Energy ETFs Top Best-Performers List

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The best-performing exchange traded funds so far this quarter reflect strength in the energy markets, especially in crude oil.

The spot price of West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil climbed to just over $80 a barrel, a 14% bump since Sept. 30. The iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN(OIL Quote) matched this return, while the United States Oil Fund LP(USO Quote) and PowerShares DB Oil Fund(DBO Quote) lagged a bit, returning 13.3% and 13.2%, respectively.

The price of regular gasoline has also worked its way back up to $2.68 a gallon, according to AAA's national average. Gasoline futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange topped $2.01 a gallon at the close last Wednesday, up 17% this quarter. The top-performing ETF so far in the fourth quarter, United States Gasoline Fund LP(UGA Quote), added 14.5%.

The only non-energy fund to crack the top ten this month is tied to the fortunes of the U.S. dollar and the economy. The iPath Dow Jones-UBS Platinum Subindex Total Return ETN(PGM Quote) grew 11.8% on a 5.3% rise in the spot price of platinum and a 1.3% decline in the U.S. dollar index.

To find the best rated exchange-traded funds, check out our Top Rated ETFs page.

Energy Enthusiasm Fund (Ticker) Rating Tot'l Return 1 Year Tot'l Return QTD United States Gasoline Fund LP (UGA) E+ 18.55% 14.45% iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL) E -34.53% 13.91% PowerShares DB Crude Oil Long ETN (OLO) E 6.08% 13.42% United States 12 Month Oil Fund LP (USL) E+ 2.81% 13.39% United States Oil Fund LP (USO) E -28.56% 13.26% PowerShares DB Oil Fund (DBO) E+ -0.06% 13.19% PowerShares DB Energy Fund (DBE) E+ -7.75% 12.24% United States Heating Oil Fund LP (UHN) E -17.23% 11.95% iPath Dow Jones-UBS Platinum Subindex Total Return ETN (PGM) B 63.15% 11.83% E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Energy ETN (UBN) E- -10.71% 11.50% Source: TheStreet.com Ratings