Investors are Still Buying Energy
ETF flows show that investors still like the energy sector – and so do we. We’ve been positive on the sector for more than a year and we believe many of the key drivers remain in place, especially supply and demand dynamics and inflation sensitivity. Energy can also be paired with a more defensive sector, such as health care or consumer staples, to help diversify the risk and potentially reduce portfolio volatility.
Energy ETF flows a major trend in 2022
The buying of energy sector ETFs across US, World and European exposures has been a major feature of ETF markets this year and last. Net inflows YTD total more than $2.6 billion, which offsets activity elsewhere, including large outflows from financials ETFs.1 While flows are now two-way, with a mix of buying and profit-taking, we can see from the volumes that it is still top of investors’ agendas.
Meanwhile, unique custody data from State Street shows that investors are still adding to their positions, even though they now have a large overweight position compared with any other time over the last five years. We provide an illustration of this positioning (and across all sectors) in our most recent Sector Compass Monthly Update.
Energy has been a SPDR Sector Pick for the past 12 months. Even after rise of 38% YTD,2 we believe the sector remains well-placed to outperform given the macroeconomic backdrop. Nevertheless, given that market concerns are now forming around stagflation, rather than simply inflation, we suggest looking at a barbell strategy to limit the volatility of just holding the energy sector alone.
Case for energy
The energy story is maturing from a short-term one, based mainly on oil and gas prices, to a long-term one driven by the need for energy security and help with transition.
Our original reasons for favouring the energy sector one year ago were:
- Oil and gas demand and supply dynamics supporting price strength
- Large earnings upgrades
- Capital discipline and excess cash
- Highest inflation sensitivity of any sector
- Low valuations
Our observation in June 2021 (using State Street custody data), that institutional investors and others were highly underweight, raised the likelihood of a “pain trade” given any rush to buy inflationary assets. However, as noted above, investors have now built up large overweights on average.
We believe these initial attractions of energy – based on fossil fuel demand and supply – remain in place. Indeed, while there are concerns over potential demand destruction for oil and gas products as prices rise, there are offsetting factors such as Chinese reopening and rebounding air travel. Meanwhile, supply capacity issues, which started with a lack of upstream capex over the past 10 years and were exacerbated by OPEC+ production compliance, have also evolved with Russian moves to limit gas flow and bans on Russian oil, including most recently with the EU banning all seaborne deliveries.
As the crude oil price stays above $100 and natural gas prices continue to surprise, improving company returns are driving strong earnings momentum, keeping valuations low and producing free cashflow close to all-time highs.
Looking ahead
In transitioning to a net zero scenario, fossil fuels would become a much smaller part of the energy mix. For a few years, nervous investors looked at issues of stranded assets and the need to curtail production as a reason to severely downgrade energy stocks. However, energy companies do have value in offering pragmatic solutions. They have experience in international, complex project management and therefore can be part of the solution.
Today’s free cashflow can accelerate the sector’s transition into low-carbon projects, such as hydrogen and biofuels, as well as broader carbon management through energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage. In a tighter financial market, where there is less funding for new or indebted independent power producers, there is more need and incentive for integrated energy companies to act.
We do not know when the value of carbon management projects will be recognised in share prices. Value will depend on how quickly transition scenarios are adopted and a lot relies on regulatory support to incentivise transition. In the meantime, countries’ desire for energy security will ensure that, as well as driving alternative sources of energy, there is less constraint around continuing to produce fossil fuels, although we hope it is contained.
Investing in energy
Macroeconomic dynamics support the energy sector across all regions. Nevertheless, the European energy sector stands out in terms of value and looks particularly interesting based on the SPDR Sector Momentum Map, which shows renewed momentum as well as continuing relative strength.
Adding health care or consumer staples
While energy plays to our key equity themes of inflation, value and high dividends, it is a volatile performer. This is one of the reasons that we have looked at strategies for combining the sector with others in a barbell approach. We are also now more concerned about stagflation, rather than pure inflation. Our latest paper, co-authored with Helene Veltman from State Street Global Advisors, takes a look at barbell baskets with health care and consumer staples to meet this scenario.
1-Year Excess Returns of US Sectors Relative to S&P 500 Index
How to access this theme
Investors looking to play the energy theme, or to take a barbell approach, can do so with SPDR ETFs. To learn more about these ETFs, and to view full performance histories, please click on the links below to visit their fund pages.
SPDR MSCI World Energy UCITS ETF
SPDR S&P U.S. Energy Select Sector UCITS ETF
SPDR MSCI Europe Energy UCITS ETF