Earnings Report - Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is set to release its second-quarter earnings results on July 28, with analysts expecting earnings of 64 cents per share, unchanged from the previous year [1] - Projected quarterly revenue is $14.18 billion, an increase from $13.48 billion a year earlier [1] Recent Financial Activity - On June 17, Enterprise priced its $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes [2] - The company's shares fell by 0.8%, closing at $31.55 on the preceding Friday [2] Analyst Ratings - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained an Outperform rating but reduced the price target from $39 to $38 [4] - Barclays analyst Theresa Chen kept an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $36 to $35 [4] - Citigroup analyst Spiro Dounis maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $37 to $35 [4] - JP Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $37 to $38 [4] - Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Kad maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $36 to $38 [4]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index has experienced significant volatility in 2025, peaking in February and briefly entering correction territory in April, but has since achieved a record high [1][2] - Current trading levels for the S&P 500 are over 25 times earnings, with U.S. stocks representing 65% of global stocks, indicating historically high valuations [2] Investment Strategy - Tom Gardner, CEO of The Motley Fool, suggests that investors can still outperform the market by focusing on areas that are currently overlooked [3][5] - Emphasis is placed on seeking dividend-paying, defensive, and value stocks as a more cautious investment approach in the current high valuation environment [5][6] Stock Recommendations - **Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)**: A leading midstream energy company with over 50,000 miles of pipeline, offering a 6.9% dividend yield. The company has a strong track record of increasing dividends for 26 consecutive years and is expected to generate steady cash flows due to long-term contracts with inflation escalation clauses [9][11] - **Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC/BIP)**: This company focuses on defensive assets such as utilities and railroads, with 85% of its funds from operations being contracted or regulated. It has achieved a 15% CAGR in funds from operations per unit over the past 15 years and targets over 10% FFO growth and 5% to 9% annual dividend growth [12][13] - **Nucor (NUE)**: The largest steel producer in North America, known for its cost-efficient electric arc furnaces and vertical integration. Nucor has increased its dividend for 52 consecutive years and is currently trading 30% below its all-time highs, presenting a potential value opportunity [14][17]

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer presents a compelling investment opportunity due to its high distribution yield, strong financial profile, and attractive valuation [1][10]. Financial Profile - Energy Transfer's diversified midstream business generates substantial and stable cash flow, with approximately 90% of annual earnings backed by fee-based contracts [3]. - In the first quarter, the company produced $2.3 billion of distributable cash flow, distributing over $1.1 billion to investors while retaining the remainder for expansion [3]. - The conservative payout ratio has allowed the company to maintain a leverage ratio in the lower half of its target range of 4 to 4.5 times, positioning it in its strongest financial state in history [4]. Growth Potential - Energy Transfer is projected to grow its EBITDA by around 5% this year, driven by acquisitions, organic expansion projects, and favorable market conditions [5]. - The company is investing $5 billion into growth capital projects this year, including gas processing plants and a new natural gas pipeline, with expectations for earnings growth in 2026 to 2027 [6]. - Key growth catalysts include rising Permian production, increasing gas demand from sectors like AI data centers, and growing export demand for natural gas liquids [8]. Valuation and Returns - Energy Transfer trades at an enterprise value (EV)-to-EBITDA ratio of less than 9, significantly lower than the peer group average of around 12, enhancing its distribution yield [10]. - The company aims to deliver annual distribution increases of 3% to 5%, supported by visible earnings growth from upcoming projects and expansion opportunities [9]. Investment Appeal - Energy Transfer offers a high-yielding distribution and is in the best financial shape in its history, making it an attractive investment for those seeking a lucrative and growing passive income stream [11].

Core Insights - Enbridge Inc. (ENB) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) are midstream energy companies with business models that reduce vulnerability to commodity price volatility [1] - Over the past year, ENB has outperformed EPD with a growth of 33.2% compared to EPD's 16.4% [2] - A deeper analysis of business fundamentals and long-term outlook is necessary to assess the investment case for both companies [2] Business Model and Financial Stability - Enbridge's cash flows are more insulated due to 98% of its EBITDA being supported by regulated or take-or-pay contracts, allowing for automatic price increases [4][6] - More than 80% of Enbridge's profits come from activities that can adjust prices or fees, providing stability in high-inflation environments [4] - Enterprise Products' earnings are more dependent on the volume of oil and gas transported, making it more vulnerable to global commodity demand [5] Investment Focus and Growth Prospects - Enbridge is investing significantly in renewable energy projects, including wind and solar, aligning with global trends towards cleaner energy [7] - Enterprise Products remains focused on fossil fuels and petrochemicals, which may diminish its appeal to investors seeking cleaner alternatives [8] - Enbridge's current EV/EBITDA ratio is 15.13, higher than EPD's 10.24, indicating a premium valuation for ENB [9] Earnings Estimates and Market Position - Enbridge has seen upward revisions in earnings estimates for 2025, contrasting with EPD's performance [10] - Current earnings estimates for Enbridge show stability, with projections for the current year at 2.14 [11] - Overall, Enbridge is positioned as a stronger investment option compared to Enterprise Products, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) versus EPD's 4 (Sell) [11]

