Where the Opportunities Are in Energy Stocks The first major shale deal after the worst oil price collapse in five years is a model for future transactions that promises to quickly change the industry as companies expand in new areas or soak up struggling rivals. Noble Energy Inc.’s $2.1 billion all-stock purchase of Rosetta Resources Inc. is poised to be an opening salvo in a long-predicted wave of industry consolidation that’s been slow to materialize since crude fell by more than half since June. As a stock-for-stock deal, Rosetta shareholders would see the benefit from a rebound in oil prices, a key sticking point after the value of North American energy companies fell by more than $200 billion since June, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Both shareholders then get to participate in the upside going forward,” Noble Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Stover said Monday in an […]