03:44 PM EDT, 05/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.4% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) falling 1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was declining 1.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was adding 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1% to $97.26 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract decreased 1.1% to $103.88 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 0.4% to $2.99 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, NextEra Energy ( NEE/PW ) agreed to acquire Caliber Resource Partners for $1.3 billion while setting up a joint venture with Caliber's private equity backer, Quantum Capital, to manage shale assets, Reuters reported. NextEra shares rose 1.3%.