of certain mineral and royalty interest-owning subsidiaries of Tumbleweed Royalty IV, LLC for $461 million in cash and 10.1 million OpCo units. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024 and is expected to be accretive to Viper's financial metrics.