Top Energy Stocks of 2012 #10: Ensco

Updated

As 2012 comes to a close, energy analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman are detailing the top energy stocks of 2012. Coming in the No. 10 spot for 2012 is offshore driller Ensco .

Ensco was the top performing deepwater offshore driller, turning in a 18% return year to date. When reviewing the past year, Ensco's superior performance starts with the company's acquisition of Pride International for $7.3 billion The purchase not only made Ensco the second largest offshore driller, but more importantly it brought the company a fleet of brand new, technologically advanced drill ships. New drill ships command a significant premium, and when you couple the new ships with Ensco's No. 1 customer satisfaction rating, it's no wonder the company outperformed its peers in 2012. Check out the video below for more information on Ensco and to see if the company can continue to impress in 2013.


However, if you're an energy investor looking for more offshore opportunities, then you should look into one of the more exciting plays in the space: Seadrill. To learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of this company, as well as what to expect from Seadrill going forward, be sure to check out this brand-new premium report put together by one of our top Stock Advisor analysts. Click here to get started.

The article Top Energy Stocks of 2012 #10: Ensco originally appeared on Fool.com.

Joel South has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Taylor Muckerman owns shares of Ensco. The Motley Fool owns shares of Transocean and Seadrill. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Seadrill. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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