MPLX has plenty of fuel to continue growing its high-yielding distribution.MPLX (MPLX +1.59%) has been an exceptional income investment over the years. The master limited partnership (MLP) has increased its distribution every year since its formation in 2012. The energy midstream giant currently offers a 7.4% yield, which is several times above the S&P 500's 1.1% dividend yield. The energy company has a strong financial profile and lots of growth coming down the pipeline. As a result, you can buy the MLP (w ...

Core Viewpoint - High-quality, high-yielding dividend stocks are expected to provide a growing passive income stream, with several companies demonstrating decades of consistent dividend growth [1] Group 1: Clearway Energy - Clearway Energy is a leader in clean power generation, owning a large portfolio of renewable energy and natural gas assets secured by long-term power purchase agreements, yielding a dividend of 4.7% [3][4] - The company aims to retain about 30% of its stable cash flows for reinvestment in additional income-producing clean power assets, expecting a cash flow per share growth of 7% to 8% annually through 2030 [4] - Clearway's market capitalization is $4.7 billion, with a current price of $39.58 and a dividend yield of 4.46% [5][6] Group 2: Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer operates energy midstream infrastructure, generating stable cash flow primarily through fee-based revenue, with a dividend yield of 7.1% [6][7] - The MLP retains nearly half of its stable cash flow for reinvestment, planning to invest at least $5 billion in expansion projects this year, which will support a dividend growth of 3% to 5% annually [7] - Energy Transfer's market capitalization is $65 billion, with a current price of $18.98 and a dividend yield of 6.98% [8][9] Group 3: Realty Income - Realty Income is one of the largest REITs, owning a diversified portfolio of properties secured by long-term net leases, yielding a monthly dividend of 4.9% [10][11] - The REIT retains about 25% of its stable cash flow for reinvestment and has a strong balance sheet, allowing for consistent dividend increases for over three decades [11] - Realty Income's market capitalization is $61 billion, with a current price of $66.10 [12] Group 4: Verizon - Verizon is a leading provider of mobile and internet services, generating significant recurring revenue, which supports a dividend yield of 5.8% [13][14] - The company expects to generate $21.5 billion in free cash flow this year, significantly exceeding its annual dividend payments, allowing for debt repayment and strategic investments [14][15] - Verizon has extended its dividend growth streak to 19 years, indicating strong financial health [15] Group 5: Summary of Investment Opportunities - Clearway Energy, Energy Transfer, Realty Income, and Verizon are highlighted as top dividend stocks, backed by stable cash flows and strong financial profiles, making them ideal for long-term passive income [16]

Group 1 - The article discusses the initiation of coverage on the energy midstream company ONEOK (OKE) with a bullish thesis, coinciding with rising optimism around AI technology [1] - The author has over a decade of experience in finance, particularly in the oilfield and real estate industries, and has led complex due diligence and M&A transactions [1] - The author has developed an interest in equity research and provides services for a Dubai-based family office with over $20 million in assets under management [1] Group 2 - The author emphasizes the ability to analyze financial statements, evaluate market trends, and identify growth drivers across different industries [1] - There is a commitment to staying updated on the latest developments in equity research and a focus on professional development [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of generating passive income through investments in dividend stocks, highlighting specific companies that provide stable cash flows and consistent dividend growth. Group 1: Brookfield Infrastructure - Brookfield Infrastructure owns a diversified portfolio of infrastructure businesses, including pipelines, toll roads, electricity transmission lines, and data centers, generating $2.6 billion in cash flow last year, with a dividend yield of 3.6% [3][4]. - The company has increased its dividend by 6%, marking its 17th consecutive year of dividend hikes, with expectations for continued income growth [4]. - Brookfield is investing heavily in expanding its infrastructure portfolio, including data centers and semiconductor foundries, and expects over 10% annual cash flow per share growth, supporting 5% to 9% annual dividend growth [5]. Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners is a leading U.S. energy midstream company that operates pipelines and processing plants, offering a current yield of 6.2% and has increased its payment by 2.8% over the past year, extending its growth streak to 27 consecutive years [6]. - The company completed $6 billion in major expansion projects in the second half of last year, which will drive earnings growth in 2026, and plans to invest at least $2.5 billion into expansion projects this year [7]. - These expansion projects are expected to provide incremental cash flow sources, supporting continued distribution increases through the end of next year [7].

