09:27 AM EST, 03/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Thursday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLE ) advancing by 0.4%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 3.6% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was up 1.8%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 4.1% at $77.71 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 3% to $83.82 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 1.9% higher at $2.971 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Canadian Natural Resources ( CNQ ) stock was up nearly 2% after the company reported Q4 adjusted earnings that topped analysts' expectations.

Vermilion Energy ( VET ) shares were down more than 5% after the company posted a wider Q4 net loss from continuing operations.

SM Energy ( SM ) stock was nearly 2% after the company priced an upsized offering of $1 billion of 6.625% senior notes due 2034.