Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification of liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas; and carbon capture and storage, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant. The Downstream segment refines crude oil into petroleum products; markets crude oil, refined products, and lubricants; manufactures and markets renewable fuels, commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives; and transports crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corporation and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is headquartered in San Ramon, California.

Chevron Corporation

Key Points
No doubt, markets look historically expensive right now.
Yet, some good values still remain if you look carefully.
Warren Buffett keeps buying this energy stock.
The stock market is historically expensive. At least, that's what major valuation metrics are telling us. The price-to-earnings ratio for the S&P 500 right now, for example, is above 31. That's significantly higher than its long-term average of around 16. For comparison, this major U.S. stock market traded at just 14 times earnings in 2011.
Want a good sign that markets are getting expensive? Look at Warren Buffett's actions. His holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, now has a cash hoard of nearly $350 billion -- roughly one-third of its entire market cap! But Buffett isn't getting out of the market entirely. In fact, he bought more than $500 million of a well-known business last quarter, a business that is now his fifth-biggest holding.
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If you're worried about markets being too expensive, this Warren Buffett stock could be your answer.
This looks like Warren Buffett's favorite stock right now
Warren Buffett isn't buying many stocks right now. That's a big reason why his company's cash pile continues to grow quarter after quarter to record amounts. Last quarter, however, he did buy 3,454,258 shares of a company he has owned since 2020: Chevron (NYSE: CVX). Chevron is hardly the trendiest name on the market today. But that could be exactly the reason Buffett is buying.
Right now, Chevron stock trades at 19.7 times earnings -- a sizable discount to the market overall. Yet profits continue to grow. On a forward basis -- that is, based on what analysts believe the company will earn over the next 12 months -- shares trade at just 16.2 times earnings. Few companies that are growing this quickly have such a low valuation. Throw in Chevron's 4.5% dividend yield, and shares start to look like the perfect combination of value, growth, and income.
Why is Chevron stock so cheap? The most obvious culprit is low oil prices. In 2022, oil prices approached $120 per barrel. Today, they're below $60 per barrel, and the outlook is fairly grim. Oil inventories and supply continue to rise, a reality that is expected to continue into 2026. "At this rate, global oil supply is on track to rise by 3 mb/d on average in 2025 and a further 2.4 mb/d in 2026," warns a report from the IEA.
Yet Buffett keeps buying more Chevron shares. Why? Because he's not just looking at the next 12 months. Long term, Chevron has enviable competitive advantages, such as its ability to deploy capital efficiently at scale. But perhaps Chevron's greatest advantage right now is its ability to protect investors in the event of a market correction.
Chevron can protect your portfolio in times of trouble
As a major oil stock, Chevron isn't immune to market corrections. But it can help shoulder the blow of a market correction should one occur. That's due to a few reasons.
First, Chevron shares are already historically cheap, while the market overall is heading higher due to growth in high-valuation stocks like Nvidia. If high-growth stocks experience a correction, more traditional value stocks like Chevron may suffer less, since their valuations started from a lower base. Additionally, a future market correction could come as a result of rising geopolitical tensions. In this case, the price of oil could actually rise, benefiting producers like Chevron.
Finally, don't rule out the effect of Buffett and his massive cash hoard. Buffett already owns nearly 8% of Chevron. He could boost this stake significantly if shares decline in value. Buffett has already proven his willingness to buy more than a quarter of the outstanding shares of an oil business through his stake in Occidental Petroleum. It's nice to know that if Chevron faces share price weakness, there's a deep-pocketed buyer likely willing to step in.
With stock markets at all-time highs, Chevron remains one of Buffett's top stock picks. That should remain true even if markets experience a near-term setback.
Should you invest $1,000 in Chevron right now?
Before you buy stock in Chevron, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Chevron wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Stock Market Is Historically Pricey: You Can Trust This Warren Buffett Stock to Deliver

Key Points
The energy sector got crushed in 2020, making its five-year performance deceptively strong.
The Vanguard Energy ETF is built around three solid companies.
The Vanguard Energy ETF yields over 3% and has an inexpensive valuation, making it an ideal choice for value and income investors.
Investment management firm Vanguard offers tons of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for equities, bonds, asset blends, and more. How each performs is generally tied to the individual equities they follow.
