Investing In Energy

By Cleveland Jernigan


Our natural resources and other sources of energy are something that people use and need every day. They power equipment in factories, run all electric and natural gas equipment in our homes, and natural resources are need to provide fuel for vehicles and airplanes. It is obvious why energy is important, and because it is something we all depend upon, it can also be a good investment for those interested in expanding their portfolio.

There are many types of energy investments. You can purchase stock in a specific energy company or invest in some type of energy mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund that concentrates its holding in the energy sector. There are advantages to each of these types of investments.

In general, purchasing stock can be a great way to earn a profit, although placing all of your money into a single company also can be a high-risk option. Sometimes you enjoy steady growth in your investment, but sometimes stocks can plummet and your investment value can be affected severely. Before you invest in the stock market, it is wise to speak with a trusted financial expert.

Funds, either mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), can be a safer investment in general. Mutual funds and ETFs are diversified investments, which means that rather than investing in one company, the shares you buy are invested in many different companies. This lowers the risk, but doesn't guarantee that you will make a profit. Funds typically don't have a high of a potential return on investment as buying stock in one company, but generally your losses will be far less significant.

While both ETFs and mutual funds are diversified and professionally managed, there are some differences. Because mutual funds have been around for many more years, the management of these funds is typically a bit better and there are more to choose from. ETFs are fairly new to the investment scene, but they offer some tax advantages, and the fees you pay when you sell are generally lower. In addition, the value of an ETF fluctuates during the hours of trading, so potentially you might enjoy a higher profit if you sell shares during trading. The value of the mutual fund, however, is fixed at the end of each trading day.

When you decide to invest, you can choose from hundreds of different funds and stocks. Some of the investments are in traditional sources of energy and natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. You also can consider investing in alternative fuel sources, such as solar power or wind power.

You also can invest in energy companies in a specific region. For example, you might find a China fund or Asia Pacific fund that concentrates its holdings in energy-related companies. Perhaps you would prefer to invest in the natural resources of Africa or South America. Of course, you can also invest in American energy companies as well. There is definitely something out there for every type of investor.




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