Should You Buy Energy Transfer Stock While It's Below $20?

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer is a major player in North America's energy infrastructure, offering a reliable 7.5% yield, but trust issues stemming from past performance may deter conservative income investors [1] Business Overview - Energy Transfer operates a complex business model that includes its own midstream assets and the management of two other publicly traded MLPs, Sunoco LP and USA Compression Partners, with management fees contributing about 15% to adjusted EBITDA [2] - The company's distributable cash flow for the first nine months of 2025 comfortably covered its distribution by 1.8 times, with a financial debt-to-EBITDA ratio of approximately 4.2, indicating manageable leverage [3] Future Prospects - Energy Transfer has planned $5.5 billion in capital investment projects for 2026, which is expected to support distribution growth of 3% to 5%, aligning with its long-term goal of becoming a more reliable income investment [4] Historical Challenges - The main concern for conservative investors is the company's past performance, particularly during the 2020 downturn when it cut its distribution in half due to the pandemic's impact on oil prices, which may lead to skepticism about its reliability as an income source [5][6] - Although the distribution has since recovered and surpassed pre-cut levels, the historical decision to cut may still influence investor sentiment [6] Summary - Energy Transfer is a significant midstream business in North America with a strong cash flow covering its yield, solid future growth prospects, but historical issues may pose challenges for conservative investors [7]