Given the overwhelming influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on markets these days, you may expect growth and tech-focused ETFs to have been the undisputed standouts over the last five years. But surprisingly, the best-performing fund among Vanguard's 99 ETFs over the last five years is actually the Vanguard Energy ETF (NYSEMKT: VDE).
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Let's look at why the Vanguard Energy ETF has been on a tear, and also look into what circumstances would help it outperform the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) in 2026.
Context is key
The Vanguard Energy ETF has averaged a staggering 30.2% annual return over the last five years, which is significantly higher than the second-place Vanguard Financials ETF, which averaged a 20% annual return over that period.
The lights-out performance of the Vanguard Energy ETF is a good reminder of the importance of context when evaluating a stock or ETF's performance in a given window. Five years ago, the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and energy stocks were getting walloped. Oil prices drive margins. And in the fall of 2020, oil prices were at multiyear lows. In fact, they went negative in spring 2020 as demand collapsed and storage capacity was unavailable.
The Vanguard Energy ETF has increased threefold in the last five years. But a lot of those gains came in 2021 and 2022 as the global economy recovered, business operations began to normalize, and travel and transportation increased -- driving oil demand. In fact, over the last three years, the Vanguard Energy ETF is roughly flat, gaining barely over 3% compared to an 80% gain in the S&P 500.
Oil prices could fall further
Oil prices are hovering around multiyear lows as supply outpaces demand.
In its October Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration forecast that global oil inventories would rise further in 2026, putting pressure on oil prices in the fourth quarter of 2025. The EIA projects Brent crude oil prices (the international benchmark) at just $52 per barrel in 2026. Excluding the $41.96 per barrel average in 2020, that would be the lowest level since $45.13 per barrel in 2016, which came in the aftermath of the 2015 crash. For context, Brent crude oil prices averaged over $100 per barrel in 2022 and over $80 per barrel in 2023 and 2024.
Weak 2026 forecasts are likely factored into investor expectations. Investors got a taste of that last week, as oil prices (and oil stocks) jumped on news that the U.S. and European Union are imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies, which could impact supply and shift buying from Russian customers -- like China and India -- to the U.S.
Still, Brent prices in the low $50s per barrel would strain margins and erode profitability for many oil and gas companies. This reinforces why the Vanguard Energy ETF is one of the simplest and most effective ways to invest in top companies in the sector.
An ETF built around quality
The Vanguard Energy ETF has 111 holdings, but a whopping 37.8% is weighted in ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), and 43.6% if you factor in the most valuable pure-play U.S. exploration and production company -- ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP).
Building a portfolio around these high-quality oil and gas companies is a great bet. ExxonMobil is investing in low-production regions, such as the Permian Basin, its offshore Guyana assets, and liquefied natural gas to push its portfolio toward $30-per-barrel Brent breakeven levels by 2030. Chevron's breakeven is already estimated at about $30 per barrel -- the lowest in the oil patch. ConocoPhillips has breakeven levels below $40 per barrel.
ExxonMobil has increased its dividend for 42 consecutive years, closely followed by Chevron with a 38-year streak. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips has scrapped its variable dividend and is focused on consistently growing its ordinary dividend, which it should be able to do with its existing portfolio and a slew of high-margin projects in progress.
At the time of this writing, ExxonMobil yields 3.4%, Chevron yields 4.4%, and ConocoPhillips yields 3.5%. These are significantly higher yields than the S&P 500 average of just 1.2%. In fact, the Vanguard Energy ETF yields 3.1% -- driven by the high yields of its three largest holdings as well as exposure to pipeline, transportation, and refining companies that tend to sport high yields.
High-yield stocks at compelling valuations
With a mere 0.09% expense ratio, or just $9 for every $10,000 invested, the Vanguard Energy ETF provides a low-cost way for investors to gain exposure to top U.S. energy companies. The ETF is a particularly good buy for investors looking to boost their passive income with a portfolio built around industry leaders like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, which have low production costs to support their dividends, even at low oil prices.
For the ETF to outperform the S&P 500 in 2026, there would likely need to be a shift in investor preferences from growth stocks to dividend and value stocks -- like what happened in 2022. Or an unexpected uptick in oil and gas prices related to armed conflicts or extended oil production disruptions. No one knows if those events will happen.
