Best Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Since 1980, the federal government has had a ban on any oil and gas development on the Atlantic coast. But the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management just announced that it will be auctioning offshore leases off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in July. If there is a ban on oil production, then why sell these assets? Well, the leases aren't actually for oil; they're for wind power.�

Let's take a quick look at what BOEM has in store with this auction and how moves like this could change the outlook for wind power.

Setting course for the high seas
In July, BOEM will be executing the very first offshore auction of federal land for wind power. The auction will consist of about 165,000 acres in the Atlantic Ocean between Martha's Vineyard and Block Island. Once fully developed, the entire block should be capable of about 3,400 Megawatts of electricity, about 25% of the total wind capacity that was installed in 2012.

While this will be the first auction for wind power in federal lands, it's not the first time offshore wind has made a splash in the United States. For the past few years, the private project Cape Wind has attempted to build 468 MW of wind power in between the Massachusetts mainland and Nantucket island. The U.S. government has also granted a 96,000-acre permit to NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG  ) for its Bluewater wind project off the coast of Delaware. While neither project has started construction yet, both hope to get construction started by the end of this year to take advantage of the federal tax credits for new wind construction that will potentially expire in December. �

Best Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Apache Corporation(APA)

Apache Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. The company has exploration and production interests in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast, east Texas, the Permian basin, the Anadarko basin, and the Western Sedimentary basin of Canada; and onshore Egypt, offshore Western Australia, offshore the United Kingdom in the North Sea, and onshore Argentina, as well as on the Chilean side of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Apache Corporation sells its natural gas to local distribution companies, utilities, end-users, integrated oil and gas companies, and marketers; and crude oil to integrated oil companies, marketing and transportation companies, and refiners. As of December 31, 2009, it had total estimated proved reserves of 1,067 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids, as well as 7.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The company was founded in 1954 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Jennings]

  If approved by Mexico's state legislatures, the law will give oil and gas companies such as Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Apache Corp (NYSE: APA), BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) access to the largest unexplored oil fields south of the Arctic Circle.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Independent oil and gas exploration and production company Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) announced after markets closed on Thursday that it had launched a global strategic partnership with a subsidiary of Chinese oil giant Sinopec in order to ��ursue joint upstream oil and gas projects.��The first deal in this new joint venture will be a payment of $3.1 billion in cash from Sinopec to Apache in exchange for one-third of Apache�� Egyptian oil and gas business.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Breakeven prices for gas producers
  With gas prices currently above $4.25 per MMBtu, the companies most likely to resume or commence gas drilling are the ones that can turn a profit at those prices -- low-cost producers, in other words. According to an analysis by Wells Fargo, Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL  ) , Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) , Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN  ) , and Apache (NYSE: APA  ) were among the industry's lowest-cost producers last year.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Oil and gas exploration company�Apache� (NYSE: APA  ) will pay a second-quarter dividend of $0.20 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 17% from $0.17 per share, the company announced today.

Best Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Solar Inc.(FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. manufactures and sells solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology. It also designs, constructs, and sells photovoltaic solar power systems. The company?s solar modules employ a thin layer of semiconductor material to convert sunlight into electricity. Its integrated solar power systems activities include the project development; engineering, procurement, and construction services; operating and maintenance services; and project finance. The company sells solar modules to project developers, system integrators, and operators of renewable energy projects; and solar power systems to investor owned utilities, independent power developers and producers, and commercial and industrial companies, as well as other system owners. It operates in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and internationally. The company was formerly known as First Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to First Solar, Inc. in 2006. First Solar was founded in 1999 a nd is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  After years of cheap natural gas eating photovoltaic�� lunch, solar stocks are back with a vengeance. Already, we��e seen better earnings from a host of hot solar stocks like First Solar (FSLR) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ). And now, its smaller solar stock ReneSola�� turn (SOL) … and SOL stock may just surprise investors.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The Energy Strategist Portfolio Update

  First Solar Goes Supernova
  
  Home runs don’t come easily in this business, in part because of the natural temptation to lock in quick gains. This strategy for coping with good fortune, known in scholarly work as disposition bias, can be quite costly, because it rids portfolios of the best-performing, highest-momentum stocks soon after their merits have become more apparent. It’s a great way to turn home runs into doubles.
  
