Oil Producers Surge as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Fuel Crude Price Spike

With Brent crude at $88.91 a barrel, energy risk is once again front and center for global markets. Sudden supply scares can reshuffle where money flows in the oil and gas space, creating both potential openings and traps. Three large oil and gas producers that are closely exposed to this news are Standard Nuclear (NYSE:STDN), New Hope (ASX:NHC), and Greenfire Resources (GFR).

Standard Nuclear is a US company that designs, engineers, and manufactures advanced nuclear fuels. The business generates essentially all of its roughly $3 million in revenue from TRISO production for small modular reactors, microreactors, and government-backed demonstration projects. With a market cap of about $1.8 billion, Standard Nuclear is already priced as a meaningful player in the advanced nuclear fuel supply chain.

New Hope is a Brisbane-based coal and energy producer with large open-cut thermal coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales. Most revenue comes from coal mining in New South Wales at about A$1.1 billion, with a further A$450 million from Queensland operations and around A$86 million from other activities. The company has a market cap of roughly A$4.6 billion.

Greenfire Resources is a Calgary-based producer focused on the Athabasca oil sands, where it explores, develops, and operates the Hangingstone facilities south of Fort McMurray. The company generates all of its roughly CA$581 million in revenue from oil sands operations in Canada, so you're getting very targeted exposure to this part of the energy market.

Analysts expect strong revenue and earnings growth over the next few years for Greenfire Resources, with some estimates suggesting the stock is trading well below certain projected cash flow figures. However, Greenfire reported losses over the first half of 2026 and relies heavily on external borrowing, with recent shareholder dilution and a relatively new, less independent board.