What we do know is the ETF continues to be a good value, with a price-to-earnings ratio of just 16.9 compared to 28.9 for the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. Investors who are worried about valuations, a sell-off in growth stocks, or are simply seeking ways to boost their passive income may want to take a closer look at the Vanguard Energy ETF.
Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Energy ETF right now?
Before you buy stock in Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Energy ETF, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Energy ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 27, 2025
Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Vanguard's Best-Performing ETF Over the Last 5 Years and Could Also Outperform the S&P 500 in 2026

Key Points
Chevron is one of the largest integrated energy companies on the planet, with exposure to the entire energy value chain.
ConocoPhillips is a large independent energy producer, operating only in the upstream segment of the energy industry.
Both ConocoPhillips and Chevron are reliable dividend stocks, but in very different ways.
The energy sector is inherently volatile. Dividend investors would be forgiven if they sidestepped such commodity-driven stocks. But energy is vital to the world's economy and you should probably have some exposure to energy stocks in your portfolio. There are different ways to go about that, with Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) highlighting two approaches you might take. Here's how to decide which one is a better choice for you.
The business models are similar, but different
The energy sector is generally broken down into three broad segments. The upstream is where oil and natural gas are produced. The midstream is responsible for moving oil and natural gas around the world, usually charging fees for the service. And the downstream takes oil and natural gas and turns it into other things, like chemical and refined products.
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The upstream and the downstream are both heavily reliant on commodity prices when it comes to determining a company's financial performance. If you don't like uncertainty that could be an issue for you. But having exposure to these segments of the industry can provide vital diversification to your portfolio and, from a big-picture perspective, your day-to-day life. Just when you are likely to be paying more at the pump, stocks with upstream and/or downstream exposure will probably be performing well.
ConocoPhillips is the easier of the two companies to explain, since it basically just operates in the upstream, drilling for oil and natural gas. Chevron's business is much larger, as it spans the upstream, the midstream, and the downstream. The diversification in Chevron's "integrated" model helps to soften the swings inherent to the energy sector. ConocoPhillips, by comparison, will see its business results swing more dramatically with oil and natural gas price volatility.
What's the best dividend stock?
If you want direct exposure to commodity prices, ConocoPhillips will be the better option here. But there's a trade-off when it comes to the dividend. Although ConocoPhillips has reliably paid a dividend for decades, that dividend tends to be volatile. Essentially, the dividend goes up when times are good and falls when times are bad.
That's not unreasonable, but it does tie your income from the investment even more to the performance of oil and natural gas. So this isn't going to be the best option for investors who are concerned about dividend consistency. But for those who want a hedge against real-world energy costs, it could be a very strong choice.
Chevron, on the other hand, is built to survive the swings inherent to the energy sector. In fact, it has one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry with a debt-to-equity ratio of just 0.2 at the end of the second quarter of 2025. (For reference, ConocoPhillips' ratio was around 0.36, which is also pretty good.)
The more diverse industry exposure and strong financial position of Chevron has allowed it to increase its dividend annually for 38 consecutive years. If what you want is a dividend you can count on through the energy cycle, go with Chevron.
Most will probably prefer Chevron
The dividend thesis around buying ConocoPhillips is nuanced. And the dividend yield today is roughly 3.6%, which is lower than the 4.4% you'd collect from Chevron. All in, most conservative dividend investors looking to add some energy exposure to their portfolios will probably prefer Chevron.
But if you are looking to offset the volatility of real-life energy costs, don't pass on ConocoPhillips. It might be more interesting than you think. Just when you need a financial boost to help you cover rising energy costs, the stock price is likely to be rising and the dividend could be up for an increase, too.
Should you invest $1,000 in Chevron right now?
Before you buy stock in Chevron, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Chevron wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Better Dividend Stock: Chevron vs. ConocoPhillips

Key Points
Focus on profitable, proven companies with strong brands and steady cash flow.
Buffett recommends S&P 500 index funds for long-term wealth building.
Compounding works best for those who stay invested through market cycles.