  Don’t make that mistake with First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) following the stock’s 18 percent rally Friday in the aftermath of an uncommonly strong earnings report. With today’s 4 percent follow-through, shares are up 67 percent since we recommended purchase on Aug. 28.
  
  The headline numbers included a 50 percent year-over-year revenue jump accompanied by a near-doubling of net earnings to $1.94 per share, while the pro-forma $2.28 per share more than doubled Wall Street’s consensus. First Solar has consistently warned that its results will be lumpy, and this time the lumps proved sweet thanks to the disposal of some projects as well as the first infusion of recognized revenue from a big solar project under construction in California’s Riverside county.
  
  One might further quibble that an annual review lowering the estimated costs of First Solar’s program for recycling obsolete panels from its projects boosted operating earnings by $49 million, or 24 percent.
  
  But the numbers really worth paying attention to are those that prompted us to add the stock to the Growth Portfolio in the first place. These start with First Solar’s rapid marginal improvement in the conversion efficiency ratio of the cadmium-telluride film coating its panels, which gives the share of the available energy they are able to convert into usable power. The ratio reached 13.3 percent by the last quarter’s end, up from 13 percent three months earlier a
• [By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  It's been a heck of a year for First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) . After a hefty jump in stock price following an uptick in guidance, now the company is making big sales to add to it. This week, First Solar sold 139 megawatts of generation capacity to utility giant Southern (NYSE: SO  ) , the largest solar purchase in Southern's history. While this certainly adds to the case for First Solar, it also gives more credibility to the entire solar industry.

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  First Solar Inc. (FSLR) �shares rose 4.2%. Last week, the solar-panel maker said it bought a 250 megawatt AC photovoltaic Moapa Solar Project in Nevada. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Best Biotech Stocks To Own For 2014: ATP Oil And Gas Corp (AOB)

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, incorporated in 1991, is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated net proved reserves of 118.9 Million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 75.9 MMboe (64%) were in the Gulf of Mexico and 42.9 MMBoe (36%) were in the North Sea. The reserves consisted of 78.6 Million barrels (MMBbls) of oil (66%) and 241.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas (34%). Its proved reserves in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico account for 62% of the Company�� total proved reserves and its proved reserves on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf account for 2% of its total proved reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired three licenses in the Mediterranean Sea covering potential natural gas resources in the deepwater off the coast of Israel (East Mediterranean). On August 17, 2012, ATP Oil And Gas Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Company�� natural gas reserves are split between the Gulf of Mexico (57%) and the North Sea (43%). Of its total proved reserves, 8.3 MMBoe (7%) were producing, 19.0 MMBoe (16%) were developed and not producing and 91.6 MMBoe (77%) were undeveloped. The Company�� average working interest in its properties at December 31, 2011, was approximately 81%. The Company operates 92% of its platforms. At December 31, 2011, in the Gulf of Mexico, it owned leasehold and other interests in 38 offshore blocks and 49 wells, including 23 subsea wells. The Company operates 43 (88%) of these wells, including 100% of the subsea wells. In the North Sea, it also had interests in 13 blocks and two Company-operated subsea wells. As of March 15, 2011, the Company owned an interest in 13 platforms, including two floating production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the ATP Titan at its Telemark Hub and the ATP Innovator at its Gomez Hub. It operates the ATP Innovator and the ATP Titan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Emerson]

  Most of the Chinese companies that I purchased now reside on the Pink Sheets or have disappeared altogether, but at one time they all traded on major US exchanges. One of them (AOB), even received the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 2007, and people say that crime does not pay.

