As we write this issue, the yield on 10-year US government bonds is just 2.12%, down from north of 3.2% as recently as November 2018.

Against that pay-nothing interest rate backdrop, you’d think MLPs with an average yield closer to 8% would be attracting attention from yield-hungry investors.

However, returns from MLPs have been mixed at best over the past year as investor fret about several issues including potential exposure to energy commodity prices, rising cost of capital, and MLP-to-corporation conversions.

In June each year, we conduct a detailed deep-dive analysis of the MLP industry timed to coincide with the conclusion of the annual MLP Association Conference. And we reveal the results of this analysis in the pages of Energy & Income Advisor.

This week, in Part I, we present our discussions surrounding 6 crucial, hot button “talking points” that are receiving the most attention from MLP investors these days and offer some of our top recommendations in the industry.

Around the middle of the month, we’ll be back with Part II of our Inside MLPs Mid-Year Review.