Few investors command the same level of respect as Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B). Nicknamed the "Oracle of Omaha," Buffett has spent six decades compounding wealth at an extraordinary pace for the company -- generating a staggering 5,502,284% total return over that span.
To put that into perspective, Berkshire's long-term compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% is roughly double the long-term performance of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), even when accounting for dividend reinvestment in the index.
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While Buffett's track record is nearly unmatched, the good news is his investment strategy is surprisingly straightforward. His approach can be distilled into a few timeless principles -- simple enough for any first-time investor to follow, yet powerful enough to build generational wealth.
1. Focus on businesses you understand
Buffett's investing philosophy is refreshingly simple: Buy high-quality companies at fair prices and hold them for the long haul -- often decades. He avoids complex or speculative ventures, instead focusing on businesses with durable competitive advantages, steady earnings growth, and trustworthy management.
Buffett's portfolio reflects this discipline. It's concentrated in consumer staples, financial services, and energy -- sectors he believes will remain indispensable through all economic cycles. Berkshire's top holdings -- Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum -- share some common threads: predictable cash flow, powerful brands, and shareholder-friendly capital allocation programs.
Equally telling are the companies Buffett tends to avoid. He's long steered clear of unproven tech start-ups, cyclical industries, and commoditized businesses that lack pricing power.
For investors, his example underscores a timeless truth: Resist the temptation to follow herd mentality. In investing, such an approach is similar to being a victim of the greater fool theory. Instead, seek out businesses with a long record of profitability, reliable dividends, and management teams that treat shareholders as partners.
2. The power of passive investing
Buffett long acknowledged that most investors are better off buying index funds rather than picking individual stocks. His reasoning is simple: Over time, the S&P 500 mirrors the growth of the American economy. It's composed of world-class companies like Apple, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, and JPMorgan Chase that consistently reinvest profits, raise dividends, and drive long-term wealth creation.
For first-time investors, buying an S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (ETF) through providers like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab is one of the smartest, most stress-free ways to follow Buffett's playbook. This approach provides instant diversification across hundreds of top U.S. companies -- with no need for market timing, stock picking, or guesswork.
3. Think long-term and stay consistent
Buffett's success never hinged on predicting market moves -- it's built on patience, discipline, and the power of compounding. He's held some of his core positions for decades, steadily reinvesting dividends and allowing time do the heavy lifting.
The key lesson for beginners is consistency. Invest regularly, reinvest your dividends, double down on winners, and trim laggards. Avoid chasing hot stocks, cryptocurrencies, or viral trends that promise quick riches but lack fundamental strength.
Market corrections and downturns will happen, but Buffett views them as opportunities, not setbacks. They allow disciplined investors to buy quality companies at attractive prices. As he has famously advised, "You want to be greedy when others are fearful, and you want to be fearful when others are greedy."
In the end, wealth creation is less about timing the market and more about spending long periods of time in the market. Staying calm, patient, and committed to your long-term plan is what separates successful investors from emotional traders -- and it's the mindset that turns ordinary savers into extraordinary investors.
Should you invest $1,000 in S&P 500 Index right now?
Before you buy stock in S&P 500 Index, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and S&P 500 Index wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adam Spatacco has positions in Apple and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab, Johnson & Johnson, and Occidental Petroleum and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short December 2025 $95 calls on Charles Schwab, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Warren Buffett's Investing Playbook -- Simplified for First-Time Stock Buyers

Key Points
Chevron is a Warren Buffett favorite and offers a healthy 4.5% dividend yield.
Casino-focused REIT Vici Properties owns prominent names like Ceasars and MGM.
Verizon's not likely to provide much growth, but the stock looks undervalued.
It's a great time to be thinking about investing in some dividend-paying stocks. That's because many see our current economy as rather uncertain these days, with tariffs coming and going and the threat of high inflation looming. On top of that, with the S&P 500 index recently up more than 16% over the past year, it's not crazy to think that the stock market might take a breather in the coming months or year.
In such a scenario, healthy and growing dividend payers should be desirable, as they'll likely keep rewarding their shareholders with regular payouts -- no matter what the economy is doing. Here are some to consider.
