<div id="readability-page-1" class="page"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>Global oil inventories fall a little more every day the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East continues.</li><li>With oil inventories at an 11-year low, a resolution to the conflict won't lead to a swift return to normal. </li><li>10 stocks we like better than Enterprise Products Partners ›</li></ul>The global oil market is a complex web of businesses and assets, including the amount of oil that is available. Global oil reserves are at an 11-year low, by some estimates. That safety cushion is being eroded further each day the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East continues. Worse, it could take months for the oil market to return to normal after the conflict ends. With so much uncertainty, investors may want to err on the side of caution with these reliable dividend stocks.<h2>The problem with investing in oil stocks today</h2>Oil industry insiders keep warning Wall Street that the impact of the Middle East conflict isn't being fully reflected in oil prices. That's the issue highlighted by the 11-year low in energy reserves. Investors don't seem to be taking notice, as oil prices rise and fall in response to news about the geopolitical conflict.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2OTQ4Ny8yNV8wMl8wNi1hLXdhdGVyLXBhaWwtd2F0ZXJpbmctcGxhbnRzLWF0b3AtYS1yaXNpbmctc2VyaWVzLW9mLWNvaW4tcGlsZXMtbGVhZGluZy10by1hLXBpZ2d5LWJhbmtfLW1mLWRsb2FkZ2V0dHlpbWFnZXMtMTIzNjkwMzAzMS0xMjAweDgwMC01YjJkZjc5LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2OTQ4Ny8yNV8wMl8wNi1hLXdhdGVyLXBhaWwtd2F0ZXJpbmctcGxhbnRzLWF0b3AtYS1yaXNpbmctc2VyaWVzLW9mLWNvaW4tcGlsZXMtbGVhZGluZy10by1hLXBpZ2d5LWJhbmtfLW1mLWRsb2FkZ2V0dHlpbWFnZXMtMTIzNjkwMzAzMS0xMjAweDgwMC01YjJkZjc5LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA"/>Image source: Getty Images. It is possible that industry fundamentals will eventually grab center stage, pushing oil prices higher. But it is equally possible that the conflict remains the driving force, with an end to the conflict pushing oil prices lower. There's just no way to know, because investors are highly emotional creatures. So long-term investors who want exposure to the energy sector should probably tread with caution.<h2>Buy the middlemen</h2>Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) and Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) have both increased their dividends annually for decades. They offer yields of 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively. But the best part of the story is that oil prices aren't really that important to their financial results. Demand for oil, which is usually strong through the entire energy cycle, is what really drives performance.Enterprise and Enbridge are toll takers, helping to move oil and natural gas around the world. They charge fees for the use of their energy infrastructure assets, such as pipelines, resulting in highly reliable cash flows regardless of oil prices. Those cash flows are what back the lofty dividends these businesses pay. If you buy these two midstream giants, you can focus on your dividend checks and ignore the volatile and unpredictable swings in oil prices.<h2>Enterprise and Enbridge: A good location is another plus</h2>Another bonus with Enterprise and Enbridge is that they operate in North America, far away from the Middle East conflict. So their operations aren't being impacted. Or at least not negatively impacted, since the conflict could cause some countries to rethink energy security and start buying more oil from the United States and Canada. And that would likely lead to more business for Enterprise and Enbridge over the long term, increasing the desirability of these boring, high-yield energy plays.<h2>Should you buy stock in Enterprise Products Partners right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Enterprise Products Partners, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Enterprise Products Partners wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $477,813!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,320,088!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 986% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 208% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 25, 2026. Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Enbridge. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Enbridge. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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Global oil inventories are at an 11-year low, exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. Investors are advised to be cautious, as the resolution of the conflict may not lead to a quick recovery in oil markets. Midstream companies like Enterprise Products Partners and Enbridge, which have strong dividend yields and stable cash flows, are highlighted as safer investment options amidst the volatility.

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Global Oil Inventories Are at an 11-Year Low and Getting Worse. Here's Where Investors Should Look Now.