Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at various firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional with degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Master's in Engineering focused on applied mathematics and machine learning [1] - Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group, collaborating with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake to balance safety, growth, yield, and value in investment strategies [2] Group 2 - High Yield Investor provides real-money core, retirement, and international portfolios, along with regular trade alerts and educational content [2] - The service includes an active chat room for investors to share insights and strategies [2]

MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX ) delivered a total -5.6% return to investors since my previous bullish call , underperforming compared to the broader equity market. In my opinion, this relative weakness is explained by the overall market's sentimentI am a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with a strong background in the oilfield and real estate industries. With over a decade of experience in finance, I have led numerous complex due diligence efforts and M&A transactions, both domestically and internatio ...

MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX ) delivered a total -5.6% return to investors since my previous bullish call , underperforming compared to the broader equity market. In my opinion, this relative weakness is explained by the overall market's sentimentI am a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with a strong background in the oilfield and real estate industries. With over a decade of experience in finance, I have led numerous complex due diligence efforts and M&A transactions, both domestically and internatio ...

Core Viewpoint - The energy sector has underperformed since the new bull market began in 2022, with the S&P 500 Energy Index only up about 3% compared to a 14% gain in the overall market [1][2]. Industry Performance - Energy stocks have struggled due to concerns over slowing global demand and a shift in investor preference towards higher-growth sectors like technology and communication services [2][3]. - Oil prices have decreased to approximately $61 per barrel, struggling to surpass the $70 psychological level [3]. - The energy sector is currently trading at significant discounts, presenting a higher risk-reward profile compared to the broader market, which is facing premium valuations [4]. Long-term Outlook - The long-term outlook for the energy sector remains positive, bolstered by a $750 billion trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union, which mandates the EU to purchase U.S. energy exports over the next three years [5][6]. - Achieving the $750 billion target is ambitious, as current import levels are under $100 billion, requiring the EU to import 67% of its energy needs from the U.S. [6]. Methodology for Stock Selection - The list of the most profitable energy stocks was compiled using Finviz to screen for companies with positive earnings and over $1 billion in trailing twelve-month (TTM) net income, focusing on those with a TTM Operating Margin of at least 15% and popularity among elite hedge funds [8]. - The strategy of selecting stocks that hedge funds favor has historically outperformed the market, with a reported return of 427.7% since May 2014 [9]. Notable Energy Stocks - **Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES)**: TTM Operating Margin of 43.29%, TTM Net Income of $1.27 billion, and 5 hedge fund holders. UBS has a 'Neutral' rating with a $40 price target, awaiting the completion of a $1.4 billion acquisition [10][11]. - **MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX)**: TTM Operating Margin of 39.64%, TTM Net Income of $4.31 billion, and 13 hedge fund holders. UBS has a 'Buy' rating with a $64 price target, citing expected volume growth and an increase in EBITDA estimates [13][14].

Core Viewpoint - MPLX LP's stock performance has lagged behind major indices, with a recent closing price of $48.53, reflecting a -1.6% change from the previous day and a 3.31% decline over the past month [1][2] Company Performance - The upcoming earnings report for MPLX LP is scheduled for November 4, 2025, with an expected EPS of $1.11, indicating a 9.9% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue is forecasted to be $3.29 billion, representing a growth of 10.57% compared to the same quarter last year [2] - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $4.38 per share and revenue at $12.73 billion, showing increases of +4.04% and +6.64% respectively from the prior year [3] Analyst Sentiment - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for MPLX LP are crucial, as positive changes indicate optimism regarding the company's business and profitability [3] - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has increased by 0.62% over the past month, but MPLX LP currently holds a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [5] Valuation Metrics - MPLX LP has a Forward P/E ratio of 11.27, which is lower than the industry average of 16.34 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.34, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.23, suggesting a more favorable valuation relative to expected earnings growth [7] Industry Context - The Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry, to which MPLX LP belongs, ranks in the bottom 29% of all industries, with a current Zacks Industry Rank of 177 [8]

