Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) has entered into an agreement to acquire a 40% joint interest in the Bahia natural gas liquids (NGLs) pipeline from Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), which is currently in the commissioning phase and expected to begin commercial services soon [1][8] Group 1: Agreement Details - Under the agreement, ExxonMobil will contribute $650 million towards the construction costs of the pipeline project [2] - The Bahia NGL pipeline will span 550 miles and transport NGLs from the Midland and Delaware basins to EPD's Mont Belvieu fractionation facility in Texas, with an initial transportation capacity of 600,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) [2][8] - The transaction is expected to be finalized by early 2026 [2] Group 2: Planned Expansion - ExxonMobil and Enterprise plan to expand the Bahia pipeline's capacity to 1 million bbl/d after the deal closes, which includes enhancing pumping capacity and constructing a 92-mile extension to ExxonMobil's Cowboy natural gas processing plant in Eddy County, NM [3] - The expansion project is anticipated to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027 [3] Group 3: Market Context - The NGL production from the Permian Basin is expected to increase by more than 30% between 2024 and 2030, driving the need for midstream investments like the Bahia pipeline [4] - The Bahia pipeline will be crucial for transporting the growing NGL volumes from the Permian to the Mont Belvieu fractionation complex, benefiting both ExxonMobil and Enterprise [4]

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD) is a leading midstream player with a robust pipeline network exceeding 50,000 miles, providing stability against oil and natural gas price volatility [1] - EPD is positioned to enhance cash flows through $5.1 billion in major capital projects currently under construction, including the Mentone West 2 and Athena projects [2][3] Group 1: Capital Projects - The Mentone West 2 project is a natural gas processing plant in Delaware with a capacity of 300 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), expected to be operational by the first half of 2026 [3] - The Athena project, located in Midland, also has a processing capacity of 300 MMcf/d [3] Group 2: Industry Comparison - Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) has a growth capital backlog of $9.3 billion, while Enbridge Inc. (ENB) has secured capital projects worth C$35 billion, indicating a strong position for both companies to generate additional cash flows [4] Group 3: Price Performance and Valuation - EPD units have appreciated by 4.1% over the past year, contrasting with a 10.8% decline in the broader industry [5][7] - EPD's trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio stands at 10.45X, slightly below the industry average of 10.47X [8]

Core Viewpoint - Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) offers a high dividend yield of 6.8%, making it attractive for dividend investors, but potential buyers should be aware of specific tax implications associated with its structure as a master limited partnership (MLP) [1][8]. Group 1: Industry Overview - Enterprise operates in the midstream energy sector, which involves the transportation and storage of oil and gas, positioned between upstream (exploration and production) and downstream (refining and marketing) [3][4]. - Midstream companies like Enterprise own critical infrastructure assets such as pipelines and storage facilities, allowing them to transport and store both unrefined and refined products [4]. Group 2: Revenue Generation - The company primarily focuses on natural gas liquids (NGLs) and owns an extensive network of pipelines and processing facilities in Texas and Louisiana, generating revenue by charging fees to upstream and downstream companies for using its infrastructure [5][6]. - Enterprise typically enters into long-term contracts with customers, ensuring a steady stream of recurring revenue, even if customers do not utilize the full capacity they have purchased [6]. Group 3: Tax Implications - As a master limited partnership (MLP), Enterprise can provide substantial dividends due to favorable tax treatment, as it distributes nearly all operating cash flow to shareholders [7]. - However, MLP income is reported on a K-1 form, which may complicate tax reporting, particularly for shares held in non-tax-advantaged accounts, necessitating awareness of specific tax requirements [8].

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil is acquiring a 40% stake in the Bahia natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline from Enterprise Products Partners to enhance gas takeaway capacity in the Permian basin [1][2]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by early 2026 [2]. - The Bahia pipeline, spanning 550 miles, will initially transport 600,000 barrels per day of NGLs from the Midland and Delaware basins to the Mont Belvieu fractionation complex [2]. - Upon closing the transaction, the capacity of the Bahia pipeline is planned to be increased to 1 million barrels per day by adding pumping capacity and constructing a 92-mile extension to ExxonMobil's Cowboy natural gas processing plant [3]. Group 2: Expansion Plans - The extension will connect to multiple Enterprise-owned processing facilities in the Delaware Basin, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2027 [4]. - Enterprise will operate the combined system, which includes the new "Cowboy Connector" [4]. Group 3: Market Context - The ratio of natural gas and NGL production to crude oil production is increasing in the Permian, making the Bahia pipeline crucial for delivering mixed NGLs to the Mont Belvieu complex [5]. - NGL production in the Permian Basin is projected to rise by over 30% between 2024 and 2030, highlighting the need for expanded takeaway capacity [6]. - ExxonMobil views the Permian as a core area for production growth, contributing to its strong third-quarter results [6].

