Pipeline Politics: We’re Guardedly Optimistic
This week, the incoming Biden administration filled out much of its prospective energy and environment team with pragmatists,signaling a focus on incremental measures rather than the dramatic and disruptive.
Endangered Dividends List
There have been no additional dividend cuts in our Energy and Income Advisor coverage universe since the previous issue posted. Unfortunately, that’s the result of being in between quarterly earnings reporting and dividend declaration dates, rather than any real signs of strength from the companies on our list.
We have become more confident in the ability of several EDL companies to hold payouts level in 2021. That’s induced us to upgrade them to buys, despite remaining risk.
Portfolio: Surveying November Gains and a Tax Loss Strategy
Despite backing off about 7 percent on the last day of the month, shares of Concho Resources (NYSE: CXO) finished November up nearly 40 percent from where they started. The rally followed a solid Q3 earnings report in late October, which was released about a week after the announcement that ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) would acquire the company at the ratio of 1.46 COP per share of CXO.
Of Earnings and Elections
Ok, we’ll admit it. Keeping up with the current daily news feed of election results is far more exciting than scouring companies’ Q3 earnings for clues on their business health. And if you’re a media outlet, Elections 2020 has been the gift that keeping on giving.
But when it comes to positioning for an energy sector comeback in 2021, your time is going to be much better spent focusing on key numbers and management guidance. In fact, we doubt results of this election will wind up mattering much if at all when it comes to investor returns for the stocks we recommend here in Energy and Income Advisor.
Endangered Dividends List
Three companies on our Endangered Dividends List slashed their payouts since the previous issue went to post. None of these moves was unexpected, but only Energy Transfer’s (NYSE: ET) 50 percent reduction was enough for the company to escape the EDL. Still a member of our High Yield Energy List, the company’s generally positive Q3 results and guidance are highlighted in the Feature article.
Why Biden’s Heat Won’t Melt Midstream
In investing, economics always wins over politics. That’s worth remembering at a time when energy midstream and pipeline companies are unloved by investors, and many advisors and media personalities forecast sector doomsday.
Endangered Dividends List
So far, only a small fraction of energy companies have announced Q3 results and updated guidance for the rest of the year. A much larger number, however, have declared their dividends for the current quarter. And the vast majority is sticking to the same amount they paid this summer.
Kinder’s Q3: Charting a US Midstream Recovery
Despite the worst market conditions for US midstream companies in at least a generation, stability and sustainability were the themes of Kinder’s Q3 results and guidance this week.
A Rebirth of Energy M&A
Low cost capital, compelling valuations and building evidence on the ground that a bottom is in, or at least very close: Those are the necessary conditions for a resurgence of mergers and acquisitions activity in the energy sector.
At this point, cost of equity capital is high even for best in class companies. Debt capital, however, is a far different story. Model Portfolio member’s ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) bonds of April 2051 yield just 2.9 percent to maturity, while Williams Companies’ (NYSE: WMB) May 2050 bonds yield less than 3.7 percent. And private capital has rarely if ever been this flush.
Live Chat with
Elliott and Roger on Jul. 29, 2021
Portfolios & Ratings
Model Portfolios
Balanced portfolios of energy stocks for aggressive and conservative investors.
Producers and Drillers
Our take on more than 50 energy-related equities, from upstream to downstream and everything in between.
MLPs and Midstream
Our assessment of every energy-related master limited partnership.
International Coverage
Roger Conrad’s coverage of more than 70 dividend-paying energy names.
Experts
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Elliott H. Gue
Founder and Chief Analyst: Capitalist Times and Energy & Income Advisor
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Roger S. Conrad
Founder and Chief Analyst: Capitalist Times and Energy & Income Advisor