3 Energy Stocks With Pricing Power as Gasoline Inflation Heats Up

Gasoline up 7.1% in a month, headline inflation running at 3.6%, and diesel above $6 a gallon all point to one thing: energy is back in the spotlight and it is influencing the inflation story, the Fed debate, and potentially parts of the stock market. This piece reviews three U.S. energy producers and refiners from our screener that appear most exposed to this news and discusses what that may mean for your portfolio decisions.

The stocks highlighted below are a small sample from this theme. The full screen surfaced 10 more U.S. energy producers and refiners with equally compelling stories that are not covered here. To identify and analyze potential high-conviction ideas in this space, head straight to the U.S. Energy Producers & Refiners screener.

Natural Gas Services Group (NGS)

Natural Gas Services Group plugs into the U.S. Energy Producers & Refiners theme through the less visible plumbing of the gas system, supplying compression that keeps hydrocarbons flowing when fuel prices stay firm.

Natural Gas Services Group rents, designs and services natural gas and electric compression equipment for oil and gas facilities, generating about $182 million from rentals, $4 million from aftermarket services and $3 million from sales, on a business valued around $424 million.

"The expansion of the large horsepower and electric motor-drive fleet, which now represents 75% of rented horsepower with 99% utilization and has grown at roughly 30% annually over three years, positions Natural Gas Services Group to capture higher rental revenue per horsepower and support rental margin resilience."

From here, an important factor is how one persistent cost pressure interacts with that high utilization profile and influences future profitability.

Those cost pressures are exactly where the full narrative on Natural Gas Services Group gets interesting, so read the full narrative for Natural Gas Services Group to see how pricing power and risk really compare.

Cactus (WHD)

Cactus plugs into the U.S. Energy Producers & Refiners theme as a key equipment supplier, with about $991 million coming from Pressure Control wellheads and related services, $375 million from FlexSteel spoolable pipe, and a market value near $5.0b.

Cactus supports U.S. drilling activity through its wellhead hardware and spoolable pipe. Any sustained period of firm fuel prices that encourages producers to invest more can quickly matter for this business.

"The acquisition of a majority interest in Baker Hughes' Surface Pressure Control business will significantly expand Cactus' geographic footprint and customer base into the Middle East. This area has been described by industry participants as a long-term focus for energy infrastructure investment and supply security."

What ultimately happens to profitability may hinge on how one less visible cost and pricing tug of war resolves over the next few years.

That tug of war is exactly why reading the full narrative for Cactus can help you see whether Cactus' expansion is accelerating strength or quietly masking new risks.

RPC (RES)

RPC plugs into the U.S. Energy Producers & Refiners theme as a pure-play oilfield services provider, generating about US$1.7b from Technical Services and US$89 million from Support Services, backed by a roughly US$1.3b market value.

Where Natural Gas Services Group focuses on compression and Cactus on hardware, RPC leans into hands-on field work, from pressure pumping to rental drill pipe, giving it direct exposure to how long higher gasoline and diesel prices keep producers spending.

"Although Thru Tubing Solutions is gaining share with tools like the Metal Max power section and A 10 motor, the Q1 2026 pattern where revenue rose to US$455 million while adjusted EBITDA margins compressed to 11.8% points to higher materials, supplies, fuel costs and lower other income consuming much of that growth."

What investors really need to watch is how one stubborn cost squeeze shapes the gap between headline activity and the profits that actually stick.

To see how that cost squeeze could be accelerating or masking RPC's long term earning power, read the full narrative for RPC for the full story arc.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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