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What are the Best Tips for Investing in Oil?

Patrick Roland
Patrick Roland

Investing in oil can be a profitable endeavor for individuals who know the various ways to get involved. The best tips for getting into the field of oil include knowing the major ways of investing. For example, oil exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the easiest and most popular method of oil investing. Purchasing stock based on oil companies is another tip for getting involved in oil. Buying into an oil well is a more direct method of being a part of the oil business, but carries an increased amount of risk with it.

One tip for investing in oil is to get involved with ETFs. These are a variety of commodity trading tactics revolving around oil, especially in speculating on futures prices. ETFs are the simplest way to invest because a person only needs to contact a stock broker to begin purchasing. These can be also the least risky because investments are spread among futures, derivatives, and the spot price of oil, which stays relatively consistent even if the overall oil market rises or falls. Many nations also provide substantial tax breaks for investments including lower rates of taxation on capital gains.

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface.
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface.

Because ETFs are so steady, there is very little risk or reward in investing in oil that way. Individuals interested in reaping more benefits who are comfortable with increased risk can invest specifically in oil companies and oil exploration. This is as simple as purchasing stock for these companies through a broker or brokerage website. This kind of investing offers the potential for more financial gain, but investors need to closely monitor the value of these stocks because prices are known to fluctuate rapidly.

A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
A drill rig is used to drill for oil.

The most basic and risky way of investing in oil is to purchase part of, or an entire, oil well. There are opportunities to get involved with drilling for oil on private plots of land where oil is suspected to be present. Investments normally go toward the purchase, maintenance, and operation of drilling equipment. The investment only pays off if oil is discovered and sold from the well. This approach for investing in oil carries a great deal of risk, because there are no guarantees oil will be discovered when a well is started. Finding a well to invest in can also be tricky because it requires the investor to have the proper industry connections to companies or individuals involved in oil drilling.

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    • A pumpjack brings oil to the surface.
      By: Edelweiss
      A pumpjack brings oil to the surface.
    • A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
      By: lightmoon
      A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
    • Oil investors should stay abreast of any events that have affected oil transportation routes, such as a naval blockade or regulations that inhibit the movement of oil tankers.
      By: keller
      Oil investors should stay abreast of any events that have affected oil transportation routes, such as a naval blockade or regulations that inhibit the movement of oil tankers.