Commodity Earnings This Week: Oil, Potash, Gold, and More
As we enter the final stretch of earnings season, investors are beginning to make up their minds on where they think the economy is headed. We have seen a number of big wins as well as some big losses with a fair amount of companies warning of a subdued Q4 reflecting the impact of the U.S. government shutdown. Below, we outline some of the biggest commodity earnings set for this week [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Major Commodity Earnings This Week: Big Oil On Tap
As earnings season draws to a close, the commodity world will see, arguably, its most publicized week. The next five days will feature earnings from some of the biggest oil firms in the world, with a few other companies sprinkled in. Investors will be especially keen to see how the recent spike in oil prices has impacted these major producers. Below, we outline some of the most prominent commodity firms slated to report earnings this week [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Natural Gas: How To Play The Summer Comeback
It’s been an interesting time for investors in the natural gas space. As hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have become the extraction method of choice for E&P firms, production of the fuel has skyrocketed and led to a surplus of supply and high storage inventories. The huge surpluses have combined with slack demand for the fuel, causing prices to crater. At one point they were below $2 per MMBtu [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Natural Gas In 2013: The Bull And Bear Case
For investors in the natural gas sector it certainly has been a tug of war the last few years. Prices for the fuel surged from a low of $1.96 per million Btus in early 2002 to a peak of $15.78 back in 2005 as the U.S. was predicted to be in short supply of the fuel. Since that time, advances in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) as well as horizontal drilling have helped unlock a virtual ocean of the natural gas within U.S. borders. That abundance has completely changed the supply landscape and has resulted in massive inventories of the fuel [for more natural gas news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Examining Crude Oil’s Massive Dip
Prior to this week, crude oil had been on a tear, as it had steadily been gaining ground for quite some time. Between May and September the fossil fuel jumped up roughly 22%, as it had just gotten over a crushing blow that began in the beginning of 2012. But just as it looked like crude was making its way towards triple-digit figures, it got stopped in its tracks, as this commodity began tumbling this week. In just three days, this asset fell more than 7%, leaving many investors scratching their heads trying to figure out how it racked up such losses [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Five Plays In The Beaten Down Energy Sector
Sovereign debt worries in Europe are causing global economic growth trends to slow. This is bad news for the energy industry, which thrives when the business cycle is in full swing and demand for its oil, natural gas, and refined products, including fuel and industrial chemicals, is high. But in an attempt to buy low and sell high when market conditions improve, now might be a good time to consider investing in market leaders with reasonable valuations. Below are five stocks that present enticing plays in the beaten down energy sector.
The Ultimate Guide To Natural Gas Investing
Natural gas is a gas that consists primarily of methane and is widely used as an energy source around the world. The natural resource is important for the creation of fertilizers, and is now used to power a wide variety of applications including automobiles. Supplies of natural gas are concentrated in a few regions of the world, and the fuel has historically been the source of political disputes in Eastern Europe and the Middle East as well as in the U.S. The place of natural gas in the domestic energy equation has been widely discussed in recent years, with many advocating for increased adoption as an alternative to crude oil products [see also The Guide To The Biggest Companies In Every Major Commodity Sector].
