Cut your oil risk with these three producers

Article Excerpt

Despite a recent decision by OPEC to cut production, crude oil prices are still down about 10% since the start of 2023. That’s largely due to slowing economic growth in China, even after lifting most COVID-19 restrictions. High interest rates have also increased fears of a slowdown in the U.S. and other developed countries. We feel all investors should maintain some exposure to the oil sector. We also prefer integrated producers such as these three, as low oil prices boost earnings at their refining operations. What’s more, their improving balance sheets let them return more cash to investors through dividend hikes and share buybacks. SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $39 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol SU; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $50.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.0; Dividend yield: 5.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil firm, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. It also operates four refineries (three in Canada and one in Colorado). Suncor…