Corporate M&A activity across the energy sector has accelerated, driven by a renewed focus on scale, inventory depth, and long-term value creation. In this feature, Stephens’ Energy Investment Banking team discusses recent transactions—including public and private mergers—and what they reveal about how companies are navigating the 2026 market environment.
The conversation explores why sponsors and management teams are increasingly choosing mergers over outright sales, particularly when upside may not be fully reflected in current valuations. The team also examines how consolidation is reshaping the middle market, the growing importance of public-company scale, and why gas-weighted assets are currently leading corporate M&A activity.
Watch the full feature for insight into where corporate M&A may be trending, how companies are positioning for growth amid commodity volatility, and why strategic combinations are becoming an important part of today’s energy landscape.
About the Experts
Keith Behrens
Managing Director, Head of Energy & Clean Energy Transition, Investment Banking Read full bio
