5 Stocks Poised to Profit as $100 Oil Drives EV Adoption
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**As $100 Oil Drives Surge in Electric and Hybrid Transport, 5 Stocks Take Center Stage**
**By Michael Kern**
With U.S. gasoline topping $4.40 per gallon in September and Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel since early autumn—up from roughly $60 before the outbreak of the Iran conflict—consumer habits are shifting dramatically. Through the third quarter, U.S. sales of new hybrid vehicles increased by 24%, European battery-electric vehicle registrations surged 52% in August, and the International Energy Agency estimates that electric vehicles will comprise nearly 30% of total global automobile sales this year.
Despite this tailwind, the broad electrification sector has seen mixed financial performance. A Bloomberg index tracking 104 EV-related firms sits down 1% for the year, dragged lower by market heavyweights Tesla and BYD. Meanwhile, top U.S. lithium producer Albemarle recently closed at $102.75, representing less than half of its 52-week peak. Capital stemming from the high-oil environment has been highly selective, often benefiting companies outside the typical pure-play EV category.
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### **1. Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC)**
**Key Data Point:** Over 106,000 U.S. hybrid sales in Q3; Q1 operating profit doubled year-over-year.
Earlier this year, Honda faced significant restructuring hurdles, recording over $9 billion in costs to dial back certain electric vehicle initiatives and reporting its first annual loss in nearly seven decades. In response, the Japanese automaker pivoted aggressively toward hybrid offerings, announcing plans for 15 new hybrid models by 2030, primarily tailored to the North American market.
The strategy aligned with rising fuel costs. In the third quarter, Honda achieved a U.S. record by delivering over 106,000 hybrid vehicles, with hybrid variants accounting for 53% of all CR-V sales. For the April-to-June period, quarterly operating profit more than doubled to ¥530.8 billion, leading the automaker to raise its full-year operating profit forecast by 30% to ¥650 billion. Although Honda projects roughly ¥520 billion in total restructuring expenses for the year, its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) rallied over 7% following the updated guidance.
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### **2. ChargePoint Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CHPT)**
**Key Data Point:** Second-quarter revenue rose 18% to $116.1 million; single-day stock surge exceeding 70%.
Following an extended downturn in valuation, EV network provider ChargePoint published its second-quarter earnings report on Sept. 2, exceeding market expectations. Revenue grew 18% year-over-year to $116.1 million, while the company’s adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed significantly from $22.1 million to $4.8 million.
Management directly linked the performance to sustained gas prices above $4.00 per gallon, noting strong demand for residential home chargers across North America as well as expanded European sales. Despite the quarterly beat, CFO Mansi Khetani noted that residential charger demand remains variable. ChargePoint guided third-quarter revenue to between $105 million and $115 million, reflecting a modest 4% growth rate at the midpoint, while holding approximately $96 million in cash reserves.
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### **3. SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: SEDG)**
**Key Data Point:** Q2 European revenue doubled year-over-year; Q2 total revenue up 20% to $346.2 million.
Inverter and residential battery producer SolarEdge has experienced significant volatility in 2026. After advancing roughly 80% through May, the stock declined 24.6% following its August second-quarter earnings report, trading around $32.47 in early October.
Operational growth during the quarter was primarily anchored in European markets, where sales doubled compared to the prior-year period as consumers sought protection against anticipated electricity cost increases. Battery shipments grew to 426 megawatt-hours (up from 331 MWh in Q1), and overall revenue reached $346.2 million, allowing SolarEdge to post its first non-GAAP operating profit since 2023. However, cautious third-quarter revenue guidance ($310 million to $340 million) and softer domestic U.S. demand continue to impact investor sentiment.
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### **4. Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN)**
**Key Data Point:** Q2 sales grew 21% to a record $8.5 billion; Electrical Americas 12-month rolling orders up 41%.
Power management industrial giant Eaton plays a structural role in the energy transition, manufacturing the switchgear, distribution panels, and power electronics required to connect equipment to electrical grids. The company reached a new 52-week high after reporting 21% year-over-year top-line growth in the second quarter.
While significant capital spending from artificial intelligence data centers has fueled Eaton’s electrical order book (up 85% in that segment), the firm maintains expanding exposure to transport electrification. Eaton collaborated with ChargePoint to develop new high-power charging platforms, participates in municipal fleet electrification projects—including a 130-port fast-charging initiative for Santa Monica’s transit system—and holds a strategic stake in smart-panel producer SPAN.
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### **5. VinFast Auto Ltd. (Nasdaq: VFS)**
**Key Data Point:** Q2 e-scooter and e-bike deliveries rose 311% year-over-year to 286,039 units; EV deliveries up 96% to 70,085 units.
In Southeast Asian markets heavily dependent on two-wheeled transportation, elevated energy prices accelerated the adoption of electric scooters. Vietnamese manufacturer VinFast reported a 311% jump in second-quarter e-scooter and e-bike deliveries, along with a 96% increase in electric passenger car deliveries. In March alone, the company logged over 135,000 scooter orders, capturing 17% of Vietnam’s overall two-wheeler market.
Despite operational volume growth, VinFast’s equity has faced pressure, trading around $3.07 in early October. Financial metrics remain impacted by ongoing cash burn, delayed second-quarter financial filings, and a high proportion of vehicle deliveries directed to internal related entities, such as the Vingroup-affiliated ride-hailing service GSM.
