Renewable energy sources are on the rise, but a breakthrough energy form discovery aside, oil will continue to be the world's most important commodity for at least 20 years, and probably for longer than that.

And that bodes well for drillers and oil service companies, which is why I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), first recommended on April 7, 2009 at a price of $38.01. If you bought Oceaneering then, you're up more than 40%.

It goes without saying that I favor the oil sector, including drillers and oil servicers. Breakthrough energy form discovery aside, oil will continue to be the world's most important commodity for at least 15-20 years, and probably for longer than that.

Hence, I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), first recommended on April 7, 2009 at a price of $38.01.

"Midyear is as good a time as any to pause and reflect," says Richard Moroney in Dow Theory Forecasts -- a newsletter with the distinction of having been published for more than 50 years.

Here, he reviews the state of the market and offers a look at trio of favorite stocks which he considers "fundamentally superior" companies: Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB), Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), and Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII).

Few sectors contained more promise during the recent global GDP expansion than drillers and oil servicers. However, few sectors became more oversold than the aforementioned, as well, during the oil bust in 2008.

Further, while one should not expect oil to return to the $140-range anytime soon, the notion that oil will remain in the $40-50 range for a long time is equally slim. And that makes the case for Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII).

"We see smooth seas ahead for deepsea driller Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII)," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of the blue chip advisory, Dow Theory Forecasts, explains, "Most of the world's untapped oil reserves lie under the ocean floor, and oil producers are spending an increasing portion of their capital budgets on deepwater drilling."

"While oil prices don't directly affect Oceaneering International's profits and cash flows, they do move the stock. Oil prices fell by two-thirds in the second half of 2008, pushing Oceaneering shares under $20 for the first time since July 2005.

"Many experts believe that oil prices are at unsustainably low prices now, and they expect a sharp rise in the commodity price as supply and demand come back into line again," says turnaround expert George Putnam.

In The Turnaround Letter, he suggests, "If oil does begin to rise again, the oilfield service stocks could rebound sharply." Here, he takes a look at large cap plays on a rebound within the oilfield services sector.

"We all know that oil prices have fallen dramatically from their highs in the summer of 2008. But different types of oil-related stocks have reacted quite differently to the price change in the underlying commodity.

"For example, while oil itself has dropped nearly 70% from its 12-month high, the stock of the largest integrated oil company, Exxon-Mobil (NYSE: XOM), is down only 26%, less than the stock market as a whole.

"Our 'Forecasts Focus List' contains only two energy stocks, both of which are in the oil services sector: Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII) and Transocean (NYSE: RIG)," says blue chip advisor Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts says, "While stocks in the equipment and services group tend to move with oil prices in the near term, their profits depend more on exploration spending than on commodity prices."

"Concerns about slowing demand for crude oil and re?ned products both in the U.S. and overseas have many investors worried. But investors in the equipment and services group should not panic.

"Most producers continue to spend aggressively. And U.S. crude-oil inventories remain well below the average for this time of year, with fewer than 20 days of supply in storage.

"Demand for offshore-drilling services remains strong, giving Transocean excellent growth potential. Consensus estimates project per-share profits will rise 69% in 2008 and 15% in 2009. Transocean, the world's largest offshore drilling contractor, operates in every major drilling region.

"A combination of tight global rig supplies and the ongoing discovery of new offshore reserves have driven rig lease rates higher and kept Transocean's fleet busy. The company's largest, most expensive rigs are 95% sold out for 2009, and the backlog is growing.

"The energy sector has been the U.S. stock market's best performer over the past three and five years -- and among the best so far in 2007," says Richard Moroney in his Upside newsletter.

He says, "Shares of energy companies, especially equipment and services concerns, seem unduly cheap -- even if per-barrel oil prices retreat by $10 or $15." Here he looks at Gardner Denver Inc. (NYSE: GDI) and NATCO Group Inc. (NYSE: NTG).

"Over the last three years, spending on capital expenditures has grown at an impressive 28% annual clip. Even if oil and gas prices drop sharply, which seems unlikely given supply and demand forecasts -- capital spending should remain robust.

"Gardner Denver is one of the largest providers of reciprocating pumps used in oil and gas drilling and production. For full-year 2007, management lifted its per-share profit guidance to a range of $3.10 to $3.18, up from the $2.49 earned in 2006. Gardner Denver, positioned to exceed consensus profit estimates, is a Best Buy.

What are the best energy investments for long-term investors? To answer this question, I surveyed 20 of the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors to find their current favorite ideas in the energy sector.

Interestingly, the advisors see the best opportunities in areas well beyond traditional oil firms; indeed, no one included in this report chose a major integrated oil company. Rather, the advisors have shown a preference for various oil services sectors, non-oil energy sources, and developing alternative technologies.

Some focus on areas such as deep-sea operations with Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (NYSE: DO), Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG) and Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), while others look toward oil shippers such as Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NYSE: NAT) and refiners such as Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO).

Others chose companies that make specific products needed by the oil & gas industries such as NATCO Group Inc. (NYSE: NTG), which makes a wide range of oil & gas processing systems; Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (NYSE: DRC), a maker of control systems; Gardner Denver Inc. (NYSE: GDI), which makes compressor and fluid transfer systems; Tenaris (NYSE: TS), a maker of pipes and tublar products and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB), the largest and most diversified of the oil services companies.

Human beings find it necessary to poke their noses into all manner of unfriendly environments, including ocean depths and outer space. Fortunately, there is an outfit in Houston that is adept at helping folks deal with the rigors of operating in such places.

Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII) provides engineered services and products to the offshore oil and gas industry, the defense community and aerospace concerns. Deepwater offerings include oilfield testing systems, underwater drilling support, and construction/repair services. The firm also makes remotely operated diving vessels and robotic systems for use in space.

Oceaneering pleased investors earlier in the month, when it reported Q2 EPS of 86 cents and revenues of $432 million. Analysts had been expecting 71 cents and $377 million. Management also guided Q3 EPS to 80-88 cents (81 cent consensus) and FY07 EPS to $2.95-$3.10 ($2.84 consensus). The news popped the shares out of a late-July/early August "cup" into the mid-August "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. Now, the price is showing signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle."

Brokers recommend the shares with four "strong buys," three "buys" and one "hold." Analysts see a 20 percent growth rate, through the next year. The OII Price to Sales ratio (2.45), Sales Growth rate (38.86%) and EPS Growth rate (53.57%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutional investors hold about 95 percent of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $27.80 and $70.13. A stop-loss of $56.25 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

"New leadership often emerging during corrections," says Richard Moroney in Dow Theory Forecasts, who highlights 6 relative strength blue chips.

The advisor explains, "Stocks have retreated sharply and broadly, reflecting concerns that turmoil in the corporate-junk-bond and mortgage-debt markets will spill over to the broader economy – and perhaps halt the boom in takeovers."

Near-term volatility seems likely, he suggests, and a pullback to 12,700 to 13,350 on the Dow Industrials would be consistent with a secondary correction in an ongoing bull market. While holding some cash on the sidelines seems prudent, he advises, his recommended cash position remains at 5% to 10%.

Looking to find the stocks that will qualify as "new leadership" for after this correction, he notes, "A stock's ability to outperform during such pullbacks is a bullish indicator."