I’ve touted before how energy will be the hottest sector for 2012. Despite hang-ups like President Obama’s rejection of the TransCanada (NYSE:TRP) Keystone XL permit, explosive growth in this sector is sure come. And for these five energy companies, a change for the better can’t come soon enough.

I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I’ve got five energy stocks in need of a jolt.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets a “D” or “F” according to my research, meaning it is a “sell” or “strong sell.

McDermott International (NYSE:MDR) is a well known engineering, procurement, construction and installation company based in Houston, TX. In the past year, MDR stock has dipped 37%. MDR gets an “F” for sales growth, a “D” for operating margin growth, a “D” for earnings growth, a “D” for earnings momentum and an “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of MDR stock.

Noble (NYSE:NE) is an offshore drilling contractor that works for the oil and gas industry. NE stock is down 8%, in the last year, compared to a gain of 6% for the Dow Jones. NE stock gets an “F” for operating margin growth, a “D” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month, an “F” for cash flow and a “D” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of NE stock.

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) provides technology, integrated project management and information solutions to its clients in the oil and gas exploration industry. In the past year, SLB stock is down 15%. SLB gets a “D” for operating margin growth, a “D” for earnings growth, a “D” for earnings momentum, a “D” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and a “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SLB stock.

Transocean (NYSE:RIG) is engaged with offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. RIG has posted a significant loss almost 43% in the last year. RIG stock gets a “D” for sales growth, an “F” for operating margin growth, an “F” for earnings growth, a “D” for earnings momentum, an “F” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, an “F” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month, a “D” for cash flow and an “F” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of RIG stock.

Weatherford International (NYSE:WFT) supplies equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production and intervention of oil and natural gas. WFT rounds out the list with a loss of 28%, since last January. WFT stock gets a “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month, a “D” for cash flow and a “D” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of WFT stock.

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.