Energy Transfer has a 7.3% yield and plans to grow its distribution at a slow, steady pace.If you look at Energy Transfer's (ET 0.17%) history, you might have some concerns about trust. Complex machinations around a canceled merger in 2016 and a dividend cut in 2020 would, together, be enough to dissuade many dividend investors from buying the stock. However, for more aggressive dividend investors, the 7.3% yield could be an opportunity, as management looks to prove that it has turned over a new leaf.What d ...

Core Viewpoint - Plains All American Pipeline is transitioning to a pure-play crude operator, aiming for more stable cash flows and stronger distribution growth following significant acquisitions and divestitures [1]. Group 1: Strategic Transactions - Plains acquired 100% ownership of the EPIC Crude pipeline system for approximately $1.3 billion, which includes around $500 million in debt [3][4]. - The acquisition was completed in two parts: a 55% stake from Diamondback and Kinetik, followed by a 45% interest from an Ares private equity portfolio company [4]. - The company plans to rename the EPIC system to Cactus III and integrate it with its existing Cactus long-haul infrastructure [4]. Group 2: Financial Projections - CEO Willie Chiang described the EPIC acquisitions as "highly synergistic and very strategic," projecting a mid-teens unlevered return [5]. - Management anticipates a 2026 adjusted EBITDA multiple of approximately 10x, with expectations for meaningful improvement in the coming years [5]. Group 3: Divestiture - Plains is selling its entire Canadian NGL business to Keyera for $5.15 billion, with the deal expected to close by the end of Q1 2026, pending regulatory approvals [6]. - Two of the three required approvals have been secured, including U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino and Canadian Transportation Act approvals, while the Canadian Competition Bureau approval is still in progress [6]. Group 4: Operational Benefits - The EPIC acquisition allows Plains to control operatorship, facilitating synergy capture across the entire system [7]. - Near-term benefits include contractual step-ups, reduced operating costs, quality optimization opportunities, and better utilization of existing Permian and Eagle Ford assets [7]. - Long-term, the system offers expansion capacity that could enhance Gulf Coast access as demand increases [7]. Group 5: Contractual Stability - A significant portion of EPIC's contracts are long-term, with medium-duration agreements covering the remainder, positioning the pipeline for stable and growing cash flows [8]. - The acquisition extends Plains' weighted average contract duration from 2028 to October 2029 [9].

Core Insights - Master limited partnerships (MLPs) have underperformed the broader market in 2025, with the Alerian MLP Index down approximately 2.5% while the Energy Select Sector SPDR gained about 3.2% year to date [1] - Despite the sector's weak performance, certain MLPs like Enterprise Products Partners LP, Energy Transfer LP, and Plains All American Pipeline LP continue to attract investor interest [1] Business Structure of MLPs - MLPs are distinct from regular stocks as interests are referred to as units, and unitholders are considered partners in the business [2] - These entities combine the tax advantages of limited partnerships with the liquidity of publicly traded securities [2] Revenue Stability - MLPs typically own assets such as oil and natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, which generate stable fee-based revenues and have limited direct exposure to commodity prices [3] - This structure allows MLPs to maintain and grow distributions over time [3] Factors Contributing to Underperformance - Investor caution regarding near-term volume growth has been a significant factor, with uneven producer activity noted among customers [4] - Contract renewals and pricing pressures have also impacted MLPs, as new contracts may be set at lower rates upon expiration of older agreements [5] - Delays in project earnings due to many large investments being in later stages have led to a shift in investor focus away from MLPs [6] Future Outlook for 2026 - Management teams are optimistic about long-term demand for crude oil, natural gas, and NGL infrastructure, driven by exports and power generation [7] - Improvements from cost cuts, past acquisitions, and built-in contract increases are expected to enhance earnings starting in 2026 [8] - Reduced debt levels are anticipated to provide companies with greater financial flexibility, supporting distributions and making the sector more appealing to investors [8] MLPs to Monitor - Despite challenges in 2025, the outlook for 2026 appears more balanced, with improving fundamentals and visible growth drivers [9] - Key MLPs to watch include Enterprise Products Partners, Energy Transfer, and Plains All American Pipeline, all of which are recognized for their scale, diversified assets, and disciplined capital allocation [9]

Core Insights - Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) and Energy Transfer (ET) are leading integrated and diversified North American master limited partnerships (MLP) providing extensive energy infrastructure [1] Group 1: Company Overview - EPD and ET offer energy shippers a comprehensive network of pipelines, processing plants, storage facilities, and export capabilities [1] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach is characterized by a long-term, top-down strategy focusing on macro and secular trends, durable themes, and industries with strong fundamentals [1] - The portfolio typically consists of 8–12 concentrated holdings, emphasizing a buy-and-hold philosophy to allow long-term ideas to compound [1]

Core Viewpoint - Extra Space Storage Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on owning, operating, and managing storage facilities across the U.S. The company is set to report its Q3 2025 earnings on October 28, with expectations of a decline in EPS but an increase in quarterly revenue compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - For Q3 2025, analysts expect Extra Space Storage to post an EPS of $1.54, down from $2.07 in the prior-year period [2]. - Quarterly revenue is anticipated to reach $790.49 million, an increase from $710.87 million a year earlier [2]. - In Q2 2025, the company reported FFO of $2.05, slightly below the consensus estimate of $2.06, with revenues of $665.56 million, compared to the consensus of $761.95 million [7]. Historical Investment Performance - If an investor had purchased Extra Space Storage stock 10 years ago at approximately $73.08 per share, a $10,000 investment would have grown to $20,153 based on stock price appreciation alone, with current shares trading at $147.28 [3]. - Over the past decade, the company has paid about $47.13 in dividends per share, resulting in an additional $6,449 from dividends alone [4]. - The total value of the investment after 10 years would be $26,602, representing a total return of 166.02%, which is significantly lower than the S&P 500 total return of 292.70% for the same period [5]. Analyst Ratings and Future Outlook - Extra Space Storage has a consensus rating of "Neutral" with a price target of $155.53, indicating more than 5% potential upside from the current stock price [6]. - The CEO highlighted solid second-quarter results driven by high occupancy rates and improving customer behavior, while maintaining annual FFO and same-store guidance [8].

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer LP (ET) has shown a strong performance with a 6% increase in stock price over the last month, outperforming the industry growth of 3.4% [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - Energy Transfer operates a vast pipeline network exceeding 130,000 miles across 44 U.S. states, focusing on strategic acquisitions and organic growth [7] - The company has significant export capabilities, with the ability to export over 1.1 million barrels per day of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and 1.9 million barrels per day of crude oil, holding an estimated 20% share of the global NGL export market [9] - Nearly 90% of Energy Transfer's revenues come from fee-based contracts, providing stable cash flow and reducing exposure to commodity price volatility [12] Group 2: Recent Developments - Energy Transfer is expanding its natural gas liquids export facilities to meet rising global demand and has entered agreements to supply natural gas for new gas-fired power plants [2][10] - The company has received connection requests from nearly 200 data centers across 14 states, indicating strong demand from the digital infrastructure sector [11] Group 3: Financial Performance - The current quarterly cash distribution rate is 32.75 cents per common unit, with management raising distribution rates 14 times in the past five years [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year earnings growth of 12.5% for 2025 and 0.49% for 2026 [14] - Energy Transfer units are trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 10.32X, which is below the industry average of 11.6X, suggesting the firm is undervalued [17] Group 4: Comparative Analysis - Energy Transfer's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 11.47%, lower than the industry average of 13.95% [20] - In comparison, ONEOK's ROE stands at 15.58%, indicating stronger profitability [22]