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1. Chevron
Energy giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a solid dividend payer, with a recent dividend yield of 4.5%. (Even Warren Buffett likes the stock -- and his company recently owned 7% of it.) Better still, the company has been buying back a lot of its stock, with its smaller share count leaving remaining shares more valuable. (When you combine dividend payments and share repurchases, Chevron's total yield for shareholders was recently 9.4%.)
The economic environment is uncertain when it comes to energy prices, too, but Chevron has navigated through such environments before, and has managed to increase its dividend annually for 38 years. The fact that it's an integrated energy company helps, too, as it's involved in upstream activities such as drilling for oil, midstream activities such as transporting energy, and downstream activities such as refining oil.
With its recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 18.2 above its five-year average of 13.2, Chevron doesn't look bargain priced. So you're likely to get best results if you plan to hold for many years. (To play it safer, you might buy into it gradually or just add it to your watch list.)
2. Vici Properties
Vici Properties (NYSE: VICI) is a real estate investment trust (REIT), which means it's required to pay out at least 90% of its taxable earnings as dividends. And Vici pays out a lot in dividends, with a recent dividend yield of 5.8%.
REITs generally specialize in one or more parts of the real estate market, such as retail or medical properties or warehouses. VICI is focused on casinos and entertainment properties in the U.S. and Canada, including Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Penn Entertainment, and Century Casinos. Its typical lease term for its tenants is 40 years and there are built-in rent increases. Vici's portfolio includes 54 casinos, 60,000-plus hotel rooms, four championship golf courses, around 500 retail outlets, and more.
The stock has averaged annual growth of 10.9% over the past five years, and its dividend has grown, too, from $1 per share in 2018 to $1.75 currently. If you see the real estate and/or gambling industry growing, take a closer look at Vici. Its forward P/E ratio, recently 10.8, is below its five-year average of 12.5.
3. Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) has recently been sporting a fat dividend yield of 6.8%. That's clearly tempting, but know that Verizon is carrying a lot of debt -- which it probably can't pay down very quickly due to its dividend obligations. It faces competition, too.
Still, it has some upsides. For example, it's less affected by tariffs than many companies, and it's a prodigious producer of free cash flow. It also appears rather undervalued at recent levels, with a forward P/E ratio of 8.5 below the five-year average of 9.
Verizon's dividend seems safe at the moment, so you might consider buying the stock for the income. Don't expect it to be a powerful growth stock, though.
4. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Finally, since you might not be ready to study dividend payers and select the best ones, consider just buying the haystack instead of searching for needles. The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD) is a great choice, with a recent dividend yield of 3.8% and a 10-year average annual gain of 11.5%. It's invested in about 100 companies, such as AbbVie, Amgen, and Cisco Systems -- companies that tend to increase their payouts over time.
So do consider adding some dividend-generating securities to your portfolio -- for income, for growth, and for diversification.
Should you invest $1,000 in Chevron right now?
Before you buy stock in Chevron, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Chevron wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $590,357!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,141,748!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,033% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 20, 2025
Selena Maranjian has positions in AbbVie, Amgen, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, Verizon Communications, and Vici Properties. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Amgen, Chevron, and Cisco Systems. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Vici Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

4 Dividend Stocks to Double Up on Right Now -- Including Chevron and Verizon

Key Points
Buffett bought more shares of this oil and gas producer last quarter.
It turns out that shares of Chevron look surprisingly cheap right now.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett is a huge fan of one company based in Houston, Texas. This company is currently the fifth-largest holding in his publicly traded portfolio at Berkshire Hathaway. Last quarter, he bought 3.4 million more shares -- one of only a handful of purchases he has made over the last 90 days. Looking ahead, it's possible he'll buy even more shares before the year is finished.
Warren Buffett loves this iconic Texas business
Warren Buffett began buying shares of Chevron (NYSE: CVX) in late 2020 just after the COVID-19 flash crash. He started with around 48 million shares. But the following quarter, he cut his stake by nearly 50%. In the back half of 2021, however, he started building up his stake again, culminating in a giant 121 million share purchase in the first quarter of 2022.
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Since then, Buffett has consistently trimmed and added to the position over time. After a small purchase last quarter, Berkshire Hathaway is now reporting an ownership of around $17.5 billion -- roughly 7.7% of Chevron's entire market capitalization.
