Investing in Energy Stocks

The energy sector is vital to the global economy. It produces and supplies the fuels and electricity needed to keep the economy humming.

The energy industry includes companies involved in the following activities:

Renewable energy stocks

Renewable energy stocks: These companies manufacture components to produce electricity using renewable resources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power. They also include companies that operate and develop renewable energy-generating facilities.

• Solar energy stocks: This subgroup of renewable energy focuses on manufacturing solar panels and components to generate electricity from the sun.
• Wind energy stocks: This subgroup focuses on manufacturing wind turbines and blades.
• Hydrogen stocks: These companies focus on producing hydrogen, a potentially emission-free fuel that could replace fossil fuels in the energy industry.

Oil and gas stocks

Oil and gas stocks: These companies focus on finding, producing, transporting, storing, refining, and exporting fossil fuels.

• Oil stocks: Oil companies focus on locating, producing, transporting, and refining crude oil.
• Natural gas stocks: Natural gas companies concentrate on finding, producing, transporting, and exporting natural gas.
• Liquefied natural gas stocks: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies develop and operate facilities to liquefy and export natural gas.
• Refining stocks: Refining companies process crude oil and turn it into refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
• Pipeline stocks: Pipeline companies operate pipelines and other infrastructure used to transport, process, store, and export energy products.

Utility stocks

Utility stocks: These companies generate and distribute electricity and natural gas to customers.

• Electric utility stocks: Electric utility companies generate and distribute electricity to customers.

This broad industry is crucial to providing the economy with the energy it needs. It's also an important one for investors to understand.

Best Energy sector stocks to buy in 2023

Hundreds of public companies focus on the production and distribution of energy. However, a few leaders stand out because of their size and financial strength. Here are five of the best energy stocks to consider buying in 2023:

Here’s a closer look at some of the best energy stocks in the industry:

1. Brookfield Renewable

Brookfield Renewable is a leading global renewable energy producer. It operates hydroelectric, solar, wind, and energy transition assets. The company sells the power produced by the assets under long-term fixed-rate power purchase agreements (PPAs) to electric utilities and other large power users.

The contracts enable Brookfield to generate relatively steady cash flows, which mostly are used to pay an attractive dividend. The company retains the balance to acquire, develop, and expand its renewable energy operations.

The company has an enormous backlog of renewable energy development projects. Combined with other growth drivers such as acquisitions and higher power prices, Brookfield expects to increase its cash flow per share by as much as 20% annually through 2026. That should support a 5% to 9% annual dividend growth, making Brookfield an excellent renewable energy dividend stock.

2. ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips is a diversified oil and natural gas producer. It has operations around the world and uses several methods to produce oil and natural gas.

ConocoPhillips stands out for its low operating costs. It has an average cost of supply of less than $30 a barrel. ConocoPhillips complements its low cost of supply with a strong balance sheet. It has an investment-grade bond rating backed by a low leverage ratio. That provides it with plenty of cushion to weather frequent periods of low oil and gas prices.

ConocoPhillips’ low operating costs position it to generate significant cash flow in the coming years. The oil and natural gas company estimates it can produce a cumulative $80 billion in free cash flow by 2031, assuming oil prices average $50 per barrel. With oil prices surpassing $100 in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ConocoPhillips could generate an even bigger gusher of free cash flow.

The company anticipates returning a significant portion of its windfall to investors in the coming years. It plans to send them $10 billion in 2022 alone, thanks to higher oil prices. ConocoPhillips uses a variety of methods to return cash to shareholders, including share repurchases, paying a growing quarterly dividend, and making variable return of cash payments (an incremental dividend payment from its excess cash) as it generates excess cash due to higher oil prices.

3. Chevron

Chevron is a leading global energy company. It boasts a globally integrated oil and gas business that includes exploration and production assets, refining capabilities, and a chemicals business. The company’s large scale and integrated operations help it weather the volatility in the energy sector.

Chevron uses the cash flows generated from its legacy oil and gas operations to pay a growing dividend, repurchase shares, and invest in the future. Chevron increased its dividend for the 35th straight year in 2022, which means it more than qualifies as a Dividend Aristocrat. It also plans to buy back between $5 billion and $15 billion of its stock each year.

Part of Chevron’s investment in the future is on reducing its carbon emissions. The company is investing in carbon capture and storage technology and green hydrogen. In addition, it acquired Renewable Energy Group in 2022 for $3.15 billion. The deal will accelerate Chevron’s ability to achieve its goal of expanding its renewable fuels production capacity to 100,000 barrels per day by 2030.

