Feature Article

There have been no additional dividend cuts in our three coverage universes since the previous EIA issue. That’s largely a function of timing, as companies are winding up the calendar first quarter and won’t be declaring their next distributions until next month.

However, calendar fourth quarter reporting requires considerably more legal filings. That means it typically takes several weeks longer for many companies to compete filings than it does other times of the year. And the good news is several later reporters did come in with encouraging news and guidance.

Summit Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: SMLP) is cutting its quarterly payout in half from 57.5 cents to 28.75 cents. Management called the move a “repositioning” to “fund attractive growth opportunities and maintain a prudent capital structure.” The partnership also swapped its general partner’s IDRs for 8.75 million new common units, boosting outstanding shares by roughly 12 percent.

No companies on either the Endangered Dividends List or within our energy stock coverage universes have announced dividend cuts since the previous issue. That includes Sanchez Midstream Partners (NYSE: SNMP), which maintained its payout this month despite the apparent slide toward bankruptcy of its parent and leading customer Sanchez Energy Corp (NYSE: SN).

This dividend declaration season, five companies announced dividend distribution cuts. All operate in more leveraged sectors of the energy industry. The chief catalyst was the autumn retreat in benchmark oil prices, coupled with some extremely wide differences in regional pricing.

American Midstream Partners (NYSE: AMID) will eliminate its distribution this month. That follows a 75 percent cut announced in July, which was preceded by a more modest 12.7 percent trimming two years earlier.

The immediate catalyst is a restated credit agreement, which based on expected fourth quarter financials would preclude management’s ability to pay a distribution.