Chevron
This energy giant is a solid play for investors who are more conservative and looking to be positioned in the sector. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) is a U.S.-based integrated oil and gas company with worldwide operations in exploration and production, refining and marketing, transportation, and petrochemicals. The company sports a sizable dividend and has a solid place in natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
With the strongest financial base of the majors, coupled with an attractive relative asset base, many on Wall Street feel that Chevron offers the most straightforwardly positive risk/reward. Although current conditions do not warrant a large focus on production growth, Chevron possesses numerous medium-term drivers that should support production levels in the coming years.
Chevron posted strong first-quarter results and remains one of the best ways to play energy safely.
Shareholders receive a 4.01% dividend. UBS recently started coverage with a $212 target price. Chevron stock has a consensus target of $188.12, and shares closed on Wednesday at $150.62.
Enterprise Products Partners
This is the largest publicly traded energy partnership and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) provides a wide variety of midstream energy services, including gathering, processing, transportation and storage of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation, import and export terminaling, and offshore production platform services.
One reason many analysts may have a liking for the stock might be its distribution coverage ratio. This ratio is well above 1 times, making it relatively less risky among the master limited partnerships.
Enterprise Products Partners stock comes with a 7.75% distribution. The $33 J.P. Morgan price target compares with a $32.22 consensus target and Wednesday’s close at $25.33.
Shell
This European energy giant offers investors size and strength. Shell PLC (NYSE: SHEL) operates as an energy and petrochemical company in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere.
Shell explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. It markets and transports oil and gas, produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products, and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, LNG, crude oil, electricity and carbon-emission rights, and it markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels.
In addition, the company trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such low-carbon fuels, lubricants, bitumen, sulfur, gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel and marine fuel. It produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use, and it manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals, comprising ethylene, propylene and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol.
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