Feature Article

There have been no distribution cuts since the previous issue of Energy and Income Advisor. Unfortunately, we continue to see elevated risk for a number of companies, and particularly for the 13 currently on our Endangered Dividends List.

The next round of distribution declarations in our Energy and Income Advisor coverage universe isn’t for another month. But Sanchez Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: SNMP) is at elevated risk to announce a cut sooner, now that its parent and largest customer Sanchez Energy (OTC: SNEC) is for all practical purposes bankrupt.

Unfortunately, we continue to see elevated risk for a number of companies, and particularly for the 13 currently on our Endangered Dividends List. For more on where the risk lies at individual midstream energy companies and MLPs, see the comments column in our now updated MLP Ratings table, including analysis of first quarter results, distribution coverage and debt-to-EBITDA figures and prospects for potential roll-up mergers. It’s posted on the Energy and Income Advisor website under the “Portfolios” tab.

Foresight Energy LP (NYSE: FELP) is eliminating its quarterly distribution. That follows a poor first quarter during which the coal mining MLP experienced sharp increases in transportation costs because of flooding and “an accelerated decline in export prices” for its output.

Blueknight Energy Partners (NSDQ: BKEP) is cutting its quarterly distribution for the second time in a year, from 8 to 4 cents per unit. Unfortunately, even after that large of a reduction, the payout still isn’t safe. In fact, the consensus of analysts tracked by Bloomberg is the July distribution will be cut to just a penny a unit.