One of the founding precepts of this publication’s investment strategy hinges on the end of easy oil, or the reality that the massive fields that have supplied much of the world’s crude oil have reached maturity and are in decline. In this issue, we highlight some of the equipment providers and offshore-rig contractors that stand to benefit from this secular growth trend. Read More

Investors worried about missing out on further price appreciation should remember the experience of the past two years, when the stock market rallied in the early part of the year but swooned during the summer. With a contentious US presidential election on the horizon and developed economies continuing to post anemic growth, the likelihood that the stock market will pull back increases in the back half of the year. Maintain your discipline and adhere to our buy targets. Investors who keep some powder dry and buy high-quality names during pullbacks will outperform the herd. Read More

Oil services stocks have endured a tough run over the past year. But fourth-quarter results and comments from the industry's biggest players highlighted several investable themes. Read More

The energy sector was a hotbed for mergers and acquisitions in 2011. Exploration and production companies were involved in $105 billion worth of deals last year, while pipeline companies were targeted in $59 billion worth of transactions. With companies able to access capital at attractive rates, expect deal flow to remain strong in 2012. Here are The Energy Strategist's top takeover plays for the coming year. Read More

Since The Energy Strategist launched in 2005, the first issue of the new year traditionally has looked forward to what investors should expect in the coming year. My annual outlook focuses on five areas: the global economy, US equities, oil prices, coal prices and natural gas prices. These forecasts aren't carved in stone: New developments in the economy, stock market and energy markets require an outlook and investment strategy that change with the times. Read More

Don't expect the EPA's recent report on hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contaimination to lead to restrictive regulations on this controversial production technique, especially in the current economic and political climate. Investors should continue to focus on our favorite operators in oil-rich unconventional plays. Read More

US oil and gas trusts often offer tax-advantaged yields, but investors must understand how these trusts are structured and the quality of their underlying assets to separate the winners from the losers. In this issue, we analyze four trusts that subscribers have asked about in recent emails and discuss the tax implications of owning these vehicles. Read More

The news from Europe continues to drive global equity markets. Stocks posted a near-record rally in October, as EU policymakers appeared to finally make headway on a temporary fix for the sovereign-debt woes afflicting the Club Med nations of Greece, Italy and Spain. But investors had little for which to be thankful heading into the US Thanksgiving holiday; renewed uncertainty about the EU’s ability to stem the ongoing credit crisis has weighed heavily on sentiment. Read More