Core Insights - Entergy has successfully completed the sale of its natural gas distribution business to Delta Utilities, allowing the company to focus on its growing electric utility operations [1][3] - The transaction includes approximately 3,700 miles of natural gas pipelines and 2,200 miles of service lines, serving around 204,000 homes and businesses in Baton Rouge and New Orleans [2] - The sale received all necessary regulatory approvals, indicating a smooth transition process for gas customers [3] Company Focus - The sale enables Entergy to sharpen its focus on electric operations and invest in a more resilient energy future [3] - Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans provide electric service to over 1.1 million and 209,000 customers respectively, highlighting the company's significant presence in the region [5] - Entergy is committed to investing in cleaner energy generation, including modern natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy sources [5]

S&P 500 Hits New High The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to end at 6,173.07 points on Friday, hitting an all-time high. The index reached an intraday high of 6,1787.68, surpassing its previous record of 6,147.43 points. The S&P 500 had a roller-coaster journey this year. The index surged to an all-time high in February on hopes that Trump's business-friendly policies would help the broader market. However, Trump announced sprawling tariffs soon after moving into the White House. Key Takeaways The Wall Street rally has r ...

Core Viewpoint - Dividend-paying stocks are generally considered lower-risk investments compared to non-payers, as they generate sufficient cash to fund growth and return excess to shareholders through dividends [1] Group 1: Black Hills (BKH) - Black Hills operates as a regulated utility with a monopoly on natural gas distribution and electricity in several states, benefiting from government regulation [5][6] - The company has a growing customer base, expanding at twice the rate of the U.S. population, and has a history of increasing dividends for over five decades, achieving Dividend King status [7] - Expected earnings growth of 4% to 6% and a dividend yield of 4.8% make Black Hills an attractive investment opportunity [8] Group 2: Kinder Morgan (KMI) - Kinder Morgan is one of the largest energy infrastructure platforms in the U.S., with stable cash flows supported by take-or-pay contracts that account for 64% of annual cash flows [9][10] - The company anticipates cash flow growth to $5.9 billion this year, sufficient to cover its $2.6 billion dividend outlay and fund capital expenditures with excess free cash flow [11][12] - With $8.8 billion in growth capital projects, primarily in natural gas pipelines, Kinder Morgan has a strong foundation for future dividend increases, having raised its payout for eight consecutive years [13] Group 3: American States Water (AWR) - American States Water is a major water utility serving 1 million consumers across nine states, with a long history of dividend payments since 1931 and 70 consecutive years of increases, making it a top Dividend King [15] - The company has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% in dividend growth over the past five years and aims for over 7% in the long term, supported by planned capital expenditures [16] - The stable cash flows and growth potential position American States Water as one of the safest and most reliable dividend stocks available, with a current yield of 2.4% [17]

Enbridge (NYSE: ENB ) owns a pipeline and natural gas distribution network spanning the U.S. and Canada and is a top income growth play for investors that want to invest in a midstream platform that is growing its EBITDA atAnalyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ENB, EPD, MPLX, KMI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alph ...

