Resource and commodity stocks in general should make up only a limited portion of your portfolio—say less than 20% for a conservative investor or as much as 30% for an aggressive investor. And as part of that segment, energy stocks could make up, say half of that total. The rest could be fertilizer stocks, mining stocks and so on.
Oil and gas stocks have been below-average performers lately, and many investors are tempted to get out of the industry altogether. However, the energy sector can play a crucial role in your portfolio as a hedge against inflation. The low inflation rates of the past couple of decades deserve some of the blame for the poor performance of the sector. However, energy stocks will likely rebound in years to come as the global economy recovers.
- Invest mainly in well-established companies;
- Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; Utilities);
- Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.
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The combined firm is now Canada’s third-largest producer of oil and natural gas, with output of about 750,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day....
These two top companies have also made key mergers and implemented strategies to prosper—and to continue paying dividends—even if energy prices drop....
IMPERIAL OIL LTD....
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC....
SUNCOR ENERGY INC....
IMPERIAL OIL LTD., $33.21, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares o/s: 711.7 million; Market cap: $24.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 3.0%; www.imperialoil.ca) is teaming up with four other oil sands operators in Alberta (Suncor, Cenovus, Canadian Natural Resources and MEG Energy) in an effort to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The five firms will connect their oil sands facilities in the Fort McMurray and Cold Lake regions to a central carbon sequestration hub....