Overall, Chevron aims to supply the fuels for today’s economy while building toward the lower-carbon fuels it requires in the future. The balance makes it an ideal choice for investors seeking a way to invest in the energy transition from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives.

4. NextEra Energy

NextEra Energy is one of the country's largest electric utility companies. It's also a global leader in producing power from the wind and sun through its energy resources segment, which sells clean energy to other utilities and end users around the country.

These businesses generate relatively stable cash flow. It sells and distributes power backed by government-regulated rates and fixed-price PPAs with customers. The business model is very resilient because businesses and households need a steady supply of power.

NextEra Energy has one of the best financial profiles in the electric utility sector. It features one of the highest credit ratings in its peer group. NextEra also has a conservative dividend payout ratio for a utility, allowing it to pay a stable and growing dividend. The company expects to increase its payout at a 10% annual rate through 2024, making it an excellent renewable energy dividend stock. Its strong financial profile also allows it to make significant investments for the future.

The company launched its Real Zero plan in 2022 to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations by 2045. NextEra will significantly increase its solar energy production, maintain its nuclear energy fleet, and replace natural gas in its power plants with green hydrogen and renewable natural gas. These investments should boost its earnings while eliminating its emissions, producing a win-win outcome for shareholders and the planet.

5. TC Energy

TC Energy is one of the largest natural gas pipeline operators in North America. It has natural gas pipelines in the U.S., Mexico, and its home country of Canada. In addition, the company owns a premier liquids pipeline system, making it one of Canada's leading oil exporters. It’s also one of the country’s largest power producers and focuses on nuclear energy and renewables.

The company’s energy infrastructure assets generate relatively stable cash flows backed by fee-based contracts and regulated rates. This low-risk business model has proven to be highly durable as TC Energy generates steady cash flow in all market environments to support its dividend and expansion.

Meanwhile, the company has a conservative dividend payout ratio. It also has one of the top credit ratings in the pipeline sector. Those factors give it the financial flexibility to continue expanding its pipeline network and its dividend. They also make TC Energy one of the lower-risk companies in the energy sector.

How to invest in the energy sector

The energy sector is a challenging one for investors, especially oil and natural gas companies. Energy prices can change in a heartbeat. This volatility can have a massive impact on the sector, as well as on the global economy.

We’ve seen examples of the volatile market in recent years. Oil and natural gas prices plunged during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as demand dried up. However, they rebounded sharply in 2021 as consumption recovered. They continued their ascent in 2022, hitting new highs after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Because of the impact commodity price volatility can have on the energy sector, investors need to understand how to invest in energy stocks. That includes keeping risks in mind and not allocating too much of a portfolio to one energy stock or the entire industry. Investors should focus on oil and natural gas companies with the financial and operational strength to survive if industry conditions significantly deteriorate.

Factors that increase an energy company's durability include:

• A low-risk business model: For oil and natural gas producers, this means having diversified operations and low production costs. Meanwhile, energy infrastructure companies should have stable revenue with minimal exposure to fluctuations in volumes or pricing, such as operations supported by regulated rates or long-term fixed-fee contracts.
• A strong financial profile: Balance sheet factors to consider are a high investment-grade credit rating, lots of liquidity (cash on hand and borrowing capacity), and minimal near-term debt maturities. In addition, an energy company should have a conservative dividend payout ratio compared to its peers.
• Manageable capital spending programs primarily financed with post-dividend free cash flow and prudent use of debt.

Energy companies with these characteristics will be in a better position to withstand the inevitable cyclical downturns. That means they will still be around when market conditions improve. They will also have more flexibility than their weaker peers to capture opportunities that can create value for their investors.

More on the energy sector:

Energy stocks are important

The energy sector is vital to the global economy because it provides the fuel and power needed to drive trade and travel. However, when the economy slows, as it did during the pandemic, it can have a major impact on energy demand and prices. That can put significant weight on energy stock prices. Conversely, when the economy hits the accelerator, which happened in 2021, demand soars and usually takes prices up with it.

The best energy stocks to buy are those that can easily survive a downturn and thrive when market conditions improve. Energy stock investors should also consider focusing more attention on cleaner energy companies using renewable sources. A focus on renewables is especially important during the Biden administration given its pledge to put the country on a path toward an emissions-free future.