We recently published a list of 10 Best Oil and Gas Penny Stocks To Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) stands against the other best oil and gas penny stocks to buy.
The global oil and gas industry is witnessing a surge in investments, reflecting its resilience amidst an evolving energy landscape. Despite growing attention toward renewable energy sources, the demand for oil and gas remains robust, driven by the ever-increasing needs of both developed and developing economies. As the world’s appetite for energy intensifies, so does the necessity for sustained capital investment in the oil and gas sector.
According to the Upstream Oil and Gas Investment Outlook, a report by the International Energy Forum and S&P Global Commodity Insights, annual upstream investments must increase by $135 billion to reach $738 billion by 2030 to ensure a stable supply. This figure represents a 15% rise compared to estimates from a year ago and is 41% higher than projections made two years ago. This escalation is attributed to rising production costs and an improved demand outlook. The report indicates that a cumulative $4.3 trillion will be needed for upstream investments between 2025 and 2030, even as demand growth plateaus.
The rise in upstream capital expenditures, which grew by $63 billion year-on-year in 2023 and is expected to increase by another $26 billion in 2024, has placed the annual investment level above $600 billion for the first time in a decade. Notably, North America is expected to be a significant contributor to this growth, accounting for a third of the spending in 2024. However, Latin America is emerging as a vital player in the global supply chain, poised to become the largest source of incremental capital expenditure growth in 2024, surpassing North America for the first time in two decades. The region’s prominence is set to continue through 2030, particularly in conventional crude projects, with substantial expansions planned in Brazil and Guyana. These developments underscore the ongoing importance of the Americas in the global oil and gas supply chain.
The industry’s improved investment landscape is also driven by factors such as resilient production in regions like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, despite geopolitical challenges. Additionally, non-OPEC supply has exceeded expectations, and spare production capacity has been restored. Nevertheless, the risk of underinvestment and potential supply shortages could resurface if commodity prices, geopolitical dynamics, or environmental regulations shift significantly.
Meanwhile, OPEC remains a crucial player in maintaining market stability. In an address to the International Chamber of Commerce in Vienna, Dr. Hasan M. Qabazard, Director of the Research Division at OPEC, emphasized the organization’s commitment to ensuring energy security and meeting future demand. He highlighted that while energy prices have been volatile, the global economy has shown resilience, and market stability remains a top priority. OPEC’s strategy aims to balance the supply and demand dynamics, ensuring that oil continues to play a vital role in the energy mix for decades to come.
The current environment presents a promising opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on the resurgence of the oil and gas sector, particularly in the penny stock category. While penny stocks are often associated with higher risk due to their low price and smaller market capitalization, they also offer substantial upside potential. Many companies in this category are well-positioned to benefit from the increasing capital inflow into the industry, making them attractive options for investors seeking exposure to the oil and gas markets at a relatively low entry point.
Our Methodology
For this article, we used the Finviz screener and identified 20 stocks in the oil and gas sector having Buy or Buy-equivalent ratings from analysts and with share prices under $5, as of September 27. Next, we examined Insider Monkey’s data on 912 hedge funds as of Q2 2024. We narrowed down our list to 10 stocks most widely held by institutional investors and ranked them in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them as of Q2 of 2024.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A row of fuel pumps at a fueling station, displaying the magnitude of the energy revolution.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Share Price: $3.10
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) is a leading provider of natural gas as alternative fuels for vehicle fleets and offers comprehensive fueling solutions across the United States and Canada. The company supplies renewable natural gas (RNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for medium and heavy-duty vehicles and provides operation and maintenance services for public and private vehicle fleet customer stations. Additionally, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) designs and builds vehicle fueling stations, and it also sells compressors and other equipment related to RNG production. The company serves various sectors such as heavy-duty trucking, airports, public transit, and industrial energy users.
As of Q2 2024, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) has seen a rise in hedge fund interest, with the number of hedge fund holders increasing to 24, up from 20 in the previous quarter, indicating increased institutional confidence in the company.
During the second quarter of 2024, Clean Energy reported strong financial results, with a year-over-year growth in revenue to $98 million from $90 million in Q2 2023. The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $18.9 million, a significant improvement from $12 million during the same period last year. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) sales of RNG, which stood at 57 million gallons in Q2, demonstrate the company’s growing footprint in the renewable fuels sector. The firm’s cash and investments at the end of the quarter totaled nearly $250 million, highlighting its robust liquidity position.
One of the key achievements in Q2 was the expansion of the Boron facility, California’s only natural gas liquefaction plant, which boosted its capacity by 50%. This strategic move is expected to cater to the increasing LNG demand, particularly from the commercial maritime industry. Moreover, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) partnership with Amazon to build 19 publicly accessible fueling stations has attracted other fleets, contributing to higher recurring revenue at improved margins.
The company also continues to strengthen its infrastructure across North America, with more than 600 fueling stations. A recent partnership with Tourmaline, Canada’s largest independent gas producer, aims to establish a network of RNG fueling stations in Western Canada. With the industry embracing RNG and new technologies like Cummins X15N engine, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing trend toward decarbonizing heavy-duty transportation, making it a compelling pick in the oil and gas penny stock segment.
Overall CLNE ranks 3rd on our list of best oil and gas penny stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of CLNE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CLNE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.