Kinder’s Dividend Decision: Prudence, Not Weakness
Back in 2017, financially recovering Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI) promised investors three dividend increases. But this week, it offered up a 5 percent lift for 2020, just 20 percent of what was promised. Under normal conditions, I’d view a shortfall like this as a potential warning of underlying business weakness – here’s why in this case, it’s not.
Energy Bonds Are Ripe Again
Nothing incites investor panic like a fast-falling safe haven. But the Federal Reserve’s Monday announcement abruptly calmed what had been a growing rout in corporate as well as municipal debt. What’s left now is a massive supply of bonds with the highest yields since 2008.
The Hammer Falls on Sanchez: Who’s Next?
Eagle Ford, Texas-based midstream company Sanchez Midstream Partners (NYSE: SNMP) eliminated its quarterly distributions this week after the bankruptcy filing of its largest customer and general partner, Sanchez Energy Corp (OTC: SNECQ). The important question for most energy sector investors now is where the hammer will fall next.
There’s Still Life in MLPs
The conventional wisdom is the MLP sector is dead money. That’s a mistake for several reasons.
Why Nontraditional Master Limited Partnerships Have Outperformed in 2018
A lack of market depth means that some of the highest-quality master limited partnerships have struggled to gain traction this year, helpting to explain why many of this year’s top performers come from off the beaten path.
Focus List Update: Holding Their Own
Our stock selection in the upstream segment has proved fortuitous in an earnings season where the market has punished companies that reported disappointing results and/or guidance.
US Shale Operators: Showing Restraint, Or Encountering Constraints?
In the past, we’ve argued (correctly) that market participants and investors who bet against the resilience and potential upside in US oil production do so at their own peril. However, with the market now accustomed to these upside surprises, investors shouldn’t overlook the potential constraints on US production growth.
Focus List (Mostly) Outperforms and Portfolio Updates
The improved outlook for oil prices and the rotation into energy stocks has lifted most boats in the sector, though we’re pleased that nine of the 13 names on our Focus List have outperformed the S&P 500 Energy Index over an equivalent holding period. We review our Focus List and discuss earnings and other pertinent developments affecting our Portfolio holdings.
Positioning the Portfolios for 2018
Many investors’ tax rates will come down in 2018, making the next few trading days your best opportunity for taking tax losses on any underwater positions that may take time to recover. With investors facing higher tax liabilities in 2017 than next year, the benefit of writing off a loser is that much greater.
Of course, we prefer to avoid taking any losses and run the Energy & Income Advisor Portfolios with an eye toward long-run returns. However, given the sector’s recent down-cycle and the topsy-turvy performance of many energy sub-industries over the past few years, we have a few positions that haven’t worked out because of timing issues or a faulty investment thesis. These sales will help to offset the handful of gains that we took over the course of the year.
Focus List: Upgrades and a Value Swap
We swap one value-oriented play on the Permian Basin for one that offers exposure to more near-term upside catalysts.
Live Chat with
Elliott and Roger on Sep. 27, 2022
Portfolios & Ratings
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