Stars Are Aligning for Energy Stocks: How Active Can Help
•February 13, 2026
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Why It Matters
TURF demonstrates how active natural‑resources ETFs can capture fast‑moving energy trends while offering diversified exposure, appealing to investors seeking higher upside and risk mitigation.
Key Takeaways
- •TURF returned 13% YTD 2026.
- •Three‑month return 23.2% since launch.
- •Active management targets MSCI GICS natural resources.
- •Geopolitical risk from Venezuela could affect energy volatility.
- •Fund offers exposure beyond energy to agriculture, minerals.
Pulse Analysis
Data‑center expansion and regulatory easing are reshaping the energy landscape, pushing demand for reliable power and creating tailwinds for resource‑intensive sectors. Investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional oil and gas equities to capture growth in ancillary markets such as renewable‑linked minerals and agricultural inputs. In this environment, active ETFs can dynamically allocate capital to the most compelling sub‑themes, offering a tactical edge over static index funds that may lag behind rapid market shifts.
The T. Rowe Price Natural Resources ETF (ticker TURF) exemplifies this active advantage. Since its debut in mid‑2025, the fund has delivered a 13% return for the year and a striking 23.2% gain over the last quarter, outperforming many passive counterparts. Its managers employ bottom‑up fundamental research to select companies across the MSCI GICS natural resources sector, ranging from upstream energy producers to agricultural and mineral firms. This diversified mandate not only captures the upside of booming energy demand but also hedges against sector‑specific downturns by tapping into broader resource trends.
Nevertheless, the fund’s performance is not insulated from macro risks. Geopolitical events—most notably the United States’ recent actions against Venezuela—could inject volatility into global energy prices, testing the agility of any investment strategy. TURF’s active framework allows managers to re‑balance holdings swiftly, potentially mitigating downside while capitalizing on emerging opportunities. For investors seeking a satellite allocation that blends high‑growth energy exposure with broader natural‑resource diversification, TURF presents a compelling, actively managed alternative.
Stars are Aligning for Energy Stocks: How Active Can Help
Active Natural Resources ETF TURF Shows Strong Start to 2026
It’s been a very healthy start to 2026 for energy stocks, and for good reason. A number of factors are coming together to boost their appeal, with data‑center energy demand and deregulation adding to their case. Of course, while one could simply invest in passive ETFs to get exposure therein, active ETFs may have more to offer.
The active natural resources ETF TURF, for example, offers more than just exposure to energy stocks. TURF, the T. Rowe Price Natural Resources ETF has had a strong start to 2026 with a 13 % return. It has ridden some of these exciting trends to success over longer periods as well, returning 23.2 % over the last three months according to ETF Database data.
The strategy, which only launched in June last year, leans on fundamental research to identify and invest in stocks tied to natural resources overall. Although the ETF itself is fairly new, the portfolio is managed by an experienced team at T. Rowe Price with a long history in the category. The ETF’s remit, then, gives it the ability to not only invest in the strongest energy stocks, but also other areas indirectly tied to key trends like data‑center construction and energy demand.
TURF’s Active Exposure to Energy Stocks, Natural Resources
Specifically, the fund actively invests in companies in the upstream extraction of mineral, agriculture, and energy products. The managers have latitude, but focus primarily on firms included in the MSCI GICS natural resources sector. TURF’s bottom‑up approach allows it to invest in companies of any market cap based on either growth or value views that otherwise meet the expected sector and fundamental standards.
So, while this year does offer some strong trends for energy stocks and other natural resources, there are risks. Geopolitics, specifically, looms over energy prices. The suddenness of the U.S. attack on Venezuela, in particular, may give markets pause about energy volatility even if it may unlock more potential for the sector in the future. Active adaptability can help TURF outperform passive rivals if events do require it. For those looking for an exciting satellite allocation, it could be one to watch.
Image: A person with headphones sitting at a desk and taking notes while watching a laptop screen showing a man in a video call and a graph with the number 66 % in a large circle.
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