Group 1: Housing Market Insights - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller US Home Price Index shows a significant decline in house price appreciation after a boom during COVID-19, with prices starting to fall [2] - The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), which includes shares of 35 home builders and related companies, has shown a mixed performance, rallying in 2024 but sliding lower into April [5][6] - Despite lagging house price data, XHB has held support at the 200-week simple moving average and is now challenging resistance at the 50-week SMA, indicating potential for a rebound [6][7] Group 2: Energy Sector Developments - Energy Transfer LP (ET) is positioned well for income-seeking investors, offering a dividend yield exceeding 7% and raising its dividend quarterly at an annualized rate of 3% to 5% [8] - In Q1, Energy Transfer's distributable cash flow covered its payout by over a 2-to-1 margin, with significant growth in natural gas transportation volumes and crude oil throughput increasing by 10% [9] - The company is expanding its operations through low-cost acquisitions, with EBITDA from its Sunoco affiliate growing by 89.3% in Q1, and a major acquisition of Parkland Fuels expected to close in the second half of 2025 [10] Group 3: Telecommunications Performance - Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) reported Q2 revenues of $34.5 billion, exceeding expectations, and has seen a positive market reaction with a 4% rally following its earnings report [14][15] - The company has surpassed 5 million Fixed Wireless Access subscribers and achieved four consecutive quarters of core prepaid growth, leading to raised full-year guidance for adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS, and free cash flow [17]

Group 1 - Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: TYG) is a closed-end fund focused on investments in midstream energy corporations and partnerships [1] - The fund aims to provide investors with an attractive income yield of over 7% by investing in a diversified portfolio of energy stocks while minimizing principal loss risk [1] - The service offers subscribers early access to investment ideas and in-depth research not available to the general public, enhancing the value proposition for potential investors [1] Group 2 - A two-week free trial is currently being offered for the service, allowing potential subscribers to evaluate the investment insights provided [1]

Core Viewpoint - Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 28, with earnings estimated at 65 cents per share, reflecting a 1.6% increase year-over-year, and revenues projected at $14.2 billion, indicating a 5.4% rise from the previous year [1][6]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPD's second-quarter earnings is 65 cents per share, with revenues expected to reach $14.2 billion [1][6]. - EPD has beaten earnings estimates in one of the last four quarters and missed in three, with an average negative surprise of 0.8% [2]. - The partnership has an Earnings ESP of +0.90% but currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating a lower likelihood of an earnings beat this time [3]. Business Operations - EPD is a leading provider of midstream services in North America, with a pipeline network of 50,000 miles, transporting natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals [4]. - The company is expected to generate stable fee-based revenues and cash flows, supported by a storage capacity exceeding 300 million barrels for various products [4][6]. - The gross operating margin for EPD's NGL Pipelines & Services segment is estimated at $1,416.5 million, up from $1,325 million a year ago [5][6]. Market Position - EPD's stock has increased by 13.8% over the past year, slightly outperforming the industry average of 12.9% [12]. - The current trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio for EPD is 10.18, compared to the industry average of 11.51, indicating that EPD is trading at a discount [15]. Investment Strategy - EPD is investing $7.6 billion in growth projects, including new pipelines and gas processing plants, with a significant portion of its 2026 spending already allocated to approved projects [17]. - The company faces risks associated with its high spending commitments, particularly if market conditions deteriorate, potentially leading to lower-than-expected returns [18].

The main reason for my confidence in Enbridge is its underlying businesses. Roughly 30% of the crude oil produced in North America and 40% of U.S. crude oil imports are transported through the company's pipelines. Enbridge's pipelines transport around one-fifth of the natural gas used in the United States. The company is also the largest natural gas utility by volume in North America. I like Enbridge's stability. More than 98% of the company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ...

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP announced a quarterly cash distribution of $0.910 per unit for Q2 2025, maintaining the same level as the previous quarter [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The second-quarter distribution is annualized at $3.64 per unit, payable on August 14, 2025, to unitholders of record by August 1, 2025 [1] - The Partnership plans to report its Q2 2025 results after market close on August 6, 2025, with a conference call scheduled for August 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central [2][3] Group 2: Company Overview - Western Midstream Partners, LP is a master limited partnership focused on developing, acquiring, owning, and operating midstream assets across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming [4] - The company engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, as well as handling condensate, natural-gas liquids, crude oil, and produced water [4] - A significant portion of WES's cash flows is secured through fee-based contracts, reducing direct exposure to commodity price volatility [4]

Financial Position - Energy Transfer has improved its balance sheet significantly after reducing leverage by cutting its distribution in 2020 and funding growth through free cash flow [2][3] - The current leverage is at the low end of the company's target range, with management stating that the balance sheet is the strongest it has ever been, allowing for investment in growth projects and capital returns [3] Cash Flow Stability - Approximately 90% of Energy Transfer's EBITDA comes from fee-based services, providing stability as there is no exposure to commodity prices [4] - The company has a high percentage of take-or-pay contracts, which enhances cash flow visibility and supports distribution and growth projects [5] Distribution and Yield - The stock offers a forward yield of 7.5%, generating twice the cash needed to support its distribution, with a coverage multiple of 2.1 [6] - Energy Transfer has raised its distribution for 13 consecutive quarters and plans to increase it by 3% to 5% annually, supported by a strong balance sheet and contract structure [7] Growth Catalysts - The company plans $5 billion in capital expenditures this year, focusing on projects tied to real demand, including the Hugh Brinson pipeline and the Lake Charles LNG project [9][10] - There is increasing demand for natural gas, with expectations of a 60% rise in LNG exports by 2040, and new opportunities arising from AI data centers [10][11] Valuation - Energy Transfer trades at a forward enterprise-value-to-EBITDA multiple of just 8, significantly below its historical average of around 13.7 from 2011 to 2016 [12] - The market has not fully recognized the improvements in Energy Transfer's business, which includes a cleaned-up balance sheet and disciplined growth strategy [13]