Forbes·2025-09-21 14:30Industry Overview - The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming it from a tech story into a power story, as AI requires significant energy resources, primarily natural gas [3] - New data centers, essential for AI deployment, are predominantly powered by gas-fired plants, indicating a growing demand for natural gas pipelines [3] Company Insights - Chesapeake Energy merged with Southwestern Energy to form Expand Energy, which is now the largest natural gas producer in the U.S., with a production capacity expected to grow from 7.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to 7.5 Bcf/d by 2026 [5][6] - Expand Energy anticipates a substantial increase in free cash flow, projecting $425 million and $500 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively, due to synergies from the merger and reduced operating expenses [7] - ONEOK operates approximately 60,000 miles of pipelines and has seen increased demand from AI firms for its infrastructure, indicating a shift in focus from tech companies to energy needs [10][11] - Energy Transfer LP has over 130,000 miles of pipelines and has been increasing its distribution consistently since 2021, with rising natural gas demand expected to support this trend [14][15] Financial Performance - Expand Energy has committed to doubling its debt reduction to $1 billion in 2025 and has announced a variable dividend of 89 cents per share, increasing its yield from 2.4% to 3.3% [8] - ONEOK's long-term debt is approximately $30 billion, which is two-thirds of its $45 billion market cap, indicating a significant leverage position [13] - Energy Transfer has signed agreements to supply natural gas to data centers and is expanding its Transwestern Pipeline with a $5.3 billion investment to meet growing demand in Arizona and New Mexico [16][17]