We're in a new era of energy, electricity is the new oil, says Tortoise's Rob Thummel
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 17, 2026 at 19:58 UTC  |  4:05  |  CNBC
Speakers
Rob Thummel — Senior Fund Manager at Tortoise Capital

Summary

  • The energy sector is significantly outperforming the broader market in early 2026, up 19% year-to-date, driven by a rotation out of MegaCap Tech into "hard assets."
  • A structural shift is occurring where "electricity is the new oil," primarily driven by AI and hyperscaler demand for secure power sources.
  • Investors are prioritizing Free Cash Flow (FCF) yield, which is abundant in the energy sector (>5%) compared to the broader S&P 500 (<3%).
  • "Behind the meter" power generation is emerging as a critical growth area, where pipeline companies generate electricity directly for data centers, bypassing the retail grid.
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
ENERGY
LONG Rob Thummel
Senior Fund Manager at Tortoise Capital 		The speaker states, "You're seeing a rotation out of the Megacap Techs and into what really matters... Hard assets." He notes the sector is up 19% in 2026, outperforming the S&P 500. The macro environment has shifted to a "new era" where secure energy is the primary driver of the economy, fueled by AI demand. As capital rotates from tech to real assets, the entire energy complex benefits from this re-rating. LONG the sector to capture the momentum of the rotation and the structural demand for electricity. Reversal of the rotation trade; falling oil prices (though the speaker notes performance holds even with oil at $64). 0:12
XOM
LONG Rob Thummel
Senior Fund Manager at Tortoise Capital 		"Exxon is a classic example... It's got a free cash flow yield well above 5% when... all other sectors in the S&P 500 are below 3%." In a market environment where investors demand tangible returns, XOM offers a superior FCF yield compared to the broader market. This supports buybacks, dividends, and growth, making it highly attractive relative to expensive tech stocks. LONG for yield, value, and defensive cash flow qualities. Significant drop in global oil prices affecting FCF generation. 2:07
WMB
LONG Rob Thummel
Senior Fund Manager at Tortoise Capital 		Williams Companies is utilizing its pipeline network to "generate electricity with natural gas... that then is sold directly to the hyperscalers" (Behind the Meter power). This strategy allows WMB to serve the booming AI/Data Center market directly, bypassing grid constraints and retail pricing. This pivot transforms a "boring pipeline company" into a critical AI infrastructure play, driving projected 10% annual EBITDA growth. LONG as a direct beneficiary of AI electricity demand and infrastructure build-out. Regulatory pushback on "behind the meter" power generation; natural gas price volatility. —