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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Due to weaker crude oil prices, the company plans to spend $2.4 billion on exploration and upgrades in 2019....
Oil prices have moved up 5% since the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports. OPEC’s recent production cuts have also contributed to the increase.
However, crude prices will likely remain volatile over the next few years. We feel the best way for conservative investors to cut their oil risk is with integrated producers like Chevron....
ENCANA CORP. $9.20 (Toronto symbol ECA; Shares outstanding: 963.1 million; Market cap: $8.8 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 0.9%; www.encana.com) recently agreed to acquire Newfield Exploration for $7.7 billion U.S. Newfield operates shale oil and natural gas wells in the Stack and Scoop fields of Oklahoma, the Bakken region of North Dakota and Utah’s Uinta basin.
Encana aims to complete the merger in February 2019....
PEYTO EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT CORP. $7.05 (Toronto symbol PEY; Shares outstanding: 164.6 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 3.4%; www.peyto.com) produces and explores for natural gas and oil in Alberta....
IMPERIAL OIL LTD. $37.27 (Toronto symbol IMO; Shares outstanding: 792.7 million; Market cap: $29.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 2.0%; www.imperialoil.ca) formed a 50/50 joint venture in 2013 with U.S.-based ExxonMobil (New York symbol XOM) to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Price Rupert, B.C....
BONAVISTA ENERGY $1.18 (Toronto symbol BNP; Shares o/s: 255.4 million; Market cap: $306.5 million; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; Divd. yield: 3.4%; www.bonavistaenergy.com) explores for oil and gas in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan....