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The 4 Best Energy Stocks of 2017

While most energy stocks lost value this year, this quartet rose to the top and enriched investors in 2017.

This past year was an interesting one for the energy sector. Oil prices went on a wild ride, tumbling back into the low $40s this summer before roaring back into the upper $50s as the year drew to a close, with crude rising more than 7% on the year by mid-December. That rebound should have provided oil stocks with plenty of fuel to head higher this year. However, that hasn't proven to bewith their profits. Refiners tend to do well in years that oil companies don't because they benefit from lower oil prices, which was the case earlier in the year, when crude dropped. That's why it's often a good idea to own a refining stock in a portfolio that also has oil producers because it can help smooth out returns.

Author

Matthew is a Senior Energy and Materials Specialist with The Motley Fool. He graduated from the Liberty University with a degree in Biblical Studies and a Masters of Business Administration. You can follow him on Twitter for the latest news and analysis of the energy and materials industries: Follow @matthewdilallo