Sorting Out Oil ETFs; What To Buy With Oil North of $100 a Barrel

The worst-performing oil exchange traded fund (ETF) might be tops when distributions are factored in.

Hard Assets Investor for Seeking Alpha took a look at oil-focused ETFs and ETNs and noticed that the PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO) underperformed competing funds, as well as spot oil for the past year:

• PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO), up 53.8%
• United States Oil (USO), up 73.5%
• United States 12 Month Oil (USL), up 73.5%
• West Texas Immediate Spot, up 66.2%

It’s no slouch – it is in positive territory, after all. But holders of DBO received a distribution of $1.28 per share last December, meaning that on a total return basis, DBO is ahead of its peers, and is up 83%.

The distributions come from two sources:

1. A proprietary "optimum yield" roll methodology used by Deutsche Bank.
2. Interest earnings and gains passed to shareholders from the 3-month Treasury Bill market, which are used to collateralize the futures contracts in DBO’s portfolio.

But the tax question can’t be ignored: what benefits are still there when Uncle Sam comes calling? If this is a sector you’re considering, use your IRA or qualified plan.