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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CHEVRON CORP....
We continue to recommend conservative investors limit their oil holdings to integrated producers such as these three. Their upstream (or producing) businesses benefit from higher crude prices. Their downstream (refining) businesses, on the other hand, convert crude into gasoline and other fuels and so profit when oil prices fall....
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....
Weight Watchers rebranded itself as WW in the fall of 2018, when it expanded its weight-loss services to include “Wellness that works” programs. The move reflects the company’s goal of promoting healthy living, in general, rather than just weight loss.
More important, it also focused on expanding its digital offerings....
Those top companies also have the balance sheet strength to survive, even if energy prices drop, and to continue paying dividends....