North Dakota Judge James Gion said he plans to order Greenpeace to pay expected total damages of $345m to Energy Transfer in a case connected to protests over the Dakota Access oil pipeline. Court filings indicate he would sign an order requiring various Greenpeace organisations to pay the judgment to the midstream company. The judge fixed damages at $345m last year, cutting the jury’s award by roughly 50%, although the most recent filing did not state a final figure. The order is expected to trigger a ...

Core Insights - Energy Transfer LP (ET) is recognized as a strong income-focused investment due to its consistent increase in quarterly cash distributions over the past five years, having raised its payout 16 times, indicating robust financial performance and capital discipline [1][8] Company Overview - Energy Transfer operates a diversified midstream platform with assets in crude oil, NGLs, refined products, and natural gas pipelines, as well as storage and processing facilities, with a significant presence in the Permian Basin [2] - The firm also manages the Dakota Access Pipeline and has interests in export terminals, enhancing its scale and creating additional cash flow opportunities [2] Financial Strategy - The company has adopted a disciplined capital allocation strategy, focusing on balance sheet strength, organic growth projects, and returning excess cash to unitholders, which has improved financial flexibility while maintaining strong distribution coverage [3][4] Investment Opportunity - With a proven ability to grow cash payouts rapidly, a resilient business model, and improving financial metrics, Energy Transfer presents an attractive opportunity for investors seeking high income supported by durable cash flows and long-term value creation in the oil and gas midstream sector [4] Industry Trends - Midstream firms are increasingly raising cash distributions, supported by stable, fee-based contracts, disciplined capital spending, and improving balance sheets, making the sector appealing to income-focused investors [5] - Other midstream firms like Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) have also consistently increased unitholder value through regular cash distributions [6] Valuation Metrics - Energy Transfer units are currently trading at a discount relative to the industry, with a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 9.3X compared to the industry average of 10.91X, indicating potential undervaluation [7][8] Performance and Growth Estimates - Energy Transfer units have appreciated by 10.3% in the past month, outperforming the Zacks Oil and Gas - Production Pipeline - MLB industry's growth of 6.4% [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Energy Transfer's 2026 earnings per unit indicates a year-over-year growth of 16.99%, with long-term earnings growth projected at 12.45% [12]