There's a saying that the best offense is a good defense. That's probably a good way to think about the energy industry because it is inherently cyclical, leading to soaring booms and painful busts. Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) exemplify this approach. If you are looking to put money to work in the energy industry right now, both can be had for less than $200 a share.

The big problem when it comes to investing in the energy sector is the commodity-driven price swings that take place. A lot of companies will see their top and bottom lines soar during good years only to plunge during bad years. Their stocks tend to follow along for the ride, which can be very disheartening for long-term investors.

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Source Fool.com