Longer-term, the election of Donald Trump is also seen giving a boost to investments tied to fossil fuels, following a prolonged decline in prices.
Amid the volatility, consider the results of major energy funds both year-to-date and over the past five years.
For advisers or clients hoping to play the energy sector, MLPs dominated the best performers, which can offer tax advantages as well as higher income potential than many other investments.
All data is from Morningstar. Many funds have additional share classes that may come with a slightly higher expense ratio, but also a vastly lower minimum investment.
Fidelity Select Natural Gas (FSNGX)
5-Yr. Return: -0.07%
Expense Ratio: 0.89%
Fund assets (millions): $415
MainStay Cushing MLP Premier A (CSHAX)
5-Yr. Return: 0.50%
Expense Ratio: 1.50%
Fund assets (millions): $1,377
Vanguard Energy Inv (VGENX)
5-Yr. Return: 0.69%
Expense Ratio: 0.37%
Fund assets (millions): $10,007
Fidelity Select Natural Resources Port (FNARX)
5-Yr. Return: 0.77%
Expense Ratio: 0.86%
Fund assets (millions): $868
JNL/Mellon Capital Oil & Gas Sector A (0P00003DB9)
5-Yr. Return: 2.10%
Expense Ratio: 0.64%
Fund assets (millions): $1,788
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income A (MLPDX)
5-Yr. Return: 2.12%
Expense Ratio: 1.38%
Fund assets (millions): $3,756
Fidelity Advisor Energy T (FAGNX)
5-Yr. Return: 2.76%
Expense Ratio: 1.38%
Fund assets (millions): $981
Ivy Energy A (IEYAX)
5-Yr. Return: 2.79%
Expense Ratio: 1.49%
Fund assets (millions): $505
Center Coast MLP Focus A (CCCAX)
5-Yr. Return: 2.81%
Expense Ratio: 1.47%
Fund assets (millions): $2,602
Waddell & Reed Energy A (WEGAX)
5-Yr. Return: 3%
Expense Ratio: 1.64%
Fund assets (millions): $240
Williston Basin/Mid-North America Stk A (ICPAX)
5-Yr. Return: 3.25%
Expense Ratio: 1.45%
Fund assets (millions): $664
Fidelity Select Energy (FSENX)
5-Yr. Return: 3.29%
Expense Ratio: 0.80%
Fund assets (millions): $2,382
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha A (MLPAX)
5-Yr. Return: 3.71%
Expense Ratio: 1.52%
Fund assets (millions): $3,498
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 A (MLPFX)
5-Yr. Return: 3.76%
Expense Ratio: 1.12%
Fund assets (millions): $3,066
Advisory Research MLP & Energy Infras I (MLPPX)
5-Yr. Return: 4.43%
Expense Ratio: 1%
Fund assets (millions): $433
Advisory Research MLP & Energy Income I (INFIX)
5-Yr. Return: 4.72%
Expense Ratio: 1.15%
Fund assets (millions): $881
MainGate MLP A (AMLPX)
5-Yr. Return: 6.21%
Expense Ratio: 1.66%
Fund assets (millions): $1,823
Tortoise MLP & Pipeline Instl (TORIX)
5-Yr. Return: 7.92%
Expense Ratio: 0.99%
Fund assets (millions): $2,582