Energy = Alpha in Q1

The first quarter is over. Let's reflect.

The S&P 500 climbed 5.4% so far this year, its best first quarter since 1998 (WSJ)

But if your goal was to generate alpha, then Energy was clearly the easiest way to do it.

Arthur Hill over at Stockcharts.com really knocked the cover off the ball with this chart:

Year-to-Date, the Energy Sector ($XLE) is the only standout performer, out-gaining the S&P500 by close to 12%. Of the other 8 sectors, just the Industrials ($XLI) out-gained the broader markets, but just barely. The rest of them: Financials ($XLF), Healthcare ($XLV), Consumer Cyclicals ($XLY), Staples ($XLP), Technology ($XLK), Materials ($XLB), and Utilities ($XLU) ALL underperformed in the first quarter.

Click on chart for live performance numbers.

Q1 is over. Now on to the next one!