Core Points - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has elected Michael C. "Tug" Hanley as executive vice president and chief commercial officer effective December 1, 2025 [1][2] - Hanley has been with Enterprise since 2006 and has nearly twenty years of experience in various commercial roles [2] - The commercial leadership team will report to Hanley, who will report to co-CEO A.J. "Jim" Teague [2][3] Company Overview - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is a leading North American provider of midstream energy services, including natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals [3] - The company operates over 50,000 miles of pipelines and has a storage capacity of over 300 million barrels for various products, along with 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity [3]

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners has entered into an agreement with ExxonMobil for the expansion of the Bahia natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline and joint interest acquisition, with ExxonMobil acquiring a 40% undivided joint interest in the pipeline [1][2] Pipeline Expansion Details - The Bahia pipeline, which spans 550 miles (885 km), has an initial capacity of 600,000 barrels per day for transporting NGLs, with plans to increase this capacity to one million barrels per day by adding pumping capacity [1][2] - The acquisition transaction is expected to close by early 2026, pending regulatory approvals, and the expansion and extension are scheduled for completion in Q4 2027 [2][3] Strategic Importance - The pipeline will transport NGLs from the Midland and Delaware basins in West Texas to Enterprise's Mont Belvieu fractionation complex, serving as a critical artery for mixed NGL delivery [2][4] - From 2024 to 2030, NGL production in the Permian Basin is projected to increase by over 30%, highlighting the need for expanded takeaway capacity [4] Operational Aspects - Enterprise will operate the combined system, which includes a 92-mile extension to ExxonMobil's Cowboy natural gas processing plant in Eddy County, New Mexico, connecting to several Enterprise-owned processing facilities [2][3] Financial Implications - ExxonMobil's expanded pipeline project aims to connect its growing production in the Permian Basin to US Gulf Coast refining and chemical facilities, enhancing logistics flexibility and delivering long-term value for shareholders [5]

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil will acquire a 40% stake in Enterprise Products Partners' Bahia natural gas liquids pipeline [1] Company Summary - Enterprise Products Partners announced the sale of a 40% stake in its Bahia natural gas liquids pipeline to Exxon Mobil [1] Industry Summary - The transaction highlights ongoing investment and interest in natural gas infrastructure, particularly in the context of increasing demand for natural gas liquids [1]

Core Insights - Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are leading energy midstream companies in the U.S. with attractive income yields of 7.8% and 6.9% respectively, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.2% [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Energy Transfer generated $1.9 billion in cash during Q3, covering its distribution by approximately 1.7 times and retaining over $750 million [4] - Enterprise Products Partners generated $1.8 billion in cash during Q3, covering its distribution by 1.5 times and retaining $635 million [7] Group 2: Growth Outlook - Energy Transfer plans to invest $4.6 billion in growth capital projects this year and an additional $5 billion in 2026, with a significant project being the $5.3 billion Desert Southwest Expansion expected to complete by Q4 2029 [5] - Energy Transfer is also developing various expansion projects, including a large-scale LNG export terminal and oil pipeline expansions, enhancing its growth prospects [6] Group 3: Valuation and Payout - Enterprise Products Partners pays out a higher percentage of its stable cash flow compared to Energy Transfer but has a lower yield due to its higher valuation, trading at about 12 times earnings compared to Energy Transfer's valuation of approximately nine times earnings [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend growth investing, focusing on acquiring stocks that provide consistent cash flow and long-term growth potential [1]. Group 1: Author Background - The author, Kody, has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since 2009 [2]. - Kody runs a blog called Kody's Dividends, which documents his journey towards financial independence through dividend growth investing [2]. - The author has a beneficial long position in shares of EPD, NVDA, AMZN, and GOOGL, indicating a personal investment strategy aligned with the article's focus [2]. Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The article advocates for building a portfolio filled with "golden geese" and "cash cows," which are terms used to describe reliable dividend-paying stocks [1]. - The approach aims to transform the dream of financial independence into a reality through strategic investment in dividend growth stocks [2].

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and Energy Transfer (ET) are leading integrated and diversified North American master limited partnerships (MLP) providing extensive energy infrastructure [1] Group 1: Company Overview - EPD and ET offer energy shippers a comprehensive network of pipelines, processing plants, storage facilities, and export capabilities [1] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach is characterized by a long-term, top-down strategy focusing on macro and secular trends, durable themes, and industries with strong fundamentals [1] - The portfolio typically consists of 8–12 concentrated holdings, emphasizing a buy-and-hold philosophy to allow long-term ideas to compound [1]