2 No-Brainer, High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now for Less Than $1,000

Industry Overview - Natural gas demand is projected to grow significantly by 2030, driven by increasing power needs in the U.S. and globally, leading to robust cash flows for natural gas infrastructure operators [1] - The growth in demand is expected to be fueled by rising U.S. power and industrial demand, as well as increasing LNG and Mexican exports [4] Kinder Morgan - Kinder Morgan operates the largest natural gas transmission network in the U.S., with 66,000 miles of pipelines transporting 40% of the country's gas production [2] - The company expects to generate approximately $5 billion in cash flow this year, with $2.6 billion allocated for dividends, while retaining the remainder for expansion projects [2] - Kinder Morgan has $5.2 billion in expansion projects underway, with half expected to contribute to cash flow by the end of next year, including a $1.7 billion pipeline expansion for Southeastern markets [3] - The company anticipates a 20 Bcf/d increase in gas demand by 2030, with data centers potentially adding an incremental 3 Bcf/d to 10 Bcf/d of demand [4] - Kinder Morgan has increased its dividend for seven consecutive years, currently yielding nearly 5%, translating to over $5 of dividend income for every $100 invested [3] Williams - Williams owns over 33,000 miles of pipelines, transporting a third of the gas used in the U.S., with its Transco system being the largest gas pipeline by volume [5] - The company expects to produce about $5 billion in funds from operations this year, comfortably covering its nearly 4% dividend by 2.2 times [5] - Williams plans to invest an average of $1.7 billion in expansion projects over the next two years, adding 4.2 Bcf/d of capacity through 2027 [6] - The company projects a 5% to 7% annual growth rate in dividends through at least next year, with additional growth potential from 30 more gas transmission-expansion projects that could add 11.5 Bcf/d by 2032 [6][7] Investment Outlook - Both Kinder Morgan and Williams generate stable cash flows from their natural gas infrastructure, allowing for high-yield dividends and investments in expansion [8] - The anticipated growth in gas demand positions these companies for strong total returns in the coming years as they capitalize on market opportunities [8]