Is Goldman Sachs's NRG (energy IB) still not as good as other big players in Houston for energy? Which banks are dominating?

Most of the energy IB posts on the site are quite old. I'm wondering if GS has built up their reputation in Houston. Also, who are the best banks in Houston? Which bank usually get more analysts into mega funds? KKR, Blackstone, etc.?

22 Comments
 
Best Response
"EnergyIBK2010"

GS has been on a tear for the last few years - probably the strongest group in HOU, at least from an advisory standpoint and I've seen them lead a lot of equity too.

I'm not an analyst so don't know where buyside placement shakes out. BARC is a shadow of its former self but would imagine they still place well.

From a dealflow perspective for globals:

Top groups: C, CS, GS (hear culture is challenging at all of them)

Middle of the pack: BARC, JPM, BAML

Bottom: MS, UBS, DB

I know much less about boutiques but I know that Evercore is great for midstream advisory. TPH and Simmons were both acquired in the recent past and I hear dealflow is down for both vs pre-oil crash.

This is pretty outdated...

Agree that GS has been crushing it on all fronts, but would not consider C a top tier bank in Houston. Advisory work has been extremely slow out of that group for the last year, and you're fighting an army to get any of the good work left. CS is solid, crushed it in equity (especially upstream) last year but is no where near what they were in the past. Culture is terrible at all three.

Barclays is a shell of its former self and living off its name. Lee Jacobe is good, they really don't have anyone else in that group. JPM and BAML are both decent, nothing special about either group work wise. I'd say JPM is the stronger of the two, especially in upstream work while BAML is pretty good at midstream and has the best refining MD in the game (although there aren't many deals left to do in the space). All three are fine culture wise.

MS has quietly been very good recently, especially in OFS and midstream though they've been slow in upstream and A&D work. I'd easily put them above JPM, BAML and C, on par with CS and a step behind GS. UBS and DB are still bad, but maybe DB will be able to do something with the C upstream guys they poached (apparently they were working with APC on their ill advised bid for APA).

WF is okay, have randomly won some huge M&A roles recently, RBC is solid for A&D type work. BMO is meh. EVR and JEF do a lot of deals and are absolute grindhouses so I'd avoid unless you're a masochist. Simmons has apparently recovered nicely, while TPH is still slowish. Moelis is a mystery. Lazard is decent, have been doing a ton of restructuring obviously but will likely slow down significantly now that that's behind us. Petrie is a sweatshop. Don't know much about Intrepid but would think it's a decent place to work.

 
"EnergyIBK2010"

GS has been on a tear for the last few years - probably the strongest group in HOU, at least from an advisory standpoint and I've seen them lead a lot of equity too.

I'm not an analyst so don't know where buyside placement shakes out. BARC is a shadow of its former self but would imagine they still place well.

From a dealflow perspective for globals:

Top groups: C, CS, GS (hear culture is challenging at all of them)

Middle of the pack: BARC, JPM, BAML

Bottom: MS, UBS, DB

I know much less about boutiques but I know that Evercore is great for midstream advisory. TPH and Simmons were both acquired in the recent past and I hear dealflow is down for both vs pre-oil crash.

Fwiw I've rarely seen GS Houston on deals. I rarely see them in any capacity actually but that could be for a variety of reasons. They may work some of the larger cap OFS deals or push some asset sales for larger cos (Freeport, Hess usually uses them) that we don't see but I have yet to see them where the real action is at this time and over the past few years, notably Permian and STACK. Even Wells has had some major deals in the Permian (Yates etc) although could never get a read on that group, seemed all over the place.

TPH let a lot of folks go recently and I've seen the resumes and they are loaded with fairness opinions masquerading as deal experience. Good folks there but seems like they tried to be all things to all people buy side and sell side and over hired as well.

Jefferies has a excellent deal flow it seems. Evercore pushing a lot of pre-restructuring stuff upstream, as someone else mentioned I guess their strong suit is midstream.

Meh, just like the weather in the south, wait a few hours and it'll change!

 

Mandrills are primarily terrestrial monkeys, and they move with long arms to forage on the ground for fruits, roots, and animals such as insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Their cheeks have built-in pouches that are used to store snacks for later consumption. Though mandrills spend much of their time on the ground, they can climb trees and do so to sleep.

I AM THE LIQUOR
 

Est omnis sint et consequuntur culpa quis. Aliquid deserunt possimus quo dolor et est veritatis. Enim qui error blanditiis omnis culpa est soluta. Illum hic vel sed quo fuga.

Eaque qui velit vero ut. Atque quia sit quos dolor. Voluptatem unde non recusandae. Corrupti et commodi et et voluptas magni soluta.

Reiciendis veritatis est quibusdam minus reprehenderit vel praesentium neque. Aut est cupiditate rerum quibusdam aut dolorem non. Odio voluptas quod assumenda ipsum. Fugit voluptatibus soluta et est. Dolores odit qui officia nihil.

Delectus nam ea nisi qui sit quo et. Dolorem adipisci earum in sequi rerum dignissimos cupiditate. Blanditiis quia omnis non qui accusantium autem. Ducimus ab molestiae sit culpa qui nemo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”