The Motley Fool·2025-12-02 20:00Core Insights - The midstream master limited partnership (MLP) sector offers high-yield stocks with potential for passive income and price appreciation, benefiting from tax-deferred distribution income [2] - The midstream industry is in strong financial health, with stocks trading below historical enterprise value-to-EBITDA multiples, and has eliminated unfavorable incentive distribution rights [3] Company Analysis: Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer has an 8% yield and operates one of the largest integrated midstream systems in the U.S., focusing on growth opportunities in the Permian Basin [5] - The company has budgeted $4.6 billion in growth capital expenditures for the current year and $5 billion for 2026, expecting mid-teens returns on this spending [7] - Energy Transfer's leverage is low, with a distribution coverage ratio of 1.7 times, and it anticipates annual distribution increases of 3% to 5% [8] - The stock trades at a forward EV/EBITDA multiple of 7.6 times, indicating it is undervalued based on projected adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 billion for 2026 [9] Company Analysis: Western Midstream - Western Midstream offers a 9.3% yield, with its distribution well-covered by free cash flow and a strong balance sheet, showing leverage of just 2.8 times [10] - The company is expanding its produced water infrastructure, having acquired Aris Water Solutions and is developing the Pathfinder Pipeline, both expected to drive growth [12] - Despite the high yield, Western Midstream aims for mid-single-digit distribution growth and trades at a forward EV/EBITDA multiple of 8.1 based on 2026 EBITDA estimates of $2.79 billion [13]