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500's dividend yield is currently around 1.1%, near an all-time low, driven by rising stock prices and a reduced focus on dividends by many companies. However, there are notable exceptions with high dividend yields, including three significant stocks offering yields up to 12.5% [1]. Group 1: AGNC Investment - AGNC Investment leads with a 12.5% dividend yield, paying dividends monthly, which enhances its appeal for passive income [4]. - The company invests in Agency MBS, a $9.2 trillion market, leveraging these fixed-income assets to boost returns [5]. - Current strong market conditions for Agency MBS, along with falling interest rates, suggest AGNC can maintain its high monthly dividend [6]. Group 2: Ares Capital - Ares Capital has a 10% dividend yield, providing direct loans to middle-market companies, which generates interest income to support its dividend [7]. - The company has maintained or increased its dividend for over 16 consecutive years, with core earnings exceeding dividend payments, providing a cushion for potential earnings dips [8]. - Ares Capital's strong financial profile and record level of new investments position it well for continued dividend support [9]. Group 3: Western Midstream Partners - Western Midstream Partners currently yields 8.9%, operating a portfolio of energy midstream assets, including pipelines and processing plants [11]. - The majority of its assets generate stable cash flow through long-term, fixed-fee contracts, contributing to its dividend sustainability [11].

Core Viewpoint - Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) is a strong income-generating investment with a current yield of 6.3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.1% [1] Financial Performance - The company has increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years, indicating a strong commitment to returning value to investors [1] - The most recent quarterly distribution payment was set at $0.55 per unit, reflecting a 2.8% increase year-over-year [4] - In 2025, Enterprise Products Partners generated $7.9 billion in operational distributable cash flow, covering its distribution by 1.7 times and allowing for $3.2 billion in retained cash for reinvestment [7] Investment Requirements - To generate $1,000 in annual passive income, an investment of approximately $15,900 is needed at the current unit price of around $35, compared to over $87,700 required for an S&P 500 index fund [5] Growth Initiatives - The company invested $5 billion in expansion initiatives last year, including $4.4 billion on growth capital projects and $632 million on acquisitions, supported by a strong balance sheet [8] - Enterprise Products Partners plans to invest between $2.5 billion and $2.9 billion in growth capital projects this year and between $2 billion and $2.5 billion in 2027, which is expected to enhance free cash flow [9] Financial Stability - The company maintains a low leverage ratio of 3.3 times, contributing to its top-tier credit rating of A-, making it the only pipeline company with such a rating [8] - The strong financial profile allows the company to continue increasing its distribution and repurchasing common units, further strengthening its balance sheet [10]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights three under-the-radar dividend stocks that offer attractive yields, significantly higher than the S&P 500's current yield of approximately 1.1% [1]. Group 1: Ares Capital - Ares Capital (ARCC) has a dividend yield of 9.5% and operates as a business development company (BDC), required to pay out at least 90% of its taxable income as dividends [2]. - The company has maintained stable-to-increasing dividends for 16 years, despite challenges faced by many BDCs [2]. - Ares Capital focuses on providing capital to middle-market companies with annual revenues between $100 million and $1 billion, generating income through direct loans and equity investments [3]. Group 2: Starwood Property Trust - Starwood Property Trust (STWD) leads with a dividend yield of 10.7% and has never cut its dividend since its IPO in 2009 [6]. - The REIT has maintained its dividend payout rate for over a decade, despite challenges faced by other REITs [6]. - Starwood has diversified its investments from commercial mortgages to high-quality real estate assets and infrastructure lending, which has reduced risk and provided new growth opportunities [9]. - The recent $2.2 billion acquisition of Fundamental Income Properties added 467 properties with long-term leases, enhancing its rental income stability [10]. Group 3: Western Midstream Partners - Western Midstream Partners (WES) offers a distribution yield of 9% and operates as a master limited partnership (MLP) [11]. - The MLP reset its distribution level in 2020 due to the pandemic but has since rebuilt its payout to above pre-pandemic levels [11]. - The company owns energy midstream assets that generate stable cash flow, which is used for distributions and growth investments [13]. - Western Midstream aims to increase its high-yielding payout at a low-to-mid single-digit annual rate and has recently closed a $2 billion acquisition of Aris Water Solutions [14].

