Energy Transfer and Midstream Stocks Show Strong Distribution Growth Potential
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ET?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Energy Transfer Overview: Energy Transfer owns over 140,000 square miles of midstream energy infrastructure, with a forward distribution yield of 7.3% indicating strong growth potential; despite a temporary reduction during the pandemic, distributions have increased by approximately 3.1% over the past year.
- Hess Midstream's Capital Return: Since its IPO in 2017, Hess Midstream has never cut its distribution, currently boasting a forward yield of around 7.9%, and has consistently raised payouts over the past nine years, although management targets a 5% annual growth rate through 2028.
- MPLX's Stable Growth: MPLX has a record of 10 consecutive years of distribution growth, with a current forward yield of 7.4% and an average annual growth rate of 11.6% over the past decade, with expectations to maintain a 12.5% growth rate over the next two years, showcasing strong market appeal.
- Investment Opportunities in Midstream Stocks: As oil prices rise, investors are returning to energy stocks, with midstream stocks like pipeline stocks becoming a strong long-term investment choice due to their lower revenue volatility and stable distribution yields, especially amid rising demand for natural gas.
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Analyst Views on ET
Wall Street analysts forecast ET stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 19.670
Low
17.00
Averages
20.65
High
23.00
Current: 19.670
Low
17.00
Averages
20.65
High
23.00
About ET
Energy Transfer LP owns and operates a diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States, with more than 140,000 miles of pipeline and associated energy infrastructure. The Company’s strategic network spans 44 states with assets in all of the major United States production basins. Its core operations include complementary natural gas midstream, intrastate and interstate transportation and storage assets; crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGL) and refined product transportation and terminalling assets; and NGL fractionation. The Company’s segments include intrastate transportation and storage, interstate transportation and storage, midstream, NGL and refined products transportation and services, crude oil transportation and services, investment in Sunoco LP, investment in USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC), and all other. It also owns Lake Charles LNG Company, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, which owns an LNG import terminal and regasification facility.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of High-Yield Pipeline Stocks for Investors
- Pipeline Business Model: Midstream companies operate a straightforward toll road model by controlling the infrastructure for natural gas and crude oil, which insulates them from volatile commodity prices and generates substantial cash flow, enabling higher yields than most conventional energy firms.
- Enterprise Products Performance: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) achieved a distributable cash flow of $7.9 billion in 2025, easily covering its $4.8 billion in distributions, and has increased its payouts for 28 consecutive years, indicating strong financial health and long-term growth potential.
- Energy Transfer Expansion: Energy Transfer (ET) has aggressively acquired smaller midstream players, now operating over 140,000 miles of pipeline, with an adjusted distributable cash flow of $8.2 billion in 2025 covering $4.6 billion in distributions, suggesting its capability to continue raising distributions in the future.
- Enbridge Stability: Enbridge (ENB), as a non-MLP company, operates over 70,000 miles of pipeline, transporting 30% of North America's crude oil and 20% of U.S. natural gas, with a forward dividend yield of 5.2% and a 31-year history of payout increases, showcasing its competitiveness and stability in the market.
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Analysis of High-Yield Pipeline Stocks for Investors
- Tax Efficiency Advantage: Enterprise Products and Energy Transfer, as master limited partnerships (MLPs), combine capital return with their income to provide tax-efficient distributions, reducing tax burdens for investors and making them suitable for long-term investment.
- Robust Cash Flow: In 2025, Enterprise Products generated $7.9 billion in operational distributable cash flow (DCF), covering $4.8 billion in distributions, while Energy Transfer delivered an adjusted DCF of $8.2 billion to cover $4.6 billion in distributions, indicating both companies' ability to sustain and increase distributions.
- Market Expansion Potential: Both companies are expanding operations in the Permian Basin and other resource-rich areas, with increased overseas exports of natural gas products expected to enhance market share and profitability, and their current price-to-earnings ratios are relatively low at 14 times and 13 times, respectively.
- Stable Dividend Record: Enbridge offers a forward dividend yield of 5.2% and has raised its payout for 31 consecutive years; although its earnings and dividends may face short-term pressure from a stronger dollar, it still appears reasonably valued with growth potential in the long term.
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Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital Dividend Stability: Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) has maintained stable or growing dividends for over 16 years, currently yielding 10.7%, supported by a substantial $29.5 billion investment portfolio across 600 companies, ensuring the sustainability and stability of its payouts.
- Energy Transfer Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) offers a 6.9% distribution yield and has increased its payout every quarter since the end of 2021, aiming for a 3% to 5% annual increase, with 90% of its annual earnings derived from stable fee-based sources, ensuring sustainable distributions.
