Devon Energy: Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) will not be the right choice in the energy patch for all investors. That is because of the type of company it is, sitting only in the upstream segment of the industry. However, more aggressive investors might actually find the company's industry position attractive. Here's why some people will love Devon, and why others will likely want to stay away.

The big problem that a lot of investors will have with Devon is that it is a pure play upstream energy producer. That means its main products are oil and natural gas. These are highly volatile commodities that go through harrowing price swings. Everything from supply/demand dynamics to geopolitical events can lead to large and often rapid ups and downs.