Alternative Energy Investment

Unlike traditional energy companies which suffered a downturn in June but came up nicely thereafter, the alternative-energy shares had to wait for the great 4th year-end run-up of Dow to regain their losses.

For example, Winslow Green Growth Fund (WGGFX) , a small-cap portfolio that has investments in clean-energy stocks, Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund (GAAEX) and a similarly focussed midcap offering, New Alternatives Fund (NALFX) could recuperate its losses and go back near its peak. But PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (PBW), an alternative-energy focused ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is still off by about 29% from their peak after a good run up there in the first half of 2006.

The main difficulty in playing in this field comes from a limited understanding of the valuation of such stocks and their future. Everyone understands that Ethanol or solar energy would assume a great role in future but nobody is sure enough to tell when exactly these could play a significant role in the world dominated by conventional energy sources like oil and gas. For example, riding the hype generated by rising crude oil prices in mid-May, Pacific Ethanol Inc. (PEIX) , which claims Bill Gates as major investor, reached a 52-week high of $44.50 in mid-June, but was exchanging hands at $16.53 at closing bell today.

But many proponents of alternative power maintain that the good time for such stocks would arrive sooner than what the disillusioned investors predict. Their faith hinges on several broad factors: the ever-increasing thirst for energy from developed countries as well as China and India which are industrializing themselves at a rapid pace; the finite nature of fossil fuels; global warming, and the uncertain geopolitics of oil. In such a world, they say, it pays -- both economically and politically -- to find other power sources. And so, if you can put your trust on alternative energy and have time and patience on your side, you may still find some opportunities to take some position.

New ETFs for Oil Futures

Claymore Securities Inc. and partner MacroMarkets LLC listed 2 oil-related ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) on the American Stock Exchange on November 30th. They are issued as a closely linked pair, one for bullish investors on oil futures and the other for bears. Each hold short-term Treasuries and cash, and pledge to compensate each other based on changes in the settlement price of the Nymex Division light sweet crude oil futures contract.

Claymore MacroShares Oil Up Tradeable Shares (UCR) is meant for investors who want to take a long, or bullish, position on oil and will rise in value when futures prices increase. Conversely, Claymore MacroShares Oil Down Tradeable Shares (DCR) will make money when the price of oil would be falling. The latter can also be used as a hedge. Both are structured to track the benchmark price movement of West Texas Intermediate crude oil and comparable light sweet crude oil prices.

Robert Shiller, Chief Economist for MacroMarkets, is the architect of MacroShares and first addressed this concept of investment in his 1996 book "Macro Markets: Creating Institutions for Managing Society's Largest Economic Risks".

Both funds have expense ratio of 1.6% -- which is very high by industry standard. Currently, ETFs have average fees of only 0.43% of assets. Also, do not forget that you need to add broker commission on top of it anytime you buy or sell.

The Claymore MacroShares are structured very differently from other oil-linked ETFs on the market. PowerShares Dynamic Oil & Gas Services Portfolio (PXJ) invests in shares of publicly traded energy companies. The U.S. Oil Trust (USO) invests in oil futures and "rolls" the contracts to maintain exposure. The iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return Exchange Traded Note (OIL) managed by Barclays Global Investors also uses a similar strategy.