JPMorgan: Why Doesn't Anyone Like Energy Stocks?

JPMorgan believes it is finally energy stocks’ time to shine, according to a recent article in Bloomberg.

“The U.S. energy industry features the second-worst performing group of stocks in the S&P 500 this year, up 5.3% compared with an advance of 19% for the broader gauge,” the article reports, adding, “That’s despite love from Wall Street analysts, attention from some Asian investors, and votes of confidence from the likes of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.”

The article cites comments from JPMorgan’s Dubvrako Lakos-Bujas, who recently wrote in a report, “Investor complacency toward energy is perplexing. The market should assign a structural premium to the equity-oil complex with the Middle East currently a geopolitical tinderbox.” The report adds that we are currently seeing “bearish extremes” between the sentiment and valuations for the sector and that institutional investors have “abandoned” it.

Still, Lakos-Bujas points out, insider purchases are at cycle highs, buyback announcements strong and dividends remain high: “Favorable technicals, improving fundamentals with stabilizing business cycle, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could help redirect flows into this universally hated and cheap sector.”