We recently published a list of Why These 15 Energy Stocks Are up the Most So Far in 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC) stands against other energy stocks that are up the most so far in 2025.

The energy sector has been volatile, and macro trends have led to fears of recession. The S&P 500 energy sector gained almost 9% from January till late March, but it has been dragged down by the broader market correction.

Brent futures have hit lows and sent many energy stocks into a tailspin. Yet, there are still some energy stocks that have defied the odds and have delivered solid gains. Midstream companies have been exceptionally resilient, and renewables have also been a bright spot in the energy sector.

Even during bear markets there are pockets of the market that perform exceptionally well. For instance, tech stocks have been in a bear market, but I recently identified 15 Tech Stocks that are Up the Most in 2025 in another article.

Methodology

For this article, I screened the best-performing energy stocks year-to-date.

I will also mention the number of hedge fund investors in these stocks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).Why NACCO Industries Inc (NC) Up the Most So Far in 2025

Aerial view of an opencast coal mine, its vastness conveying the magnitude of its operations.

NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 5

NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC) operates in the natural resources sector, with a focus on coal mining, aggregates, and environmental solutions, primarily through its subsidiaries in North America.

The stock is up significantly so far in 2025, with the most notable catalyst being regulatory developments favoring coal. In early April, the U.S. Department of Land released a draft environmental analysis for new leasing areas at North Dakota’s Freedom Mine, which is owned by NACCO (NYSE:NC). This expansion covers an additional 1,350 acres, estimated to contain 24 million tons of mineable coal, potentially extending the mine’s life to 2045.

Further supporting the rally, recent executive actions have directed federal agencies to prioritize coal leasing, which represents a significant policy shift and a boon for NACCO (NYSE:NC)’s coal operations. Investors have also been anticipating the company’s first quarter 2025 earnings, scheduled for April 30.

Story Continues

NC stock is up 21.04% year-to-date.

Overall, NC ranks 8th on our list of energy stocks that are up the most so far in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of NC, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.

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