Why is Buffett so bullish on Chevron? Back when Buffett first began buying Chevron stock back in 2020, oil prices were only around $35 per barrel. In early 2021, when Buffett suddenly slashed his stake by over 50%, oil prices were hovering around $60 per barrel. When Buffett began rebuilding his stake later that year, however, oil prices had surged even higher to nearly $80 per barrel. So correlating Buffett's purchases prices with oil prices isn't as revealing as you'd guess. In fact, some of Buffett's biggest acquisitions occurred when oil prices were above $90 per barrel in 2022.
Since the start of 2022 -- the year Buffett massively increased the size of his Chevron investment -- Chevron stock has largely moved sideways, massively underperforming the market. The stock's 4.3% dividend yield has helped boost its overall performance. But all in all, Chevron has been a laggard in Buffett's portfolio. Why, then, did Buffett buy even more shares last quarter? For the same reason he might buy even more shares this quarter: Chevron stock looks surprisingly cheap.
Chevron looks like a compelling value stock
It's not easy finding value in today's market. The S&P 500 trades at nearly 31 times earnings -- well above its historical trading range. That average has been dragged higher by high-growth tech companies that have seen their valuations soar. With roughly $350 billion in cash on the sidelines, it's clear that Buffett isn't seeing much value in the market either. Otherwise, it would be his fiduciary duty to put that money to work.
While cyclical stocks exposed to commodity markets can be challenging to value on price-to-earnings multiples alone, Chevron stock is trading at just 19 times earnings. That's a sizable discount to the market overall, especially when considering Chevron's hefty dividend. Cyclical stocks can often appear cheap when they're near their peaks, as the market can lower their valuation during times of plenty. But oil prices have been on a multi-year slide. In 2022, oil traded at nearly $120 per barrel at its peak. Today, oil prices are under $60 per barrel.
With rising geopolitical tensions, it's a surprise that oil prices are so low. But rising inventories and production throughout many major producing countries have kept supply high, a situation that is expected to persist into 2026. "That is in large part due to the accelerated unwinding of extra voluntary production cuts agreed in 2023 by eight OPEC+ countries (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman)," writes Toril Bosoni, an oil expert at IEA. "Following five years of production restraint, OPEC+ is now on track to boost output by an average of 1.4 mb/d this year and by a further 1.2 mb/d in 2026."
If you're willing to look beyond the next 12 months, however, investors could be locking in a compelling valuation for one of the most efficient capital allocators in the oil and gas industry. It's a classic case of needing to buy low when conditions seem unfavorable. It could take time for this bet to pay off, but Buffett seems to be not only sticking with Chevron but increasing his bet size as we advance toward the end of 2025.
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Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Warren Buffett Is Betting Big on This Texas-Based Company

Key Points
Buffett favors companies with good management, reliable revenue, strong earnings, and a clear competitive moat.
Berkshire Hathaway's leader recognizes the importance of a diversified portfolio.
Warren Buffett can teach us a lot about investing. And he's got 60 years of credentials in leading Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) to back it up.
Buffett favors a buy-and-hold investing style in which he looks for companies with strong management, a great competitive moat, impressive earnings, solid profits, and, ideally, a good dividend. From this formula, Buffett helped turn Berkshire Hathaway into a $1 trillion conglomerate.
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He also beats the market. Since he took the reins at Berkshire Hathaway, the company's investment portfolio has generated a compound annual gain of 19.9% versus the S&P 500's annual gain of 10.4% from 1965 through 2024. That means Berkshire Hathaway enjoyed gains of 5,502,284% versus the index's return of 39,054%.
And here's one more lesson that Buffett teaches -- the importance of diversification. Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes dozens of companies, some of them being the best-known in the world. Buffett knows that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one or two stocks. You need to spread it around.
So, let's create an ideal Buffett-inspired portfolio comprised of some of Berkshire Hathaway's holdings. Using fractional shares, we'll divide a hypothetical portfolio of $5,000 equally into four stocks, which represent a variety of industries. Here's how it shakes down, investing $1,250 into each.
Amazon
Buffett doesn't invest in a lot of tech stocks, but he made an exception for Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). Amazon has a dominant position as an e-commerce company, bringing in $136.8 billion in revenue in the second quarter alone. But Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the profit driver for Amazon stock, growing 17% from a year ago and accounting for more than half of Amazon's total profit.
