Although the futures markets offer the most direct investment gateway to the commodities markets, the equity markets also offer access to these raw materials. You can invest in companies that specialize in the production, transformation, and distribution of these natural resources. If you’re a stock investor familiar with the equity markets, this may be a good route for you to access the commodities markets.
The only drawback of the equity markets is that you have to take into account external factors, such as management competence, tax situation, debt levels, and profit margins, which have nothing to do with the underlying commodity. That said, investing in companies that process commodities still allows you to profit from the commodities boom.
Publicly traded companies
The size, structure, and scope of the companies involved in the business are varied. Here are some of the types of companies involved in commodities markets:
Diversified mining companies: A number of companies focus exclusively on mining metals and minerals. Some of these companies, such as Anglo-American PLC (NASDAQ: AAUK) and BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP), have operations across the spectrum of the metals complex, mining metals that range from gold to zinc.
Electric utilities: Utilities are an integral part of modern life because they provide one of life’s most essential necessities: electricity. They’re also a good investment because they have historically offered large dividends to shareholders.
Integrated energy companies: These companies, such as ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), are involved in all aspects of the energy industry, from the extraction of crude oil to the distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG). They give you broad exposure to the energy complex.
This list is only a small sampling of the commodity companies.
Master limited partnerships
Master limited partnerships (MLPs) invest in energy infrastructure such as oil pipelines and natural gas storage facilities. MLPs are great because they’re a publicly traded partnership. They offer the benefit of trading like a corporation on a public exchange, while offering the tax advantages of a private partnership. MLPs are required to transfer all cash flow back to shareholders, making them an attractive investment.