You don’t have to be a Pennsylvania farmer (or a Texas rancher) to get in on the shale boom. Plenty of publicly traded stocks let you do just that. But before investing, be aware of the perils: the political risk created by the controversy over fracking, the chance that production estimates may be overstated (something that the Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly looking into), and the possibility that natural gas prices will stay at current low levels.
SEE ALSO: Cash In on the Natural Gas Shale Boom
Still interested? Start with Chesapeake Energy (symbol CHK, $30), the 800-pound gorilla of shale (share prices are as of September 9). Its massive network of land brokers has amassed huge leaseholds in the Marcellus, Haynesville, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Utica formations. The Utica Shale rock layer is promising because, in addition to ordinary natural gas, it has oil and natural gas liquids, a more energy-efficient variant of natural gas that commands a higher price.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Ultra Petroleum (UPL, $31) has sizable assets in Wyoming’s Pinedale field and in the Marcellus region. The buzz is that Ultra could be next in a spate of gas companies to be taken over. National Fuel Gas (NFG, $58) is also a big player in the Marcellus region, and additional capacity in its pipeline and gas-storage businesses will boost revenues starting next year.
Service firms provide the picks and shovels for the gas gold rush. Standard & Poor’s recommends Schlumberger (SLB, $72), whose HiWay fracking system aims to improve production and efficiency, and Halliburton (HAL, $40), whose CleanSuite technology seeks to ameliorate fracking’s environmental impact by, for instance, reducing the need for fresh water.
Income seekers can buy master limited partnerships. EV Energy Partners (EVEP, $74) buys and operates oil-and-gas properties. Its shares, which yield 4.1%, do not reflect the potential windfall of its Utica acreage, say bullish analysts at Raymond James & Associates. Williams Partners (WPZ, $53), with a 5.3% yield, focuses on gas transportation and processing.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Step Back From New HighsInvestors, traders and speculators continue the low-volume summer grind against now-familiar uncertainties.
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on the New Senior DeductionAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Berkshire Hathaway Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayBerkshire Hathaway is a long-time market beater, but the easy money in BRK.B has already been made.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Procter & Gamble Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayProcter & Gamble stock is a dependable dividend grower, but a disappointing long-term holding.
-
My Three-Day Rule for Investing: And If it Applies NowStock Market I've seen a lot in my career. Here's what I see now in the stock market.
-
Is It Time to Invest in Europe?Stock Market Europe is being shaken out of its lethargy, militarily and otherwise, by Donald Trump's changes in U.S. policy. Should investors start buying?
-
Why Is Warren Buffett Selling So Much Stock?Berkshire Hathaway is dumping equities, hoarding cash and making market participants nervous.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Google Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayGoogle parent Alphabet has been a market-beating machine for ages.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Retreat Ahead of Nvidia EarningsMarkets lost ground on light volume Wednesday as traders keyed on AI bellwether Nvidia earnings after the close.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Edge Higher With Nvidia Earnings in FocusNvidia stock gained ground ahead of tomorrow's after-the-close earnings event, while Super Micro Computer got hit by a short seller report.