- Starwood Property Highest Yield: Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD) boasts the highest yield at 11%, having delivered stable dividends for over a decade, with a diversified investment strategy that includes a $2.2 billion acquisition of Fundamental Income Properties, enhancing its future earnings capacity.
- Attractive High-Yield Stocks: Ares Capital, Energy Transfer, and Starwood Property offer ultra-high-yielding income streams, with solid records of stable dividends and growth potential, making them ideal choices for income investors, especially in the context of recent stock price corrections.
See More
High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital's Stable Returns: Ares Capital (ARCC) currently boasts a dividend yield of 10.7%, having maintained stable or growing dividends for over 16 years, demonstrating its strong financial foundation and market position, especially as other BDCs struggle with dividend maintenance.
- Energy Transfer's Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) offers a distribution yield of 6.9%, having increased its payout every quarter since the end of 2021, with expectations of 3% to 5% annual growth, indicating robust cash flow and strong reinvestment capabilities, particularly amid rising oil prices.
- Starwood Property Trust's Diversified Investments: Starwood Property Trust (STWD) leads with an 11% yield, having paid stable dividends for over a decade, and its acquisition of a diversified portfolio, including the $2.2 billion Fundamental Income Properties, enhances income stability and is expected to boost future dividend capabilities.
- Attractiveness of High-Yield Stocks: Ares Capital, Energy Transfer, and Starwood Property Trust currently provide ultra-high-yielding income streams, with solid records of stable dividends and future growth potential, making them ideal choices for income investors right now.
See More
Energy Transfer LP: Best Investment to Capitalize on Oil Price Surge
- Stable Revenue Model: Energy Transfer LP generates 90% of its income from fixed fees through its extensive network of over 140,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, ensuring steady profitability amid oil price fluctuations and providing unit holders with an effective forward yield of around 7%.
- Distribution Growth Potential: The MLP anticipates distribution growth in the range of 3%-5% over the next few years, which not only may lead to price appreciation but also could result in total returns exceeding investor expectations, enhancing its market appeal.
- Midstream Energy Advantage: Compared to upstream and downstream sectors, the toll-road-style fee structure of midstream energy allows Energy Transfer LP to remain profitable throughout all stages of the oil price cycle, making it an ideal choice for investors looking to avoid the high volatility of traditional oil stocks.
- Market Competitiveness: Although not included in the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's list of top investment stocks, Energy Transfer LP is still viewed as a noteworthy investment opportunity in the current rising oil price environment due to its stable cash flows and growth potential.
See More
Energy Transfer LP: A Stable Investment Choice Amid Oil Volatility
- Stable Revenue Model: Energy Transfer LP operates over 140,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, utilizing a fee structure that is 90% fixed and 10% variable, allowing it to maintain steady profitability throughout oil price cycles and reducing investment risk.
- High Dividend Yield: As a master limited partnership, Energy Transfer LP is required to distribute 90% of its pre-tax income, resulting in an effective forward yield of approximately 7%, providing investors with substantial cash flow.
- Growth Potential: The company anticipates distribution growth in the range of 3%-5% over the next few years, capitalizing on the rapid expansion of AI data centers across the U.S., which may lead to price appreciation and enhanced investment returns.
- Market Performance: Energy Transfer LP's current stock price is $19.44 with a market cap of $67 billion, showing a daily increase of 1.57%, indicating its attractiveness even amid market volatility.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Pipeline Stocks for Investors
- Pipeline Business Model: Midstream companies operate a straightforward toll road model by controlling the infrastructure for natural gas and crude oil, which insulates them from volatile commodity prices and generates substantial cash flow, enabling higher yields than most conventional energy firms.
- Enterprise Products Performance: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) achieved a distributable cash flow of $7.9 billion in 2025, easily covering its $4.8 billion in distributions, and has increased its payouts for 28 consecutive years, indicating strong financial health and long-term growth potential.
- Energy Transfer Expansion: Energy Transfer (ET) has aggressively acquired smaller midstream players, now operating over 140,000 miles of pipeline, with an adjusted distributable cash flow of $8.2 billion in 2025 covering $4.6 billion in distributions, suggesting its capability to continue raising distributions in the future.
- Enbridge Stability: Enbridge (ENB), as a non-MLP company, operates over 70,000 miles of pipeline, transporting 30% of North America's crude oil and 20% of U.S. natural gas, with a forward dividend yield of 5.2% and a 31-year history of payout increases, showcasing its competitiveness and stability in the market.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Pipeline Stocks for Investors
- Tax Efficiency Advantage: Enterprise Products and Energy Transfer, as master limited partnerships (MLPs), combine capital return with their income to provide tax-efficient distributions, reducing tax burdens for investors and making them suitable for long-term investment.
