Chevron is a dividend achiever as well as a component of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials indexes. It has been increasing its dividends for the past 20 consecutive years. From the end of 1999 up until September 2008 this dividend stock has delivered an annual average total return of 11.10 % to its shareholders. The stock has lost about four percent of its value so far in 2008.

There have always been companies that stand head-and-shoulders above their peers and the competition. They are loved by their shareholders, hated by the competition and known by all. Who are these companies and how can I find the next great company? All the great companies have something in common. Let's look at a few of them:

On Friday it was reported that unemployment hit 6.1 % the highest level in five years as employers cut 84K payrolls. The SPY, DIA and QQQQ’s all opened lower and proceeded to lose even more ground as selling accelerated. Oil declined as well, which was not a positive, as it dragged down oil related stocks like XOM, CVX and BP down with it.

Chevron Corporation (formerly ChevronTexaco) is a global integrated oil company that has interests in exploration, production, refining and marketing, and petrochemicals. Linked here is a detailed stock analysis and commentary.

A closer look at GMO’s 7-year asset class expected returns.

The American public needs to be educated about the difference between 'excise tax', 'excess profit tax', and 'windfall profit tax'. The term 'windfall profit tax' is being misused for political reasons.
Is there a case for a true 'windfall profit tax' today?

A review of "Profit from the Peak" - a book written by a pair of energy analysts that offers a comprehensive overview of our energy crisis, the possible solutions, and the investment opportunities.

So, what is your greatest wealth building asset? Everyone is born with it. Few realize its importance until they lose most of it. The asset is so valuable it can't be bought. Your most valuable wealth building asset is ...

The Canadian oil sands and the oil industry in Canada in general is rather large. There are a number of producers operating mines throughout the region, mostly in the Alberta oil sands region and as well in the Saskatchewan region of the country. More

Commodities across the board have been increasing in price as supply struggles to keep up with growing global demand. We may be shoveling out more and more money to pay for life’s essentials, but there’s no reason investors that shouldn’t have the opportunity to profit from and hedge these price spikes, too.

The U.S. is selling the goose and then buying back the eggs. The UAE will not allow U.S. firms to buy anything other than eggs. Not so long ago, America was carefull not to sell the goose. Has something changed or are they more clever than ever?

What happened to 'never sell the goose that lays the golden egg'?

Abdalla El-Badri, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said the biofuel strategy being pushed by President Bush and European leaders would backfire because “you don’t get the incremental oil and you don’t get the ethanol”. In this scenario, he warned, oil prices would go “through the roof”.

Energy stocks have held up well in 2006 despite volatile crude oil prices. If you are looking for energy exposure, the big integrated oil companies are the best way to play high oil prices. The big oil companies should outperform the drillers. Using EV/EBITDA multiples, the big oil companies are cheap.