2011 Best Oil Stock to buy to Make More Money-Part 1

Simple math shows that the world’s energy needs are rising – even with the entrance of electric cars into the North American market.  Individual stock investors are wise to have some exposure to this sector of the energy market. Here are the best oil stocks to buy to make good money:

1. Suncor (TSX: SU)

Suncor is another solid management team with steady, if not spectacular, growth prospects projected ahead.  They recently acquired Canada’s #2 gasoline company, Petro-Canada, which owned a large number of gas stations throughout the country.. 

Suncor Energy Inc. is a growing, integrated energy company, strategically focused on developing one of the world’s largest petroleum resource basins – Canada’s Athabasca oil sands. Suncor Energy (SU:TSX) is one of Canada's premier integrated energy companies. Suncor's operations include oil sands development and upgrading, conventional and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand (Annual Report 2009). Suncor's common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

Currently Suncor's stock price is trading close to its mid-point in the 52 week time range. It's last closing price was recorded at $34.32. Its 52 week low price was $27.44 and it's 52 week high price was $40.79.

 2. Encana (TSX: ECA)

Encana has been described as one of the “bluest of the blue-chips.”  Its focus is unconventional oil and gas with strengths in clean energy production, although it is weighted to natural gas.  However, it has the second-largest market cap of any Canadian oil company.  EnCana is a leading oil and gas producer in North America, where the company's primary focus is on the development of resource plays and the in-situ recovery of oilsands bitumen.

3. Imperial Oil (TSX: IMO)

Imperial Oil has not been getting as much attention lately, but is still clearly a major player rounding out the profile of the largest Canadian oil companies.  Imperial has not only consistently won awards for being one of Canada’s top employers, but they actively work to improve their environmental record.  The dividends are meagre, however. But the management team is considered solid, and if you can call an oil company “blue-chip,” this is as close as they get. Imperial Oil Limited was incorporated under the laws of Canada in 1880. It is an integrated oil company. It is active in all phases of the petroleum industry in Canada, including the exploration for, and production and sale of, crude oil and natural gas. The Company's operations are conducted in three main segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical. Upstream operations include the exploration for, and production of, conventional crude oil, natural gas, upgraded crude oil and heavy oil. Downstream operations consist of the transportation, refining and blending of crude oil and refined products and the distribution and marketing thereof. The Chemical operations consist of the manufacturing and marketing of various petrochemicals. The Company owns and operates four refineries. Two of these, the Sarnia refinery and the Strathcona refinery, have lubricating oil production facilities. The Strathcona refinery processes Canadian crude oil, and the Dartmouth, Sarnia and Nanticoke refineries process a combination of Canadian and foreign crude oil. In addition to crude oil, the Company purchases finished products to supplement its refinery production. Crude oil from foreign sources is purchased by the Company at market prices mainly through Exxon Mobil Corporation. It owns and operates crude oil, natural gas liquids and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

4. Talisman Energy (TSX: TLM)

An independent company since 1992, Talisman is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.  It has subsidiaries operating in the UK, Norway, Southeast Asia, and North Africa.  Talisman is another reputable big-cap, oil-weighted stock with gas exposure.  It’s also more likely to be a buyer rather than a target of a takeover. Talisman Energy Inc. is a global, diversified, upstream oil and gas company, headquartered in Canada. Talisman's three main operating areas are North America, the North Sea and Southeast Asia. The Company also has a portfolio of international exploration opportunities. It is a Canadian-based independent oil and gas producers. Talisman's main business activities include exploration, development, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. It has a diversified, global portfolio of oil and gas assets. The Company believes this portfolio would provide growth from shale gas development in North America, project developments in Southeast Asia, and its international exploration portfolio.