Better Oil Stock: Chevron vs. Devon Energy

You should always aspire to have a good understanding of the companies you decide to invest in. There will be times when Wall Street throws you a curve ball, of course, but most of the time,  businesses are fairly easy to understand. The core business model is what you need to think about if you are comparing oil industry players Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) and (NYSE: CVX). Here's why most investors will probably want to err on the side of caution.

There are subtle differences in the quality of crude oil depending on where it is drilled, but, for the most part, it is just a commodity product. When supply and demand are out of alignment, the price of oil can rise or fall in dramatic, and sometimes swift, fashion. There are other factors that impact oil prices, too, including global economic activity and geopolitical events. Oil price volatility is the norm, not the exception.

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Source Fool.com