Behind the Numbers, with Sam Stovall

It still may not be too late for investors to profit from the energy sector, according to S&P’s chief investment strategist, despite its outperformance of the S&P 500 in five of the last six years. “Long stretches of market outperformance are certainly not unheard of for energy stocks. In fact, the S&P Integrated Oil & Gas Sub-Industry index, bested the ’500′ nine straight years from 1972-1980,” Stovall recently wrote. “S&P currently has a positive fundamental outlook on the energy sector, which is projected to post an 11% year-over-year increase in operating earnings this year.” –Robert F. Keane