Core Viewpoint - The energy sector, particularly midstream businesses, offers high-yield investment opportunities for income-focused investors in 2026, despite the overall volatility of oil and natural gas commodities [1]. Industry Overview - The energy industry is divided into upstream, midstream, and downstream segments, with upstream and downstream being inherently volatile due to commodity price fluctuations. In contrast, midstream businesses, which own energy infrastructure assets, are more stable as they primarily charge fees for asset usage [2][3]. Midstream Business Characteristics - Midstream companies connect upstream producers to downstream processors and charge fees based on the volume of energy transported rather than commodity prices, leading to more consistent revenue streams [3]. High-Yield Midstream Options - Three notable midstream companies with attractive dividend yields are Enbridge, Enterprise Products Partners, and Energy Transfer, each offering different risk and yield profiles [4]. Enbridge (ENB) - Current Price: $48.28, Market Cap: $105 billion, Dividend Yield: 5.58%, has diversified operations including oil and natural gas pipelines and clean energy, and has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years [5][6]. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - Current Price: $33.10, Market Cap: $72 billion, Dividend Yield: 6.57%, operates solely in oil and natural gas midstream assets, and has a history of conservative management with 27 years of annual dividend increases [7][8]. Energy Transfer (ET) - Current Price: $18.16, Market Cap: $62 billion, Dividend Yield: 7.25%, has the highest yield among the three but previously cut its distribution in 2020 to strengthen its balance sheet, with plans for gradual distribution growth of 3% to 5% annually [9][10].