Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE: NOG) just scored a fresh badge of honor: a spot on Newsweek’s inaugural “America’s Greatest Companies 2025” list.
The ranking, compiled with research firm Plant-A Insights Group, highlights 650 U.S. companies judged on four pillars—financial performance, employee engagement, innovation, and ethics/sustainability.
A Win for the Oil Patch
Oil and gas companies rarely get lumped in with “greatest” lists that spotlight innovation and sustainability, making NOG’s inclusion notable. The independent energy player, headquartered in Minnesota, has built its strategy around non-operating interests in shale plays—essentially investing in projects operated by others while keeping overhead lean.
“We are honored to be in such esteemed company,” said Nicholas O’Grady, CEO of NOG. “Being named among America’s Greatest Companies reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement year in and year out.”
Why It Matters
Energy companies are under intense scrutiny for everything from climate impacts to workforce practices. Being recognized for employee engagement and sustainability alongside profitability suggests that NOG is successfully balancing Wall Street performance with reputational pressures.
The selection process leaned on publicly available filings, third-party data, and company reviews. That blend of quantitative and qualitative inputs mirrors the growing trend of ESG-style evaluations being baked into mainstream rankings.
Broader Context
Newsweek’s move to launch “America’s Greatest Companies” looks like an attempt to compete with Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies” and Forbes’ “Best Employers” lists. For companies, inclusion can boost employer branding and investor relations in equal measure. For NOG, the timing is favorable: the shale sector is still contending with price volatility and a long-term transition narrative, so credibility points around innovation and sustainability are particularly valuable.
The Takeaway
Northern Oil and Gas getting tapped for Newsweek’s inaugural list signals that even traditional energy companies can earn recognition in areas beyond raw production and profits. For NOG, it’s not just a feather in the cap—it’s branding fuel in a sector still under pressure to evolve.
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
