3 Leveraged ETFs For Sinking Energy Stocks

The following post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga.

Due in large part to the panicked selling caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, also know as COVID-19, oil prices and energy equities are tumbling. For example, the United States Oil Fund USO slid 3.76% on Monday on heavy volume, extending its year-to-date loss to 16.16%.

Don't look to energy equities for refuge. The sector is being pounded by the coronavirus and the shift to renewables. On volume that was more than double the daily average, the Energy Select Sector SPDR XLE slumped 4.62% in Monday's sell-off, taking its 2020 loss to 14%.

Over the near-term, forecasting when the coronavirus issue will stop being an issue is becoming increasingly difficult, but that spells good news for the following bearish exchange-traded funds.

Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3X Shares (ERY)

The Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3X Shares ERY looks to deliver triple the daily inverse returns of the Energy Select Sector Index, the same index the aforementioned XLE targets. With concerns mounting about the ability of Exxon Mobil XOM and Chevron CVX, the index's two largest components, to grow dividends this year, ERY was bound to catch a bid.

However, the coronavirus has turned into a significant spark for this bearish energy fund as ERY has amassed a year-to-date gain of 52.09%.

Direxion Daily S&P Oil & Gas Exp. & Prod. Bear 3X Shares (DRIP)

This where the wild things are in the energy patch and the Direxion Daily S&P Oil & Gas Exp. & Prod. Bear 3X Shares DRIP proves as much. All this fund has done is more than double since Jan. 1. DRIP seeks performances that triple the daily inverse of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index.

Slack expectations for the global oil output are bolstering the near-term case for the bearish DRIP.

“There is no escaping the fact that China—the world’s largest oil importer—will have meaningfully weaker near-term oil demand than we had envisioned as the year began,” said Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov in a recent note.

Direxion Daily Natural Gas Related Bear 3X Shares (GASX)

Even in strong oil bull markets, a far-flung concept these days, the ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index has a way of lagging and that laggard status flares up when oil prices sink. Enter the Direxion Daily Natural Gas Related Bear 3X Shares GASX, which looks to deliver triple the daily inverse returns of that index.

When GASX works, it really works as highlighted by yesterday's gain of more than 18%, one that extended the bearish geared fund's 2020 jump to north of 120%. That's also a reminder to not be caught on the wrong side of this trade.

Related Links

These Vanguard ETFs Just Got Cheaper

The preceding post was written and/or published as a collaboration between Benzinga’s in-house sponsored content team and a financial partner of Benzinga. Although the piece is not and should not be construed as editorial content, the sponsored content team works to ensure that any and all information contained within is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge and research. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.