Amazon stock is little changed on the year, but the company's growth story is clear, particularly as more companies look to migrate to the cloud -- where Amazon has a leading position with 30% of the global cloud computing market. You can buy 5.6 shares of Amazon stock with your $1,250 investment.
American Express
Berkshire Hathaway also has stock in Mastercard and Visa, but my pick here is American Express (NYSE: AXP) for a couple of reasons. First, the company has an extra income stream -- it not only issues cards like Visa and Mastercard, but it also has its own payment network from which it makes loans and earns income from the interest. American Express reported $5.4 billion in loan income in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, up 10% from a year ago.
American Express also offers a small dividend, with a yield of 0.9%, which is always a welcome addition to a portfolio. With the stock currently around $350, you'll get roughly 3.5 shares with your $1,250 investment.
Chevron
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a consolidated energy company that just got bigger. It recently completed its $55 billion acquisition of Hess, beating out ExxonMobil in a legal battle that gives Chevron access to the Guyana Stabroek Block's 11 billion barrels of oil.
The company's earnings have suffered this year as oil prices have fallen, but Chevron still prints money. Revenue of $44.8 billion in the second quarter was down from $51.2 billion a year ago. And earnings slipped from $4.4 billion and $2.43 per share to $2.49 billion and $1.45 per share.
But remember, you're buying Chevron here as a long-term play, and I don't mind getting in while it's slightly underperforming the market. The 4.4% dividend yield is a nice kicker as well. You can get just over eight shares of Chevron stock.
Coca-Cola
Remember, Buffett likes companies that have a great competitive moat. That's why when you're looking for consumer staples companies, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) stands out. Coca-Cola has a 48% market share in the U.S. soft drink market, and it also sells water, sports drinks, juices, coffee, and alcohol-infused drinks.
The company just posted third-quarter earnings, in which net revenue jumped by 5% from a year ago to $12.5 billion and earnings per share rose 30% to $0.86. Coca-Cola also provides a dividend yield of 3% -- making this a delicious addition to your portfolio.
Priced at just $71, you can add more than 17 shares of Coca-Cola stock with your $1,250 allotment.
The power of compounding
There are a lot of ways you can make a Buffett-flavored portfolio for the long term. And while this is just a suggestion, the most important thing you can do is to consistently add to your holdings and reinvest your dividend returns to accelerate your growth.
Over time, and by using the power of compounding returns, you will be able to watch your portfolio grow -- just like Warren Buffett.
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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Best Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy With $5,000 Right Now

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Chevron Corporation (Symbol: CVX), where a total of 30,018 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 3.0 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 46.1% of CVX's average daily trading volume over the past month of 6.5 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $160 strike call option expiring October 24, 2025, with 3,609 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 360,900 underlying shares of CVX. Below is a chart showing CVX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $160 strike highlighted in orange:
Fifth Third Bancorp (Symbol: FITB) saw options trading volume of 46,231 contracts, representing approximately 4.6 million underlying shares or approximately 46% of FITB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 10.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $44 strike call option expiring January 16, 2026, with 26,445 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 2.6 million underlying shares of FITB. Below is a chart showing FITB's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $44 strike highlighted in orange:
And Garrett Motion Inc (Symbol: GTX) options are showing a volume of 10,870 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.1 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 45.9% of GTX's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.4 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $13 strike call option expiring November 21, 2025, with 5,393 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 539,300 underlying shares of GTX. Below is a chart showing GTX's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $13 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for CVX options, FITB options, or GTX options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Funds Holding XYZY
CNAM Historical Stock Prices
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding VHAQ
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Thursday Option Activity: CVX, FITB, GTX

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) expects rising inventories of oil to hurt crude prices. The soft crude pricing environment is thus likely to affect the integrated energy players' exploration and production operations. At the same time, the rising demand for renewable energy adds uncertainty to the prospects of the Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry, creating a bleak outlook.
Among the companies in the industry that will probably survive the business challenges are Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, Chevron Corporation CVX and BP plc BP.
