U.S. oil and gas executives have sold close to $400 million worth of company stock since the outbreak of the Iran war tightened energy supplies and lifted oil and gas prices, according to a New York Times report cited by BlockBeats. The figure comes from an analysis by environmental group Friends of the Earth, which reviewed Securities and Exchange Commission filings and said insiders at U.S. fossil fuel companies collectively unloaded shares worth nearly $400 million during the period.
Among the companies mentioned, ConocoPhillips executives posted the largest total at about $96 million, followed by executives at LNG exporters Cheniere Energy and Venture Global. The report said stock sales by executives at all three companies have already exceeded their full-year 2025 levels. ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance alone sold nearly $80 million in shares through two transactions in March this year, while Cheniere Energy executives also sold shares around a period when the company’s stock hit a recent high.
The report said some analysts view the sales as consistent with normal market incentives because energy company shares have climbed alongside surging energy prices. Critics, however, argue that part of the profit growth stems from higher consumer energy costs linked to geopolitical conflict, and they are calling for a windfall profits tax on energy companies. Such proposals have not won Republican support in the U.S. so far.
U.S. oil and gas executives have sold nearly $400 million worth of company stock since the outbreak of the Iran war tightened energy supplies and pushed oil and gas prices higher, according to a New York Times report cited by BlockBeats.
Environmental group Friends of the Earth said, after reviewing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, that insiders at American fossil fuel companies have collectively sold close to $400 million in shares since the war began.
Sales were led by ConocoPhillips executives
Among the companies named in the report, ConocoPhillips executives recorded the largest amount of stock sales at about $96 million. Executives at natural gas exporters Cheniere Energy and Venture Global ranked next.
The report said recent sales by executives at all three companies have already surpassed their totals for the whole of 2025.
ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance sold nearly $80 million in stock through two transactions in March this year. Executives at Cheniere Energy also sold shares around the time the company’s stock reached a recent high.
Windfall tax debate remains unresolved
According to the report, some analysts said the rise in oil and gas company shares is directly tied to the jump in energy prices, making executive stock sales at elevated price levels consistent with market incentives.
Critics took a different view. They argued that part of the sector’s profit growth came from higher energy costs caused by geopolitical conflict, with consumers ultimately bearing that burden. On that basis, they have called for a windfall profits tax on energy companies.
At present, proposals to impose a windfall profits tax on the U.S. energy industry have not gained support from Republicans.
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