ENB vs. KMI: Which Midstream Giant Looks Stronger Today?

Core Insights - Enbridge Inc. (ENB) and Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) are midstream energy companies that are less affected by commodity price volatility due to their business models [2] - Over the past year, ENB's stock has increased by 35.7%, while KMI's stock surged by 51.5%, indicating KMI's stronger short-term performance [3] - A deeper analysis of the underlying business fundamentals and long-term outlook is necessary to assess the investment potential of both companies [3] Enbridge Inc. (ENB) - ENB generates 98% of its EBITDA from regulated or take-or-pay contracts, providing strong cash flow stability [5][6] - More than 80% of ENB's profits are inflation-adjusted, which supports earnings and dividends in high-cost environments [6] - ENB has a history of increasing dividends for 30 consecutive years, positioning it as a dividend aristocrat in the energy sector [9] - The company anticipates approximately 5% annual business growth through 2030, indicating a solid long-term outlook [10] - ENB is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 15.05x, reflecting a premium over KMI's 14.54x [12] Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) - KMI generates nearly two-thirds of its EBITDA from long-term take-or-pay contracts, ensuring steady cash flows [8] - KMI follows a more conservative dividend policy, having raised its dividend by nearly 2% in the first quarter of the year, but its previous dividend cut in 2015 remains a concern for income-focused investors [11] - KMI is also rated 3 (Hold) by Zacks, indicating stable fee-based revenues but less favorable compared to ENB [13][16]