Want Decades of Passive Income? 3 Stocks to Buy Right Now

Soaring energy demands from data centers and a modernizing global economy likely signal healthy demand for fossil fuels overall despite the growth of renewable energy in recent decades. The United States and Canada, already top oil and gas producers, are poised for rising natural gas exports over the coming years.

It's an excellent setup for the world's top energy companies, which are looking at steady demand and, therefore, stable revenue streams to fund continuously rising dividends for their shareholders.

Here are three top dividend-paying energy stocks that investors can confidently buy and hold, and expect to collect sizable dividend checks from for decades to come.

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1. Chevron

Integrated oil majors, such as Chevron (NYSE: CVX), operate across the upstream and downstream segments of the energy industry, meaning they explore for and extract resources from the ground, refine them, and sell the products. Chevron's diverse operations and large size have made it a very dependable dividend stock. Management has increased the dividend for 37 consecutive years, and shares yield a solid 3.7%, so investors get meaningful income right away.

Chevron anticipates growing its free cash flow by 10% annually over the next five years and recently acquired Hess for roughly $55 billion in stock to obtain a stake in the Stabroek Block off the coast of Guyana, one of the most significant oil discoveries in recent history. Chevron stock should continue rewarding investors with steady dividend income, as it has for nearly 4 decades.

2. Enbridge

Canadian energy giant Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) plays a pivotal role in transporting oil and gas resources from the Canadian oil sands throughout the continent to various export sites throughout the United States. The company also operates gas utilities serving millions of customers and is involved with renewable energy projects. Enbridge's pipeline and utility segments are remarkably steady, as they are essentially always on.

As a result, Enbridge has been a fantastic dividend stock. Management has raised the dividend for 28 consecutive years while maintaining a responsible payout ratio of roughly 66% of the company's guided 2026 cash flow. The stock yields 5% at its current share price, so once again, investors can enjoy solid income from the jump and reasonably expect that dividend to continue rising for the foreseeable future.

3. ExxonMobil

Like Chevron, ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is a leading player in the worldwide energy landscape. The diversified oil and gas behemoth casts a long shadow, with a global asset portfolio and a fortress-like balance sheet (AA- credit rating). These strengths have helped the company raise its dividend for 42 consecutive years, demonstrating management's ability to navigate the energy industry's occasional downturns. Peace of mind is rare in this industry.

Additionally, the company has invested heavily in its future growth. It acquired Pioneer Natural Resources in 2024 for $59.5 billion in stock, doubling its land assets in the lucrative Permian Basin. Investors are currently looking at an initial dividend yield of 2.8%. That payout will likely continue to increase each year as ExxonMobil continues its generations-long run as one of the world's largest energy companies.

Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron and Enbridge. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.