Venezuelan oil exports under a flagship $2 billion supply deal with the U.S. reached about 7.8 million barrels on Wednesday, vessel-tracking data and documents from state-run PDVSA showed, with shipments accelerating after the U.S. eased its blockade but not enough for PDVSA to fully reverse output cuts. The move helped select US oil stocks tick higher, with Exxon Mobil (XOM) climbing 2.4% and Chevron CVX rallying a half percent.

Following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in early January, Caracas and Washington agreed to a deal to sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude stored in tanks and vessels. The deal was expected to boost Oil stocks like CVX and XOM. Additionally, Chevron CVX has received an expanded Venezuela license from the U.S. that allows for increased production there. Outside of the AI sector, another closely observed stock sector for investors in 2026 is the Oil industry.

Per Reuters, the U.S. has continued seizing Venezuela-linked tankers in the Caribbean, so shipowners have been reluctant to get involved in the trade. A lot of investment experts suggest that, as a result of the US-Venezuela situation, oil stocks could be a solid bet in 2026. Forecasts for top stocks like XOM and CVX remain unchanged. However, should the US officially take over Venezuela’s Oil supply, that could surge.