U.S. energy stocks and exchange traded funds are getting plenty of attention and deservedly so. Off its early February lows, the Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLE) has surged 14.5%.
And in recent days, a fair percentage (sometimes half or more) of the ETFs making new all-time highs have been energy ETFs, including XLE and a broad swath of competitors. [A Gem of an Energy ETF]
International energy funds have kept pace with their U.S.-focused rivals. The iShares Global Energy ETF (NYSEArca: IXC) is higher by nearly 15% since Feb. 3 while the SPDR S&P International Energy Sector ETF (NYSEArca: IPW) is up 15.7% over the same period.
The exposure to Shell and Total, the latter of which has been driving the France ETF higher this year, offered by IXC and IPW is important because those stocks have outperformed Dow components Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), the two largest U.S. oil companies. [Global Energy ETFs Beating Domestic Rivals]
Although energy stocks and ETFs have been in rally mode, there are reasons to consider sticking with the sector.
“In addition, S&P 500 Energy is pushing to new all-time highs with confirmation from the sector advance-decline line. The relative set-up for Energy is similar to that of October 2010, when the sector moved above its 13, 26, and 40-week relative moving averages and outperformed until April 2011,” said Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s technician Stephen Suttmeier.
Oil ETFs are rallying despite increased U.S. production. By some estimates, U.S. output this year will top the record set in 1972. In the fourth quarter of 2013, Texas alone accounted for 10% of global output.