Energy

Merrill Lynch Very Careful on MLPs Now: 4 for Energy Investors to Buy Now

Lee Jackson

Published: February 18, 2016 9:35 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 1:02 pm

Last year was a total disaster for the energy master limited partnership (MLP) space. The Alerian Index, which tracks the sector, was down a stunning 33%, and there was no company that didn’t feel a large degree of pain. One redeeming quality to many of the MLPs is that they are nowhere near as dependent on commodity pricing as exploration and production companies. Even with that caveat, the lower for longer scenario could be around for a while and caution is required.

A new report on the sector from Merrill Lynch noted that due to the extreme pressure on the sector last year, some investors even started to question the sustainability of the MLP business model and the sector as a whole. That is about as bearish as we have heard reported, and it could mark a true wash-out bottom, at least from a sentiment standpoint.

Merrill Lynch downgraded a stunning 10 stocks in their MLP research universe, and it also lowers its income ratings on an additional seven companies that remain rated Buy. We screened the Buy-rated stocks in the firm’s research universe and found four that make sense for more aggressive accounts.

Enterprise Products Partners

This is one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) once again, despite the energy slump, recently raised its distribution by 1%. The company maintains a very good long-term position in the market. It provides many of its services on the basis of long-term, fixed-fee contracts, insulating against some of the wilder swings of the commodities that it trades in.

One reason many analysts may have a liking for the stock might be its distribution coverage ratio. The company’s distribution coverage ratio is well above 1x, making it relatively less risky among the MLPs. The company’s distributions have grown for several quarters and are expected to continue in the rest of 2016. Plus the Standard & Poor’s current rating is BBB+, which is investment grade, and the outlook is stable.

Enterprise investors are paid very solid 6.75% distribution. The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is $35. The Thomson/First Call consensus target is lower at $32.57. Shares closed Wednesday at $23.10, up over 5% on the day.

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