Equinor the top stock to play European gas – Barron’s (NYSE:EQNR)

Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) is “one of many best-kept secrets and techniques within the oil and fuel business,” Barron’s says in its newest problem, noting that the corporate already is realizing a monetary windfall from hovering European fuel costs, and if the continent is severe about decreasing its publicity to Russian fuel within the coming years, the corporate ought to profit.

No Western power firm has larger publicity to European fuel, offering ~20% of the continent’s fuel, however Andrew Bary of Barron’s says Equinor additionally will be the greenest of all the main international power corporations, with a carbon footprint per barrel of oil and fuel produced that’s lower than half the business common.

Equinor’s base dividend is low relative to friends, however the firm plans to extend it regularly within the coming years, and particular dividends might grow to be the norm, given its wholesome steadiness sheet, Barron’s says.

The European Union has unveiled a plan to chop its dependence on Russian pure fuel by two-thirds this yr, and rid itself solely of Russian fossil fuels by the yr 2030, however Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans notes {that a} new onshore liquefied pure fuel plant takes 4-5 years to course of.

Towards this backdrop, Barron’s highlights some shares that Giveans thinks may benefit, together with Cheniere Power (NYSE:LNG), which already was sizzling and has added one other 16% since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Giveans additionally likes Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG), which has spare LNG capability at a floating platform it operates off the coast of Cameroon, in addition to petroleum shippers Navigator Holdings (NYSE:NVGS) and Worldwide Seaways (NYSE:INSW).

Amongst ETFs, iShares World Clear Power (NASDAQ:ICLN) has jumped 20% for the reason that invasion started.