The Best Crude Oil Stock to Buy in 2017

best crude oil stock to buyToday, we're showing you the best crude oil stock to buy in 2017 so you can profit from soaring oil prices.

Oil prices surged 50% over the last year, and Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors forecasts another 20% rise in oil prices in 2017.

And buying oil stocks is one of the best ways to profit from higher oil prices.

That's because higher oil prices mean oil companies are making more money, and they're scaling up production.

For example, since OPEC first announced its production cut plans in September 2016, U.S. oil production has increased 6%. During the same time, an ETF that tracks oil stocks, the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas (NYSE Arca: IEO), climbed 11%.

But your gains can be even higher by playing the best crude oil stock instead of an ETF. Struggling companies and bad stocks weigh down ETFs.

So instead of taking the good with the bad in an oil ETF, we're going to show you the best oil stock to buy in 2017.

This oil stock grew 32% over the last year, and it's heading even higher in 2017.

But before we show you our top oil stock, here's why 2017 will be a great year for oil prices...

Why Crude Oil Stocks Will Do Great This Year

We've identified three big reasons to be bullish on oil in 2017.

First, the OPEC production cut is pushing oil prices higher in 2017, and American companies will benefit the most.

On Nov. 30, OPEC and 11 other countries reached a landmark agreement to cut oil production. This was the first time OPEC had agreed to a production cut since 2008.

The basic idea is simple supply in demand. By cutting production, the supply of oil goes down and the price of oil goes up.

WTI crude oil prices are up 14% since the Nov. 30 agreement was announced. The price of crude oil is now $53.04 a barrel.

And as long as the OPEC agreement stays in force, the price of oil is very likely to keep climbing. Moors says the agreement will keep a price floor for oil above $50 a barrel, and oil prices could even climb another 20%.

That's because less oil supply is going to be amplified by growing demand...

Second, the demand for oil is rising.

The EIA projects a 25% rise in global energy demand by 2040. And oil will still be the major source of energy meeting the increased demand.

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Exxon Mobil Corp.'s (NYSE: XOM) latest "Energy Outlook" forecast that oil will remain the major source of energy in the years through 2040.

That means more energy will be needed to meet the world's needs, and oil will be the primary source, even as new forms of energy like solar and wind become more popular. This sort of demand will push oil stocks higher.

Third, President Trump is making it even easier for American oil companies to profit.

Trump wants to make the United States "energy independent." To do this, he has proposed cutting regulations on oil and gas companies. And he's already following through.

One of President Trump's first policy decisions was to end restrictions on the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines on Jan. 24.

Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE: ETP), the company that owns Dakota Access, has seen its share price climb 7% since the executive order.

President Trump has also filled high-level staff positions with administrators friendly toward the oil industry. The new secretary of state is Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil.

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And President Trump has nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to run the EPA. Pruitt brought lawsuits against the EPA on behalf of oil companies when he was the attorney general of Oklahoma.

President Trump has also signed legislation into law that will benefit American oil companies. On Tuesday (Feb. 14), President Trump signed a bill eliminating a Dodd-Frank requirement for oil companies to disclose payments made to foreign governments.

Now that oil prices are heading up and the business climate for oil companies is improving, oil company stocks are going to be one of the biggest profit plays this year. And to help you find the right one, we're giving you our best crude oil stock to buy...

The Best Crude Oil Stock to Buy in 2017

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Magellan Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: MMP) is our top oil stock play this year.

Magellan is an $18.64 billion midstream oil company. That means it specializes in transporting oil through its vast network of pipelines, or storing oil to be sold later. And when oil production increases, demand for Magellan's services grows.

That's why Yahoo Finance found analysts are projecting up to a 17% revenue increase for MMP in 2017.

Magellan's pipelines extend from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to the Permian Basin in Texas to one of the nation's primary oil hubs in Cushing, Okla. It owns more than 2,000 miles of pipeline for crude oil and nearly 10,000 miles of pipeline for refined oil.

Magellan also owns oil storage facilities. These can contain up to 23 million barrels of crude oil along the system of pipelines and 26 million barrels in its marine facilities.

Now that U.S. oil companies can sell their oil abroad, Magellan's marine terminals are a major asset. It has only been legal for U.S. firms to export crude oil since January 2016.

And Magellan is preparing to handle more volume in 2017.

In late January, Magellan announced a partnership to increase the capacity of its BridgeTex pipeline along with Plains All American Pipeline LP (NYSE: PAA). The capacity will grow by up to 100,000 barrels a day. Construction is slated to begin by the end of summer.

Another reason MMP is the best crude oil stock to buy is its strong management. That's allowed the company to beat its earnings expectations in recent quarters as the price of oil has recovered.

MMP reported revenue of nearly $615 million during Q4 versus analysts' forecasts of more than $610 million. The company's revenue rose more than 7.3% YOY.

Earnings per share (EPS) in Q4 2016 hit $1.04, 10% higher than the $0.95 consensus forecast.

The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.855 per share, which leads to an annualized dividend yield of 4.21%. That's valuable income for investors holding the stock.

Shares of MMP are trading at $81.03, up 7.14% so far in 2017. And that's just the beginning for this stock.

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