As the Q2 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the u.s. shale e&p industry, including Viper Energy (NASDAQ: VNOM) and its peers.
US shale oil producers extract crude from tight rock formations using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) techniques, primarily in basins like the Permian, Bakken, and Eagle Ford. Tailwinds include short-cycle investment flexibility allowing rapid production adjustments, technological improvements enhancing well productivity, and proximity to refining and export infrastructure. Capital discipline has improved financial returns. Headwinds include commodity price sensitivity affecting drilling economics, accelerating well decline rates requiring continuous capital investment, and increasing regulatory and ESG scrutiny. Water usage, induced seismicity concerns, and evolving environmental regulations present ongoing operational challenges.
The 11 u.s. shale e&p stocks we track reported an exceptional Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 10.4%.
Luckily, u.s. shale e&p stocks have performed well with share prices up 14.4% on average since the latest earnings results.
Viper Energy (NASDAQ: VNOM)
Operating a business model that requires no drilling rigs or production equipment of its own, Viper Energy (NASDAQ: VNOM) owns mineral and royalty interests in oil and gas properties, collecting revenue when operators extract resources from land.
Viper Energy reported revenues of $677 million, up 128% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Viper Energy pulled off the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $44.72.
Best Q2: HighPeak Energy (NASDAQ: HPK)
Operating in the oil-rich northeastern corner of the Midland Basin where Howard and Borden counties meet, HighPeak Energy (NASDAQ: HPK) explores for, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas.
HighPeak Energy reported revenues of $272.4 million, up 25.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.7%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $8.14.
Is now the time to buy HighPeak Energy? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Texas Pacific Land (NYSE: TPL)
One of America's largest private landowners with roughly 868,000 acres in the Permian Basin, Texas Pacific Land (NYSE: TPL) owns land in West Texas and earns revenue from oil and gas royalties, water services, and land leases.
Texas Pacific Land reported revenues of $246.1 million, up 31.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. It was a mixed quarter as it posted a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Texas Pacific Land delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. As expected, the stock is down 2.1% since the results and currently trades at $374.00.
Read our full analysis of Texas Pacific Land’s results here.
Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE: NOG)
Taking the path less traveled in the oil industry by choosing not to operate its own wells, Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE: NOG) acquires minority stakes in oil and gas wells operated by other companies across major U.S. shale basins.
Northern Oil and Gas reported revenues of $588.7 million, down 7.9% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.
Northern Oil and Gas had the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is up 30.9% since reporting and currently trades at $26.54.
Read our full, actionable report on Northern Oil and Gas here, it’s free.
Riley Exploration Permian (NYSE: REPX)
Operating in counties where legacy oil fields have been producing since the early 1900s, Riley Exploration Permian (NYSE: REPX) drills for and produces oil and natural gas from horizontal wells in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico.
Riley Exploration Permian reported revenues of $165.9 million, up 94.2% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 11.8%. All in all, it was a strong quarter for the company.
The stock is up 14.1% since reporting and currently trades at $37.65.
Read our full, actionable report on Riley Exploration Permian here, it’s free.
Market Update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
