There's one thing that every investor needs to understand about the energy sector: It is highly volatile. Energy prices go up and down, often at a swift and dramatic pace.

The vast majority of investors would be better off erring on the side of caution in the sector by looking for companies that have proved they can survive the energy cycle while still managing to reward investors for sticking around. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), (NYSE: CVX), and TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) all fit that bill. If you have $500 to invest, one of these integrated energy giants should be a good option for you.

Given the inherent volatility of the energy sector, most investors would be better off not attempting to time the ups and downs of energy prices. A far better option is to recognize that having some ongoing energy exposure is desirable and then select a company that has a strong business and proven history of managing through the industry's ups and downs. That will lead directly to integrated energy companies like Exxon, Chevron, and TotalEnergies.

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Source Fool.com