Cut your oil risk with proven producers

Article Excerpt

We continue to advise against overindulging in oil stocks. That’s because the Resource sector (including oil) is highly volatile, and no one can accurately predict future oil prices. For instance, after rising to $115 U.S. a barrel, oil dropped 16% in the first week of May 2011, to $97 U.S., on fears that the global economic recovery may be stalling. That’s why investors should stick with well-established oil producers with high-quality reserves and rising production, such as these three. All three should also benefit from the election of the Conservative majority government, which has promised not to impose onerous new carbon taxes or environmental regulations on oil-sands operators. SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $39 (Toronto symbol SU; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $62.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 1.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.suncor.com) merged with Petro-Canada in August 2009 to become Canada’s largest integrated-oil company. The company recently formed a joint venture with French oil company Total S.A., to…