Best YTD Performance in the XLE

Published on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 18:56 Written by J Hawk

New York, February 28^th (TradersHuddle.com) – The following are the stocks In the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE: XLE) that have demonstrated the best performance so far this year as of yesterday’s stock market close.

Denbury Resources, Inc. – Up 37.6 Percent YTD

The top performing energy stock was Denbury Resources, Inc.  as of February 27th‘s stock market close (NYSE: DNR).

Denbury Resources Inc. is an oil and gas production and exploration firm that operates in the United States’ Gulf Coast region and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.  Just last week, the firm announced record fourth quarter adjusted net income of $175 million, or earnings of $0.45 per diluted share, and record quarterly revenue of $612 million.

Denbury Resources’ share price closed at the $15.10 level on December 30^th of 2011, and as of February 27th, 2012, it was up 37.6 percent thus far on the year to close at the $20.77 level. 

Noble Corporation – Up 28.7 Percent YTD

As of February 27th‘s stock market close, the second top performing energy stock was Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE).

Noble Corporation is an oil and gas offshore drilling contractor. In late January, the company reported Q4 2011 earnings of $127 million, or earnings of $0.50 per diluted share, up from the $99 million reported for Q4 2010. In addition, the firm’s Q4 revenues from contract drilling services rose to $720 million from Q3’s $705 million and the $614 million reported for 2010’s fourth quarter.

Noble Corporation’s share price closed at the $30.22 level on December 30^thof 2011. At the market close on February 27th, 2012, the stock was up 28.7 percent thus far on the year to the $38.88 level. 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation – Up 28.2 Percent YTD

The third stock in the list of five top performing energy stocks as of February 27th‘s stock market close is Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC).

Marathon Petroleum is the fifth largest U.S. refiner or crude oil, and it supplies gas and distillates to retail outlets and consumers, operating mainly in the Midwestern, Southeastern and Gulf Coast regions of the United States. The firm recently had a tender offer from TRC capital for up to two million of its shares, and Marathon recently launched a $850 million accelerated share repurchase plan as part of a larger $2 billion program.

Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s stock price was trading at the $33.29 level at the close on December 30^th of 2011, and as of February 27th, 2012, it was up 28.2 percent thus far on the year to the $42.67level. 

Rowan Companies, Inc. – Up 27.4 Percent YTD

The fourth top performing energy stock was Rowan Companies, Inc. as of February 27th‘s stock market close (NYSE: RDC).

Rowan Companies, Inc. provides contract drilling services and manufactures drilling, mining and lumbering equipment. The firm just announced a drop in its Q4 net income in 2012 from continuing operations to $33.1 million, or $0.27 per share, versus the $35.1 million, or $0.28 per share, the company reported in 2010’s fourth quarter. Nevertheless, its quarterly revenues rose by 32 percent to $275.1 million compared with 2010.

Rowan Companies’ share price closed at the $30.33 level on December 30^th of 2011, and as of February 27th, 2012, it was up 27.4 percent thus far on the year to close at the $38.63 level. 

Pioneer Natural Resources Company – Up 27.3 Percent YTD

The final stock listed among the top five performing energy stocks as of February 27th‘s stock market close is Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD).

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. is Dallas, Texas based oil and gas production and exploration firm that operates in the United States, Tunisia and South Africa.  In early February, the firm reported a net loss for Q4 2012 of $111 million, or a loss of $0.93 per diluted share, and it also announced it would sell its South African business in the first half of 2012.

Pioneer Natural Resources’ share price closed at the $89.48 level on December 30^th of 2011.  As of February 27th, 2012, the stock was up 27.3 percent so far on the year to close at the $113.91 level.