Best Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Spire Corporation(SPIR)

Spire Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered products and services in the areas of PV solar, biomedical, and optoelectronics. It offers specialized equipment for the production of terrestrial photovoltaic modules from solar cells; and photovoltaic systems for application to powering buildings with connection to the utility grid, as well as supplies photovoltaic materials. It also provides surface treatments to manufacturers of orthopedic, cardiovascular, and other medical devices; and performs sponsored research programs into practical applications of biomedical and biophotonic technologies. In addition, the company offers custom compound semiconductor foundry and fabrication services to customers involved in biomedical/biophotonic instruments, telecommunications, and defense applications. Its services comprise compound semiconductor wafer growth, other thin film processes, and related device processing. Further, the company provides materials testing s ervices; and performs services in support of sponsored research into practical applications of optoelectronic technologies. The company offers its products primarily through its sales personnel in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Spire Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Best Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Halcon Resources Corp (HK)

Halcon Resources Corporation (Halcon Resources), incorporated on February 5, 2004, is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The Company has oil and natural gas reserves located primarily in Texas, North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Montana. On August 1, 2012, the Company acquired GeoResources by merger. On December 6, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of entities owning approximately 81,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations primarily located in Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie and Dunn Counties, North Dakota (the Williston Basin Assets), from Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. and Pillar Energy, LLC (the Petro-Hunt parties). As of December 31, 2012, the Company has working interests in approximately 128,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations in North Dakota and Montana.

The Company�� Woodbine / Eagle Ford acreage is prospective for the Woodbine, Eagle Ford and other formations, with targeted depths ranging anywhere from 7,000 feet to 10,400 feet. As of December 31, 2012, The Company has approximately 198,000 net acres leased or under contract primarily in Leon, Madison, Grimes, Brazos, and Polk Counties, Texas. The Company is the operator and has a 100% working interest in more than 12,000 net acres in Wichita and Wilbarger Counties, Texas that it is actively water flooding in shallow Cisco aged Pennsylvania sandstone and limestone reservoirs. As of December 31, 2012, the Company produced 484 million barrels of oil equivalent from approximately 700 active producing wells and approximately 230 active water injection wells.

The Company�� position in the La Copita Field covers 3,720 gross acres and 2,829 net acres in Starr County, Texas. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� average net daily production was 623 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Company operates 100% of this production a! nd its working interest ranges from 75% to 100%. The Company has various other oil and natural gas properties with varying working interests located across the United States, including the Austin Chalk Trend and Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, the Fitts-Allen Fields in Central Oklahoma, and various other areas across South Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Haigh]

  Hong Kong�� Hang Seng Index yesterday rose past 24,000 for the first time since April 2011, before declining 0.1 percent at the close. Equities traded in the city will extend their rally on optimism about China�� biggest package of policy changes since the 1990s and a stronger global economy, according to investors from JPMorgan Asset Management to Pictet Asset Management (HK) Ltd.

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Among holdings in which Tocqueville increased its stake were Molycorp (NYSE: MCP  ) and Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK  ) . Molycorp has been struggling in a tough environment and recently worried investors with a surprisingly large share offering and debt issuance. (Some worry about further capital needs, too, and worry about it running out of money before the market for its rare-earth minerals turns around.) Still, for those who can accept considerable risk and volatility, there's some promise in Molycorp, in part because of its acquisition of Neo Materials Technologies and its potential to become a powerful low-cost producer.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Soar higher with this oil stock
  Oil and gas driller Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK  ) is another that's being built by a team with experience in selling a company. In Halcon's case, CEO Floyd Wilson built Petrohawk Energy and sold it to BHP Billiton� (NYSE: BHP  ) for $15 billion. BHP, which was looking for a way to put its massive war chest to use and was able to snap up great assets and technical know-how to develop shale gas resources.�

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  EOG isn't the only company improving upon its methods to achieve better returns in the play.�Halcon Resources� (NYSE: HK  ) has experienced early positive results from updates it made to its Bakken drilling operations. Initial production results were improved in just the first two months of the project, with two wells seeing initial production rates increase by 20%, while a third well experienced an initial production rate that was 37% higher. Its success in the Bakken is the main reason behind the company's decision to spend about 38% of its capital budget on the play this year, which equates to about $475 million to drill 75 operated wells.