Core Insights - Investing in high-yielding dividend stocks like MPLX and Clearway Energy can generate significant passive income, with a combined annual income of nearly $68 from a $1,000 investment [1] Group 1: MPLX Overview - MPLX is a master limited partnership (MLP) that operates energy midstream assets, providing stable cash flow through long-term contracts [2] - The company generated over $2.9 billion in distributable cash flow in the first half of the year, covering its distribution comfortably by 1.5 times [3] - MPLX has multiple expansion projects, including gas pipelines and processing plants, expected to enhance future cash flow growth through 2029 [4] Group 2: Financial Flexibility and Growth - MPLX maintains a leverage ratio of 3.1 times, allowing for acquisitions and investments, including a $2.4 billion purchase of Northwind Midstream [5] - The company has consistently increased its distribution since 2012, with a compound annual growth rate of over 10% since 2021, indicating strong earnings growth potential [6] Group 3: Clearway Energy Overview - Clearway Energy owns a diverse portfolio of clean power assets, generating predictable cash flow through long-term power purchase agreements [7] - The company expects to produce $2.08 per share of cash available for dividends (CAFD) this year, exceeding its current annual dividend rate of $1.78 per share [8] Group 4: Future Growth and Dividend Plans - Clearway is upgrading existing wind farms and acquiring new projects, aiming to increase its CAFD to over $2.50 per share by 2027, representing over 20% growth [9][10] - The company plans to raise its dividend to $1.98 per share by 2027, which is more than 11% above the current rate, with continued growth expected beyond 2027 [10] Group 5: Investment Appeal - Both MPLX and Clearway Energy generate stable cash flow, enabling high-yield dividends while expanding operations, making them attractive options for durable and rising passive income [11]

Group 1 - The article discusses the impact of government shutdowns on stock investments, suggesting that historical data indicates portfolios typically remain stable during such events [2] - It recommends investing in dividend-paying stocks to mitigate concerns about short-term market performance, highlighting Pfizer and MPLX LP as attractive options due to their high yields [3] Group 2 - Pfizer's sales from COVID-related products have significantly declined, and it faces upcoming patent expirations that could reduce annual sales by $17 billion to $18 billion from 2025 to 2030 [4][5] - Despite these challenges, Pfizer has a robust late-stage development pipeline and expects acquired products to generate $20 billion in annual revenue by 2030, which could positively impact future revenue projections [6][7] - Pfizer currently offers a dividend yield of 6.4%, while MPLX LP provides a yield above 7%, indicating potential for continued dividend growth for both companies [9]

Core Viewpoint - David Tepper, founder of Appaloosa Management, emphasizes investing in undervalued stocks with strong fundamentals, disregarding market sentiment [1][2] Market Sentiment and Economic Outlook - Tepper expresses a cautious yet constructive outlook on the U.S. stock market, anticipating two more rate cuts by the Fed this year [2] - He highlights the importance of monitoring 10-year Treasury yields and 30-year mortgage rates, suggesting potential boosts for housing-related assets if rates decline [2] Investment Strategy - Tepper's investment strategy focuses on value and long-term growth, with a portfolio that includes energy stocks, Nvidia, and AI companies [3] - He encourages investors to remain engaged in the market, indicating ongoing opportunities despite economic challenges [3] Methodology for Stock Selection - The top 10 long-term stocks are derived from Appaloosa Management's Q2 2025 13F portfolio, focusing on companies held for at least five consecutive years [5] - Hedge fund sentiment is analyzed using Insider Monkey's database to rank stocks based on Appaloosa's stake percentage [5] Stock Highlights - **MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX)** - Portfolio Holding Value: $29.80 million, representing 0.46% of Appaloosa's portfolio [8] - Expected Q3 2025 earnings per share: $1.10, with revenue estimated at $3.16 billion [9] - Average price target of $57 implies a 14.11% upside from current levels [11] - **Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET)** - Portfolio Holding Value: $89.87 million, representing 1.39% of Appaloosa's portfolio [12] - Wells Fargo maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $23, indicating a potential 34.03% upside [14] - Anticipated catalysts include new pipeline projects and expansions that could enhance growth [13]

MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) is among the most profitable oil stocks to buy now. Analysts at Wells Fargo have reiterated their ‘Overweight’ rating on MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX), while cutting the price target to $59.00 from $60.00, implying a potential surge of about 18%. This 1.67% price target reduction is driven by the company’s recent sale of its Rockies gathering and processing (G&P) assets. The research firm believes that this transfer of assets could impact the company’s future earnings, particularly the EBITDA. A ...

Recently, MPLX has been conducting transactions designed to streamline its operations and to expand its active natural gas assets. In August, the company entered into a billion-dollar agreement to divest its gathering and processing assets in the Rocky Mountain region. The agreement, with Harvest Midstream, is expected to close during the fourth quarter of this year.The first stock on our list here is MPLX, a $52 billion player in North America’s energy sector midstream segment. Midstream companies own and ...