Macondo is an environmental disaster, but investors must separate pre-election political rhetoric and sensationalist media coverage from reality and history. Odds are that Macondo will turn out to be far less of a disaster than BP’s most vocal critics suggest. Read More

Over the past year energy-focused MLPs have become more popular for the very same reasons as in the mid-1980s: high yields and tax advantages. Forget yields--focus on fundamentals when making your investment decisions. Read More

Some have argued that the recent decline in oil prices represents an abnormal trading pattern or the beginning of a bear market in oil. But past experience doesn’t support that conclusion. Read More

Although large investment banks have profited enormously from commodities trading over the years, community banks in areas with strong ties to the oil and gas industries usually benefit from robust local economies. Read More

Many of our favorite master limited partnerships have pulled back to attractive valuations. Now is the time to buy. Read More

The actual value of natural gas produced from some of the most important US shale gas fields is currently running at over $7 per thousand cubic feet. Read More

Don’t expect wind and solar energy stocks to perform well this year. Even with demand likely to bounce back, both industries face massive overcapacity and falling profit margins. Read More

Master limited partnerships (MLP) can offer significant tax advantages to investors. Read More

Producers will earn below average returns on Iraqi contracts but will need to spend big on services to meet their contractual goals. Read More

Widely hyped solar and wind power companies have handily underperformed the broader markets and the energy sector as a whole so far this year. One reason for that is simple politics: Alternatives are completely dependent on government subsidies and mandates for growth. Read More