Industry Overview - Natural gas distribution companies transport natural gas from production regions to consumers across the U.S., utilizing extensive underground pipeline networks [1] - The industry is transitioning towards cleaner energy, with natural gas serving as a critical bridge fuel for decarbonization goals [1] - The U.S. has 3,353 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and operates a 2.6-million-mile pipeline network, but faces challenges from aging infrastructure and competition from alternative energy sources [3] Future Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects an increase in domestic dry natural gas production in 2025, particularly in the Permian and Eagle Ford regions [4] - LNG export volumes are expected to rise by 22.7% year-over-year in 2025 and 9.6% in 2026, highlighting the importance of gas pipelines for transportation to export terminals [4] - Interest rates have declined by 100 basis points, benefiting capital-intensive utilities planning infrastructure upgrades [5] Investment Opportunities - Natural gas utilities are investing approximately $37 billion annually to enhance the reliability of distribution and transmission systems, indicating long-term growth potential [6] - The Zacks Utility Gas Distribution industry ranks 52, placing it in the top 21% of the 244 Zacks industries, reflecting strong near-term prospects [7][8] Performance Metrics - The Gas Distribution industry has outperformed the S&P 500 and the Utility sector over the past year, with an 18.1% gain compared to 10.8% for the S&P 500 [9] - The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio of 11.12X, lower than the S&P 500's 16.96X and the sector's 15.09X, suggesting a potential valuation opportunity [12] Company Highlights - **Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)**: Plans to invest $3.7 billion in fiscal 2025, with a current dividend yield of 2.23% and long-term earnings growth projected at 7.19% [18][19] - **UGI Corporation**: Expected to invest $3.7-$4.1 billion through fiscal 2027, with a dividend yield of 4.12% and long-term earnings growth of 5.2% [22][23] - **ONE Gas Inc. (OGS)**: Aims to invest $4 billion through 2029, with a dividend yield of 3.64% and long-term earnings growth of 5.6% [26][27] - **Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN)**: Plans to invest $2.5-$2.7 billion through 2030, with a dividend yield of 3.64% [30][31]

Key Takeaways ATO and OGS have strong 2025 EPS estimates, which have risen 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively, in the past 60 days. Atmos Energy has a lower debt-to-capital ratio and stronger current ratio than the industry and OGS. ATO stock rose 11.7% over six months, outperforming both the industry's 2% and OGS's 5.2% gains.Natural gas distribution pipelines are essential for transporting natural gas via small-diameter pipelines from intrastate and interstate transmission networks to end users. The U.S. natur ...

Key Takeaways Volatility has returned to Wall Street amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the United States gradually getting dragged into it. Although the United States has not yet been directly drawn into the conflict, President Donald Trump is weighing whether to strike Iran. Given the worsening situation, it would be ideal to invest in safe-haven defensive stocks from the utility sector such as Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) , Fortis, Inc. (FTS) , MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) and Ni ...

Key Takeaways Both MDU and SWX benefit from rising natural gas demand and interest rate cuts. MDU posts a higher ROE at 9.86% vs. SWX's 6.76%, and maintains a lower debt-to-capital ratio than its peer. In the past three months, MDU stock has lost 0.5% compared with SWX's 2.3% decline.Natural gas distribution pipelines play a vital role in delivering natural gas from intrastate and interstate transmission pipelines to consumers through small-diameter pipelines. The natural gas network in the United States ...

Group 1 - MDU Resources Group, Inc. has elected Darrel T. Anderson as the new independent chair of the board, succeeding Dennis W. Johnson, effective immediately [1] - The transition reflects a disciplined approach to board leadership succession, ensuring continuity and strong governance [2] - Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO, acknowledged Dennis Johnson's leadership during the company's transformation to a regulated energy delivery business and expressed confidence in Anderson's leadership [3] Group 2 - Anderson's election as chair is part of a structured governance approach that emphasizes leadership development and succession planning [3] - He joined the board in 2023 and has previously served as vice chair and chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee, demonstrating a commitment to thoughtful succession planning [3] - Anderson has extensive industry experience, including his role as president and CEO of IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power Company, which will be beneficial for MDU Resources as it executes its strategic priorities [4] Group 3 - MDU Resources Group, Inc. is a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 index and provides electric and natural gas distribution services to over 1.2 million customers across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest [5] - The company's pipeline business operates a network of over 3,800 miles of natural gas pipelines and storage systems, ensuring reliable energy delivery [5] - MDU Resources has a legacy of over a century and remains focused on providing safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy services [5]

TULSA, Okla., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. ("ONE Gas") (NYSE: OGS) announced today that it has priced its public offering of 2,500,000 shares of its common stock for approximate gross proceeds of $197,500,000 (before offering expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions, assuming the underwriter does not exercise its option to purchase additional shares and upon, and assuming, full physical settlement of the forward sale agreement). In connection with the offering, ONE Gas entered into a ...