Some exploration & production firms are looking to grow their oil production more than 50 percent in 2010 by exploiting unconventional oil plays like the Bakken Shale. At current oil prices most producers believe that wells in the core part of the Bakken Shale offer after-tax returns on investment of 100 percent and remain profitable even at significantly lower prices. Read More

In this issue I examine the prospects for my oil-levered recommendations in light of recent news and corporate earnings releases. The next installment of The Energy Strategist will examine the coal markets and provide in-depth analysis of related Portfolio holdings. Read More

In a market where most income-oriented groups offer near record-low yields, investors are starving for income. All MLPs offer market-beating distributions, as well as attractive tax advantages, but fight the temptation to blindly reach for the highest yields. Read More

The current pullback and any additional downside to come over the next few weeks should be regarded as a gift, a second chance to buy into recommended stocks at attractive levels. As I note in today's issue, the fundamentals for energy markets remain strong; I now expect crude to top its 2008 highs by sometime in 2011. Read More

In the case of master limited partnerships (MLPs), focusing on earnings per unit--the MLP equivalent of EPS--not only provides an incomplete picture of a company's health but it's also downright misleading. Read More

For energy companies, the handful of quarterly numbers released to date suggest that the downturn for the oil and gas industry that began in the summer of 2008 drew to a close in the first half of 2008. The coming upturn should rival the energy bull market of 2004 through 2008 in both scope and duration. Read More

To profit from the boom in deepwater spending, focus on Brazil, my favorite region in The Deepwater Golden Triangle. Read More

As the world’s final frontier of oil production, deepwater projects will command hundreds of billions in investment over the next decade. Investors who position themselves to benefit from that deluge of cash stand to enjoy tremendous gains. Read More

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of speaking to the Indiana Energy Conference for the second consecutive year. I recap some of the highlights and share my take on climate-change legislation and its implications for investors. Read More

In this issue I highlight three of my top investing themes for the coming rally in energy-related stocks, focusing on both short-term and longer-term trends. I’ll also explain a few tactical shifts and add two new names to the model portfolios Read More

Futures market speculators are a favorite scapegoat for politicians looking to assign blame for rising oil and energy prices. But data released on Friday by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) backs up what I’ve been saying for a long time: Futures market speculation is not the main driver of oil prices over the longer term. Read More

This year no commodity has frustrated investors more than natural gas. Although natural gas prices recently hit a seven-year low on the spot market, the action in longer-dated futures and gas-related stocks suggests that a marked improvement is around the corner. Read More

The depressed crude oil prices at the end of 2008 and early 2009 were the real aberration--not the current quote. Those depressed prices reflected unusually weak near-term fundamentals and historic imbalances in the futures curve. Much of the subsequent rally has simply been an unwinding of those imbalances. Read More

Historically, the best time to buy oil-services stocks is a few months before industry fundamentals trough; I believe that golden opportunity will present itself over the next few weeks. Read More

Far too many investors ignore the role that improving credit markets have played in the recent rallies in stock and commodities markets. Read More

Crude oil is far and away the most widely watched energy commodity. Although many investors focus on every price change in the crude oil market, they ignore the fact that coal mining stocks have actually outperformed oil-related names in recent months. But prospective investors seeking exposure to the coal industry should remember that selectivity is the key to success. I also correct the rampant misconceptions about natural gas prices, explain why I expect gas prices to double over the next 12 months and highlight my top picks in this area. Read More

Consumer and producer behavior from 2004 through mid-2008 is not consistent with artificially high oil prices. The speculation argument has little basis in reality. The real cause of rising prices is unusually strong demand growth coupled with sluggish supply response despite record spending. Read More

Although crude could still retest its July lows, economic stabilization in the US combined with resurgent growth in emerging markets is bullish for energy commodities and related stocks through year-end. In the near term, the stock market will be focused on second-quarter earnings. In today's issue I take a detailed look at earnings releases from three companies that have broader implications for energy-related investments. Read More

I reiterate my outlook for crude oil, in addition to analyzing Iraq's failed auction of oilfield production contracts and the real prospects for alternative energy in the US. Read More

Most in the media hailed the House of Representative's passage of climate change legislation as a major victory for President Barack Obama. Clearly, the president lobbied hard for bill to clear the House before the July 4 holiday; the president is trying to push both health care and climate change legislation through Congress this year. In this issue, we'll take a look at how carbon legislation is likely to affect your energy investments and look at a handful of companies that may actually benefit from carbon cap-and-trade. Read More