We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Energy Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) stands against the other energy stocks.
In an interview on October 3 with CNBC, Andy Critchlow, who serves as the head of news for the EMEA region at S&P Global Commodity Insights, discussed the current state of the oil market and the potential implications of various geopolitical events on oil prices.
Critchlow noted that the oil market is facing “dangerous times” due to a high level of geopolitical risk and that it’s hard for anyone in that market to gauge the direction of the market. However, he pointed out that this geopolitical uncertainty has not yet been reflected in the price of oil, despite events between Israel and Iran and numerous attacks on oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz over the past two years. The price of oil has not surged significantly and there is no geopolitical risk premium as oil still is currently trading at less than $75 per barrel.
Critchlow also discussed the potential impact of a disruption to Iranian oil supplies, which account for around 4% of global supply. He noted that any attack on Iranian oil facilities or refineries could have a significant knock-on effect in the region. However, Critchlow noted that the market is looking ahead to next year and the potential for an excessive supply, there is already an idled supply of 5.6 million barrels per day on the sidelines.
According to Critchlow, the oil market is also challenged by supply and demand imbalances and the potential for a price war between OPEC+ members is a real concern. Critchlow commented on recent comments from the Saudi Energy Minister on October 2, who warned of the potential for $50 oil if OPEC+ members don’t stick to agreed-upon production limits. Critchlow interpreted this as a veiled threat, suggesting that Saudi Arabia may be prepared to start a price war if other members of the OPEC+ alliance do not comply with production cuts.
According to Critchlow, Russian crude was displaced from its traditional European markets and flowed into China and India, which are some of the biggest drivers for the oil market. These were the markets that Saudi Arabia effectively owned with its major Gulf partners in OPEC and that is why Saudi’s market has been squeezed in its core markets by Russia.
While the current price of oil remains relatively stable, the underlying risks and challenges suggest that a significant shift in the market could be on the horizon. With that in context let’s take a look at the 10 best energy stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
An open pit mine with a large yellow excavator machine with tailings visible in the background, illustrating the uranium extraction process.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best energy stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest energy companies. We then narrowed our choices to 10 stocks according to their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from our database of 912 elite hedge funds as of Q2 of 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, as of the second quarter.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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).
Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 60
Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) is a leader in uranium production, boasting a significant presence in Canada’s Athabasca Basin through its Cigar Lake and McArthur River mines. The company operates under an integrated business model that includes uranium refining, conversion, and fuel manufacturing. Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) has established itself as a major player in the nuclear fuel cycle. Additionally, the company is actively involved in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) holds a 40% stake in the Inkai deposit in Kazakhstan, the largest uranium deposit in the world, which serves as a substantial source of uranium production. The nuclear industry is experiencing growth driven by increasing global demand for clean and reliable energy, and Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend. With its diversified operations, strategic partnerships, and expertise in the nuclear fuel cycle, the company is an attractive player in the market. Government policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and addressing rising electricity needs are expected to drive up uranium prices, benefiting Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) due to its significant uranium reserves and production capacity.
Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ) anticipates delivering between 32 and 34 million pounds of uranium in 2024, which represents a 1.5% increase compared to the previous year. The company’s extensive expertise in uranium mining and conversion places it in a strong position to take advantage of the increasing demand for nuclear energy. Aristotle Capital Management highlighted Cameco (NYSE:CCJ) in its Q2 investor letter:
“Cameco Corporation (NYSE:CCJ), one of the world’s largest publicly traded uranium producers, was the top contributor during the period. Support from governments and policymakers for nuclear energy has continued to increase in 2024 as countries realize it can play a crucial role in both promoting energy security and lowering dependence on fossil fuels to meet environmental goals. With higher demand for uranium across the world, Cameco’s production was up more than 25% year-over-year, and its long-term supply contracts have increased (annual commitments now standing at 28 million pounds per year through 2028). We view these fundamental improvements as further proof Cameco is making progress on our catalyst of increasing its uranium volume sold at higher prices, all while lowering production costs through scale and its access to some of the highest-grade ore on the planet. In addition, we believe the company’s continued integration of Westinghouse Electric Company’s market-leading downstream capabilities will allow it to offer a highly competitive nuclear fuel solution. In our opinion, this puts Cameco on track to enjoy higher levels of FREE cash flow and the ability to de-risk its balance sheet as it meets global energy needs.”
Overall CCJ ranks 7th on our list of the oversold tech stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of CCJ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that 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 CCJ but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA ‘Has Become A Wasteland’.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.