Energy stocks have struggled mightily so far in 2012, as soft demand for petroleum products and progress towards alternative sources of energy have weighed on this sector. Despite the recent challenges, allocations to energy stocks remain a key component of many investing strategies, and this sector is well represented in the portfolios of both buy-and-hold investors and more active tactical traders [see Energy Bull ETFdb Portfolio].
For those seeking to overweight energy stocks, there are a number of ETFs that offer exposure to this sector. The Energy Equities ETFdb Category consists of nearly 30 exchange-traded products, including domestic and international funds, as well as products targeting narrow segments of this market such as exploration and production, natural gas, and coal [see a list of all ETFdb Categories].
The Pro member download from the Energy Equity ETFdb Category page can be used to highlight the Energy Equity ETFs with the lowest expenses, highest dividend yields, and best historical performance [see a sample Excel download here; Pro members can download more than 60 ETFdb Category pages and 200 ETFdb Types pages with a free 7-day trial].
| Energy Equity ETFdb Category | |
|---|---|
| Number of ETFs | 29 |
| ER Range | 0.18% to 0.85% |
| Total Assets | $13.6 billion |
| As of June 4, 2012 | |
Cheapest Energy Equity ETFs
There is a wide range of expenses in this ETFdb Category; some funds charge as little as 18 basis points while others have expense ratios over 0.80% annually.
The cheapest energy equity ETF is the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) at 0.18%, followed by the Focus Morningstar Energy Index ETF (FEG) and Energy ETF (VDE) at 0.19%.
[Use the free ETF Screener to filter ETFs by sector and region exposure, as well as expenses and volume]
Commission Free Energy Equity ETFs
There are three ETFs in the Energy Equity ETFdb Category that are eligible for commission free trading, including:
- Focus Morningstar Energy Index ETF (FEG): Scottrade
- Energy ETF (VDE): Vanguard
- China Energy ETF (CHIE): E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers
Most Heavily Traded Energy Equity ETF
On an average day, the ETFs in the Energy Equity ETFdb Category trade more than 27 million shares. The most heavily traded ETF in this category is the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE), which has an average daily volume of about 15 million shares.
| Realtime Ratings: Energy ETFs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Top ETF | Rating |
| Liquidity | Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) | A+ |
| Expenses | Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) | A+ |
| Performance | Dynamic Energy (PXI) | A+ |
| Volatility | Focus Morningstar Energy Index ETF (FEG) | A+ |
| Dividend | Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH) | A+ |
| Concentration | MSCI Global Energy Producers Fund (FILL) | A+ |
[Get access to Realtime Ratings for 1,400+ ETFs with a free 7-day trial to ETFdb Pro]
Best Performing Energy Equity ETFs
The performance of energy equity ETFs is all over the board, especially during the last year. As of June 4, 2012, the best performing Energy Equity ETFs are as follows:
| Best Performers | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | Dynamic Energy (PXI) | -14.51% |
| 3 Years | Dynamic Energy (PXI) | +55.34% |
| 5 Years | Dynamic Energy (PXI) | +5.17% |
| As of 6/4/2012 | ||
Highest Yielding Energy Equity ETFs
Energy Equity ETFs aren’t generally known for high dividend payouts, but some products in this ETFdb Category have meaningful dividend yields (as of June 4, 2012):
Most Balanced Energy Equity ETFs
When comparing potential ETF investments, it is important to evaluate how deep and balanced the underlying portfolios are. Depth refers to how many individual securities comprise an ETF, while balance refers to how “top heavy” a product is–what percentage of assets are concentrated in the ten largest individual positions.
- Deepest Energy Equity ETF: The MSCI Global Energy Producers Fund (FILL) has approximately 300 individual holdings. The Energy GEMS ETF (OGEM), Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH), and S&P SmallCap Energy Portfolio (PSCE) are the “shallowest” ETFs, with 25 individual holdings.
- Most Balanced Energy Equity ETF: The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Explor & Product (XOP) has just 16.48% of its holdings in the top ten positions. At the other end of the spectrum, the Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH) has over 70% of assets in the top ten stocks.
Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.
ETF Database is not an investment advisor, and any content published by ETF Database does not constitute individual investment advice. The opinions offered herein are not personalized recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. From time to time, issuers of exchange-traded products mentioned herein may place paid advertisements with ETF Database. All content on ETF Database is produced independently of any advertising relationships. Read the full disclaimer here.
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