What Are Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs)?

Many energy companies have assets that generate a consistent income over time. For instance, a natural gas pipeline will transport a predictable amount of gas through it each year, generating very stable revenues. These stable revenues often lead to a distribution of earnings to shareholders in the form of a dividend. Unfortunately, investors are double taxed when standard corporations issue dividends – once when the company earns the revenue (corporate income tax) and once when the dividends are paid out (personal income tax). Master limited partnerships (MLPs) solve this problem by eliminating double taxation for revenues derived from qualified sources – as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. These sources include almost all activities associated with the production, processing or transportation of oil, natural gas and coal assets in the U.S. [for more MLP news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

Posted in Academic Research, Commodity ETFs, Commodity Producers, Energy, MLPs, Natural Gas, WTI | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Five Commodity MLPs With Sky High Yields

Income investors groaned at the news of the Fed’s recent decision to hold rates in their near-zero rate rut until late 2014. That could mean nearly three years until we see an uptick in interest rates which points to three years of scrapping for steady income around markets as interest rates of 0.25% are less than enticing for most investors. But for those who live and die by dividend yields, there are still a number of options available, especially in the commodity space. Investing on the equity side of commodities can offer low correlation (though not nearly as low as the direct commodity itself) while providing a handsome income stream [see also 12 High-Yielding Commodities For 2012].

Posted in Agriculture, Coal, Commodity Producers, Dividends, Energy, Exclusive, Natural Gas, WTI | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Dividend Special: Four Commodity Stocks Yielding Over 5%

Commodity investing has long been utilized by active traders but left out of the hands of more traditional investors that build long-term portfolios. But as the years have progressed, investors have seen the benefits of setting aside anywhere from 5%-10% of your assets to this crucial asset class, as it offers the potential for uncorrelated, and often times stellar, returns. A long term play in most commodity securities, however, is more of a growth play than anything else, as the investor hopes for the underlying commodity to either appreciate in value or it its overall use, leaving value investors out to dry [see also The Guide To The Biggest Companies In Every Major Commodity Sector].

Posted in Coal, Commodity Producers, Copper, Energy, Industrial Metals, Natural Gas, WTI | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments
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