A top ETF for each of the five sectors

A key rule of our three-part Successful Investor strategy is to spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; and Utilities).
This has two main benefits: a) It keeps you from… Read More

Chevron may cancel Hess deal

CHEVRON CORP. $155 is a buy. The integrated oil producer (New York symbol CVX; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.9 billion; Market cap: $294.5 billion; Dividend yield: 4.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.chevron.com) raised your quarterly dividend by 7.9% with the March 2024 payment. Investors… Read More

Cut your oil risk with Chevron

We recommend that most investors maintain some exposure to the oil and gas industry as part of a balanced portfolio. That’s mainly because it offers a hedge (some protection) against inflation.
To further cut your risk, you should focus mainly on high-quality producers, like Chevron, with… Read More

Q: Pat, I’m thinking of increasing my oil and gas exposure. Do you recommend either the XLE ETF or VDE ETF (each a basket of U.S. energy companies) as a way to do that? Thank you.

A: We still feel that investors will profit the most with a well-balanced portfolio of high-quality individual stocks, but ETFs can also play a role in a portfolio. Here’s a look at the ETFs you’ve asked about:

Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF, $83.70, symbol XLE on… Read More

We agree with Elliott on these two

Activist investor Elliott Investment Management is now targeting two firms it feels could boost shareholder value with asset sales or spinoffs. We agree with its proposals, and see both stocks as attractive buys.
CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. $117 is a buy. The company (New York symbol CCI; Manufacturing… Read More