- Robust Cash Flow: In 2025, Enterprise Products generated $7.9 billion in operational distributable cash flow (DCF), covering $4.8 billion in distributions, while Energy Transfer delivered an adjusted DCF of $8.2 billion to cover $4.6 billion in distributions, indicating both companies' ability to sustain and increase distributions.
- Market Expansion Potential: Both companies are expanding operations in the Permian Basin and other resource-rich areas, with increased overseas exports of natural gas products expected to enhance market share and profitability, and their current price-to-earnings ratios are relatively low at 14 times and 13 times, respectively.
- Stable Dividend Record: Enbridge offers a forward dividend yield of 5.2% and has raised its payout for 31 consecutive years; although its earnings and dividends may face short-term pressure from a stronger dollar, it still appears reasonably valued with growth potential in the long term.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital Dividend Stability: Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) has maintained stable or growing dividends for over 16 years, currently yielding 10.7%, supported by a substantial $29.5 billion investment portfolio across 600 companies, ensuring the sustainability and stability of its payouts.
- Energy Transfer Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) offers a 6.9% distribution yield and has increased its payout every quarter since the end of 2021, aiming for a 3% to 5% annual increase, with 90% of its annual earnings derived from stable fee-based sources, ensuring sustainable distributions.
- Starwood Property Highest Yield: Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD) boasts the highest yield at 11%, having delivered stable dividends for over a decade, with a diversified investment strategy that includes a $2.2 billion acquisition of Fundamental Income Properties, enhancing its future earnings capacity.
- Attractive High-Yield Stocks: Ares Capital, Energy Transfer, and Starwood Property offer ultra-high-yielding income streams, with solid records of stable dividends and growth potential, making them ideal choices for income investors, especially in the context of recent stock price corrections.
See More
High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital's Stable Returns: Ares Capital (ARCC) currently boasts a dividend yield of 10.7%, having maintained stable or growing dividends for over 16 years, demonstrating its strong financial foundation and market position, especially as other BDCs struggle with dividend maintenance.
- Energy Transfer's Growth Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) offers a distribution yield of 6.9%, having increased its payout every quarter since the end of 2021, with expectations of 3% to 5% annual growth, indicating robust cash flow and strong reinvestment capabilities, particularly amid rising oil prices.
- Starwood Property Trust's Diversified Investments: Starwood Property Trust (STWD) leads with an 11% yield, having paid stable dividends for over a decade, and its acquisition of a diversified portfolio, including the $2.2 billion Fundamental Income Properties, enhances income stability and is expected to boost future dividend capabilities.
- Attractiveness of High-Yield Stocks: Ares Capital, Energy Transfer, and Starwood Property Trust currently provide ultra-high-yielding income streams, with solid records of stable dividends and future growth potential, making them ideal choices for income investors right now.
See More
Energy Transfer LP: Best Investment to Capitalize on Oil Price Surge
- Stable Revenue Model: Energy Transfer LP generates 90% of its income from fixed fees through its extensive network of over 140,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, ensuring steady profitability amid oil price fluctuations and providing unit holders with an effective forward yield of around 7%.
- Distribution Growth Potential: The MLP anticipates distribution growth in the range of 3%-5% over the next few years, which not only may lead to price appreciation but also could result in total returns exceeding investor expectations, enhancing its market appeal.
- Midstream Energy Advantage: Compared to upstream and downstream sectors, the toll-road-style fee structure of midstream energy allows Energy Transfer LP to remain profitable throughout all stages of the oil price cycle, making it an ideal choice for investors looking to avoid the high volatility of traditional oil stocks.
- Market Competitiveness: Although not included in the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's list of top investment stocks, Energy Transfer LP is still viewed as a noteworthy investment opportunity in the current rising oil price environment due to its stable cash flows and growth potential.
See More
Energy Transfer LP: A Stable Investment Choice Amid Oil Volatility
- Stable Revenue Model: Energy Transfer LP operates over 140,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, utilizing a fee structure that is 90% fixed and 10% variable, allowing it to maintain steady profitability throughout oil price cycles and reducing investment risk.
- High Dividend Yield: As a master limited partnership, Energy Transfer LP is required to distribute 90% of its pre-tax income, resulting in an effective forward yield of approximately 7%, providing investors with substantial cash flow.
- Growth Potential: The company anticipates distribution growth in the range of 3%-5% over the next few years, capitalizing on the rapid expansion of AI data centers across the U.S., which may lead to price appreciation and enhanced investment returns.
- Market Performance: Energy Transfer LP's current stock price is $19.44 with a market cap of $67 billion, showing a daily increase of 1.57%, indicating its attractiveness even amid market volatility.
See More