Core Insights - Master limited partnerships (MLPs) provide significant yields, with Enterprise Products Partners yielding 6.7% and Energy Transfer yielding 7.4%, compared to the S&P 500's 1.1% dividend yield [1] Group 1: MLPs Overview - MLPs offer advantages such as high passive income but require investors to deal with Schedule K-1 tax forms, complicating tax filings [2] - The Alerian MLP ETF tracks the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index, providing diversification across energy midstream sector MLPs and has an 8% distribution yield based on the last 12 months [4] Group 2: Alerian MLP ETF Details - The Alerian MLP ETF charges an expense ratio of 0.85%, which is higher than many oil stock ETFs, but offers tax simplicity by processing K-1s and providing a single Form 1099 to shareholders [5] - The fund's asset allocation includes 29.4% in petroleum pipeline transportation, 24.3% in natural gas pipeline transportation, and 21.1% in gas gathering and processing [7] Group 3: Top Holdings and Performance - The ETF has significant exposure to Energy Transfer, which constitutes 12.5% of its assets, and generates about 90% of its earnings from fee-based sources, ensuring stable cash flow for high-yield distributions [8]

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer is positioned as a leading energy midstream company with a strong cash flow and growth potential, making it an attractive investment opportunity [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Energy Transfer generates substantial cash flow, with nearly $6.2 billion of distributable cash flow in the first nine months of the previous year, allowing for a distribution payout of almost $3.4 billion to investors [3]. - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with a leverage ratio within the target range of 4.0-4.5 times, marking its strongest financial position in history [4]. Group 2: Growth Prospects - The company plans to invest between $5 billion and $5.5 billion in growth capital projects this year, an increase from $4.6 billion last year, supporting various capital projects including the $2.7 billion Hugh Brinson Pipeline and the $5.6 billion Transwestern Pipeline expansion [5][6]. - Energy Transfer is actively pursuing additional growth opportunities to meet rising energy demand, particularly for natural gas supply to power plants and AI data centers [6]. Group 3: Distribution and Demand - The high-yielding distribution is supported by a sustainable foundation, with the potential for healthy annual growth in earnings and distribution [7]. - Increased demand for gas is enhancing the value of existing assets, allowing Energy Transfer to negotiate new gas transportation contracts at higher rates as older agreements expire, contributing to revenue growth [8].

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream is positioned as an attractive passive income investment due to its stable cash flows and high dividend yield supported by long-term contracts with major energy companies [1][10]. Group 1: Financial Performance and Structure - Western Midstream operates essential energy midstream assets that generate stable cash flow, supporting an 8.8% cash distribution yield [1]. - The company has a market capitalization of $17 billion, with a gross margin of 53.34% and a dividend yield of 8.86% [6]. - The restructured contracts with Occidental Petroleum will not impact Western Midstream's free cash flow, as the company expects to offset reduced near-term cash flows with distribution savings and cost-saving initiatives [6][7]. Group 2: Contractual Agreements - Western Midstream has renegotiated natural gas gathering and processing contracts with Occidental Petroleum, transitioning to a simplified fixed-fee structure that reduces Occidental's near-term costs and enhances production growth [3]. - Occidental will transfer 15.3 million common units of Western Midstream, valued at $610 million, resulting in a decrease of Occidental's interest in the MLP from 42% to 40% [3]. - A new gas-gathering and processing agreement with ConocoPhillips will further diversify revenue, reducing related party revenue from Occidental by over 10% [4]. Group 3: Growth Prospects - The company anticipates maintaining a net leverage ratio near 3.0 times, even after a recent acquisition and planned capital spending of $1.1 billion in 2026, indicating a conservative financial strategy [7]. - Western Midstream's growth capital spending plan includes projects like the North Loving II gas processing plant and Pathfinder Pipeline, which are expected to fuel cash flow growth in the coming years [9]. - The MLP aims to deliver low-to-mid single-digit annual distribution growth, supported by predictable cash flows from long-term contracts [9].