About the Industry
The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry covers companies primarily involved in upstream, midstream and downstream operations. These companies have upstream businesses in the United States (including prolific shale plays and the deepwater Gulf of Mexico), Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe. Midstream operations of energy companies entail transporting oil, natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products. In downstream businesses, the firms buy raw crude to produce refined petroleum products. The companies’ downstream activities involve chemical businesses that manufacture raw materials for making plastics. The integrated players are now gradually focusing on renewables, leading to the energy transition. The firms aim to lower emissions from operations and cut the carbon intensity of the products sold.
3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Industry
Soft Oil Price to Hurt Cash Flows: In its latest short-term energy outlook, EIA projected the average spot price for West Texas Intermediate crude at $65 per barrel for 2025 and $48.50 per barrel for 2026. Both the projected prices were significantly lower than $76.60 per barrel in 2024, per EIA data. The expectation for lower oil prices will probably lead to a decline in cash flows from the upstream business.
Slowdown in Production Growth to Hurt Upstream Business: There has been a slowdown in oil production growth in the upstream businesses of integrated energy companies in the United States due to shareholder demands for a greater focus on returning capital rather than investing in production expansion. As production growth slows, output decreases, which can lead to reduced revenues. Since upstream operations depend heavily on volume to generate income, any stagnation in production growth has a direct and negative impact on their bottom line.
Growing Demand for Renewables a Concern: Governments, investors and stakeholders are placing growing emphasis on addressing climate change, leading to an increased demand for renewable energy. Consequently, the demand for products reliant on oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids is expected to decline, with solar and wind energy gaining prominence in the energy landscape. The integrated energy firms are adversely impacted by these trends as they are primarily engaged in the production and transportation of fossil fuels, such as oil, and selling refined petroleum products.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bearish Prospects
The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry is part of the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #220, which places it in the bottom 9% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bleak near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms Sector and S&P 500
The Zacks Oil and Gas Integrated International industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.
The industry has gained 3.6% over this period compared with the S&P 500’s surge of 19% and the broader sector’s improvement of 4.8%.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry's Current Valuation
Since oil and gas companies are debt-laden, it makes sense to value them based on the Enterprise Value/Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EV/EBITDA) ratio. This is because the valuation metric takes not just equity into account but also the level of debt.
On the basis of the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA, the industry is currently trading at 4.50X, lower than the S&P 500’s 18.57X. It is also below the sector’s trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 5.05X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 6.54X and as low as 2.75X, with a median of 4.12X.
Trailing 12-Month EV/EBITDA Ratio
3 Integrated International Stocks to Keep a Close Eye on
BP has been investing heavily in oil and natural gas operations since it estimated that 55% of the global energy is generated from the commodities. Currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), the British energy giant is planning upstream capital investment of $10 billion through 2027, a notable increase from $8.5 billion in 2024. With key oil and gas projects yet to come online, BP expects to increase its daily production volumes to 2.3 million to 2.5 million barrels in 2030. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Price and Consensus: BP
In the Permian, the most prolific basin in the United States, ExxonMobil has a strong presence. By the end of this decade, the energy major aims to boost its Permian production to 2.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoE/D), from roughly 1.6 MMBoE/D volumes it produced in the June quarter, thanks to the advanced technologies employed to enhance well recoveries.
In offshore Guyana, XOM has made massive oil and gas discoveries over the years, estimating the recoverable reserves at 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Notably, XOM carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Price and Consensus: XOM
Chevron is an integrated energy giant with a stable business model. In the Permian, the most prolific basin in the United States, CVX, with a Zacks Rank of 3, has a strong footprint. Also, the company’s downstream business is benefiting from the softer oil prices.
Price and Consensus: CVX
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Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Integrated Energy Stocks Standing Tall Despite Soft Oil Price

In early trading on Thursday, shares of Honeywell International topped the list of the day's best performing Dow Jones Industrial Average components, trading up 5.1%. Year to date, Honeywell International has lost about 3.9% of its value.
And the worst performing Dow component thus far on the day is International Business Machines, trading down 5.0%. International Business Machines Corp is showing a gain of 24.2% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are UnitedHealth Group, trading down 1.2%, and Chevron, trading up 1.6% on the day.
VIDEO: Dow Movers: IBM, HON
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Chevron Corporation

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