Under the right conditions, energy stocks can yield good dividends but they can be at the mercy of political and environmental factors. Here are our 10 energy stock picks.
Sector-specific investing can help you broaden and diversify your portfolio. But each sector comes with a unique assortment of benefits and risks.
What are energy stocks?
Energy stocks fit into the energy sector of the stock market—one of 11 sectors defined by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). Companies in the energy sector focus on the location, mining and production of oil, coal and natural gas.
What subcategories are included in this sector?
Companies that fall within the energy sector can be sorted into the following subcategories:
Oil and gas. At the start of the supply chain, we find companies responsible for drilling and producing oil and natural gas.
Pipelines. These mid-stream providers transport oil and natural gas from the drilling site to their respective refineries.
Mining. Mining companies produce coal that helps fuel power plants.
Enbridge Inc. is an energy infrastructure company that operates through 5 segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation and Energy Services.
Suncor Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company that explores for, develops, produces, transports, refines and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally. It also operates wind farms in Ontario and Western Canada.
TC Energy Corporation is a North American energy infrastructure company that operates through 5 segments: Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines; U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines; Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines; Liquids Pipelines and Power and Storage.
Exxon Mobil Corporation explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments.
Parkland Corporation operates food stores, convenience stores and gas stations in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean region and Central and South America. It operates under multiple brands including Ultramar, Esso, Fas Gas Plus, Chevron, Pioneer, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Columbia Fuels and Sparlings Propane.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets and sells crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers synthetic crude oil (SCO), light and medium crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), primary heavy crude oil and Pelican Lake heavy crude oil.
Imperial Oil Limited explores for, produced and sells crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through 3 segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments.
Pembina Pipeline Corporation provides transportation and midstream services for the energy industry. It operates through 3 segments: Pipelines, Facilities and Marketing & New Ventures.
Cenovus Energy Inc. develops, produces and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region.
Gibson Energy Inc. is a liquids infrastructure company that gathers, stores, optimizes, processes and marketing of liquids and refined products in North America. It operates through 2 segments: Infrastructure and Marketing.
Individual stocks are highly liquid. But if you want exposure to a broader range of energy stocks, consider investing in exchange traded funds (ETFs). ETFs hold stocks in many companies and are therefore more diversified and less risky than buying a few individual stocks. That being said, ETFs typically pay lower dividends and may come with higher fees.
Look for ETFs that track the energy sector like the ones below:
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The energy market is massive, and for good reason—this resource has been in high demand globally for many years. Even taking into account the shift towards clean energy, the world is still decades away from being free from oil, coal and gas.
The energy sector’s profitability is largely tied to the price of crude oil, but stock prices are typically stable and often pay dividends. Income from energy stocks may also be tax-sheltered—an attractive incentive for investors.
Politics play a sizable role in the energy sector’s performance. If companies explore for energy resources in unstable territories, projects are at risk of being sidelined or halted in the face of political turmoil.
Incorrect geological reports, oil spills and accidents can be costly for investors. This sector isn’t without its risks, and investors should weigh the benefits against the drawbacks before putting up their funds.
Bottom line on energy stocks
Investing in the energy sector can yield profits, but you need to be aware of how energy stocks can be affected by factors such as political turmoil, changing energy technology and environmental initiatives. Carefully compare stock trading platforms to find the best energy investments for your individual preferences and investment goals.
Frequently asked questions
According to Statista, the global energy sector was worth $613.77 billion USD in 2020 and is projected to reach $1.13 trillion USD by 2027. Data collected in 2017 reveals that the energy sector accounts for $175 billion (9.2%) of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.
Many factors affect the value of energy stocks. Generally, higher supply drives down the price of resources. So, energy stock prices could go down if new resources are discovered, energy technology advances, laws benefitting the energy sector are created or political tensions ease between countries that import and export energy-related resources.
Additionally, energy stock prices could go down if investors lose confidence in the value of energy investments. This could indicate that energy stocks are not expected to return a profit in the near future or that the economy on the whole is suffering and investors’ attitudes are pessimistic.
To learn more about why energy stock prices rise and fall, check out professional investment resources like Barron’s, the Financial Times, Investopedia or the Financial Post.
Renewable energy is power derived from natural resources including solar, wind, hydro (water), geothermal (heat generated from the earth) and biomass (plant-based) energy.
To invest in renewable energy stocks, you need to find companies that research, produce or manufacture products and services related to these natural resources. Check out a list of top renewable energy stocks here.
Sources
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Shannon Terrell is a lead writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet and a former editor at Finder, specializing in personal finance. Her writing and analysis on investing and banking has been featured in Bloomberg, Global News, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates and Black Enterprise. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and English literature from the University of Toronto Mississauga.
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Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family.
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