ZACKSยท2025-09-05 16:06Industry Overview - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry consists of companies that own and operate midstream energy infrastructure assets, including extensive pipeline networks for transporting crude oil, liquids, and natural gas [3] - Companies in this industry are also involved in processing and storing natural gas, with interests in natural gas distribution utilities serving millions of retail customers across North America [3] - Some firms are increasing investments in renewable energy and power transmission, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects, allowing for additional cash flow generation alongside stable fee-based revenues from transportation assets [3] Current Market Environment - The crude pricing environment is expected to remain favorable for upstream operations, leading to stable demand for transportation and storage [1] - The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts the average spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude at $63.58 per barrel for this year, lower than last year's $76.60, but still indicating stable demand for crude transportation and storage activities [4] Revenue Stability - Companies in the industry benefit from stable fee-based revenues due to long-term contracts, primarily take-or-pay contracts, ensuring predictable cash flow generation [2][5] - The midstream assets are typically booked for the long term, making the business model less vulnerable to volatility in oil and natural gas prices [5] Demand Drivers - There is a rising demand for natural gas from data centers, positioning natural gas transportation companies to benefit as they can transport gas to power plants supplying electricity to these centers [6] - The industry's outlook is brightened by the increasing clean energy demand, which enhances the prospects for natural gas transportation companies [1][6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry has outperformed the S&P 500 Composite and the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector over the past year, with a 24.1% increase compared to the S&P 500's 21.4% and the sector's 9% growth [9][10] - The industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 76, placing it in the top 31% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects [7][8] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month enterprise value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio of 13.86X, lower than the S&P 500's 17.95X but above the sector's 5.05X [13] - Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 14.94X and as low as 9.31X, with a median of 12.64X [13] Key Players - Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) is a major North American midstream energy company with stable fee-based revenues and strong growth potential from increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand [16] - Enbridge Inc. (ENB) has a business model with low exposure to oil and natural gas price volatility, generating nearly 98% of its EBITDA from long-term contracts or regulated cash flows [18][20] - The Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) is well-positioned to capitalize on rising clean energy demand, with a network that transports approximately 33% of the total natural gas used in the U.S. [23]