--- title: "Sector Update: Energy Stocks Gain Late Afternoon" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286815143.md" description: "Energy stocks rose late Monday, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 1.8%. Crude oil prices increased amid stalled US-Iran peace talks. NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy announced a merger, creating the largest regulated electric utility. Devon Energy's shares rose slightly, while ConocoPhillips gained 1.7% after a gas supply agreement. Compass Minerals plans to re-enter the lithium market, but its shares fell 1.1%." datetime: "2026-05-18T20:05:00.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286815143.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286815143.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286815143.md) --- # Sector Update: Energy Stocks Gain Late Afternoon 04:05 PM EDT, 05/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.7%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 3.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 0.5%. Crude oil prices rose Monday amid a lack of progress on US-Iran peace talks. Iran has submitted its new proposal to end the war, but the White House believes it fails to offer meaningful improvements on the last offer, Axios reported Monday, citing a senior US official and a source briefed on the issue. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1% to $106.42 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.4% to $109.70 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2% to $3.02 per 1 million BTU. In corporate news, NextEra Energy ( NEE/PW ) and Dominion Energy ( D ) said they have agreed to merge in all-stock deal to create the largest regulated electric utility in the world. Dominion's shareholders will get 0.8138 of NextEra's shares for each share owned, giving them a 25.5% stake in the combined entity, they said, adding that NextEra's shareholders will have the balance. NextEra was down 4.7%, and Dominion jumped past 9%. Devon Energy ( DVN ) may see support from its upcoming combined company guidance with Coterra Energy in June, possible asset sales, merger synergies, stronger shareholder returns, and continued investment in Delaware Basin assets, RBC said. Devon shares added 0.5%. ConocoPhillips ( COP ) and Glenfarne Group's subsidiary have signed a 30-year agreement to supply North Slope natural gas for phase one of the Alaska LNG project, the companies said Monday. ConocoPhillips ( COP ) shares rose 1.7%. Compass Minerals International ( CMP ) said it plans to re-enter the lithium market via a partnership with startup EnergyX to extract lithium from Utah's Great Salt Lake, Reuters reported. Compass shares fell 1.1%. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. ### Related Stocks - [NEE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE.US.md) - [D.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/D.US.md) - [DVN.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DVN.US.md) - [COP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COP.US.md) - [XLE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XLE.US.md) - [IXC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IXC.US.md) - [.DJU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/.DJU.US.md) - [CTRA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CTRA.US.md) - [CMP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CMP.US.md) - [NEE-N.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-N.US.md) - [NEE-W.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-W.US.md) - [NEP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEP.US.md) - [NEE-R.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-R.US.md) - [NEE-T.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-T.US.md) - [NEE-U.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-U.US.md) - [NEE-S.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-S.US.md) - [NEE-V.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NEE-V.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [NextEra Energy's $67 Billion Dominion Acquisition Will Make It the Dominant Power Player in the AI Era and a Must-Own Energy Stock](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286896538.md) - [NextEra Energy (NEE) Stock Eyes Dominion (D) Deal as AI Data Centers Drive Power Demand](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286669555.md) - [Combined NextEra-Dominion Would Have 130-GW Large-Load Pipeline](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286830722.md) - [NextEra Energy to Buy Dominion in $67 Million Deal. What It Means for D Stock.](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286810897.md) - [BUZZ-Fervo Energy surges 37% in electric New York debut](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286296665.md)