This Hidden Gem is on Our Favorite Energy Stock List; It Should Be on Yours, Too

Core Laboratories isn't an oil services company that garners lots of attention from the news; but that may be better for investors in this company. During the past year alone, shares in the company are up an astounding 75%, and statements from management seem to hint that this company is far from running out of steam. This is one of the reasons why Core Labs is on our list of favorite energy stocks for the year.

So what makes Core so unique? The company has positioned itself to play one of the most critical aspects of the oil and gas industry today: It's getting more expensive and complicated to find new sources. Core's business is aiding companies that spend billions of dollars on development, like Petrobras and Conocophillips , to more accurately define potential resources and how to most effectively extract those resources over the life of a reservoir. This business model has turned into a vertiable cash machine that produces loads of free cash for shareholder friendly moves like share buybacks. Tune into the video below to find out other reasons why Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe picked Core for his top energy stock list.