3 Brilliant LNG Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term

Industry Overview - The liquified natural gas (LNG) market is rapidly growing as Asian countries transition from coal to natural gas to reduce emissions [1] - The U.S. LNG export market is expanding due to an abundance of natural gas, with Shell predicting a 60% increase in LNG demand by 2040 [1] Company: Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer operates one of the largest integrated midstream energy systems in the U.S., with a strong position in natural gas transportation and storage [2][4] - The company is investing $5 billion in capital expenditures by 2025 to capture AI-driven power demand and increase LNG export volumes [3] - Energy Transfer has a well-covered distribution with over 2x coverage last quarter, and 90% of its EBITDA comes from fee-based contracts, providing stable cash flows [4] Company: Williams Companies - Williams owns the Transco pipeline system, connecting Appalachian gas fields to high-demand centers, benefiting from the shift from coal to gas and rising LNG exports [8] - The company has eight major expansions planned for Transco through 2030, supported by long-term contracts, and is also focusing on data center projects [9] - Williams is expanding its position in the Haynesville Basin, which is well-positioned for future LNG export growth [10] Company: Cheniere Energy - Cheniere Energy is the largest LNG exporter in the U.S., owning the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals [11] - The company operates on a business model of long-term, take-or-pay contracts, with 95% of its capacity contracted until the mid-2030s [12] - Cheniere is expanding its capacity through the CCL Stage 3 project, with expectations of producing 47 million to 48 million tons of LNG in 2025 [13][14]