Williams Beats Occidental as Top Energy Stock Pick

Investors looking for a reliable energy stock may want to consider The Williams Companies (WMB) over Occidental Petroleum (OXY).

Unlike Oxy, which generates most of its revenue from upstream exploration and extraction, Williams is a midstream pipeline company that transports crude oil, natural gas, and other resources. This makes it more insulated from volatile commodity prices.

Williams' focus on natural gas delivery and behind-the-meter systems also makes it an attractive play in the cloud and AI markets.

The company pays a forward dividend yield of 2.8%, which is higher than Oxy's 1.9% but lower than many other midstream companies.