Strait of Hormuz blocked for months, oil supply squeezing — load up on energy stocks
The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes through — has been effectively blocked for over three months. Iran has now mined large sections of it, and with peace talks stalled, oil supply is expected to stay tight.
Idea
About 20% of the world's oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and it's been blocked for three months with no resolution in sight. Iran is actively mining the waterway, which means even a diplomatic breakthrough won't instantly reopen it — mines have to be cleared, tankers have to return. That keeps oil supply tight and prices elevated for weeks or months. Big integrated oil companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil print cash when crude stays high, and the energy sector ETF (XLE) gives you diversified exposure without betting on any single driller. History shows that during sustained geopolitical supply shocks, energy stocks tend to outperform the broader market by a wide margin.