Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What are your current thoughts on Enterprise Product Partners?

Article Excerpt

Enterprise Product Partners L.P., $52.25, symbol EPD on New York (Shares outstanding: 871.3 million; Market cap: $45.5 billion; www.enterpriseproducts.com), is a leading provider of natural gas and natural gas liquids processing, transportation and storage services in the U.S. and Canada. In the three months ended December 31, 2011, Enterprise’s revenue rose 20.9%, to $11.6 billion from $9.6 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 148.5%, to $0.82 from $0.33. The company has seen steady growth across all of its businesses. Enterprise should process and ship more natural gas liquids (NGLs) this year, and its profit margins from these activities should increase, as well. Natural gas prices are at 10-year lows, but companies continue to increase their drilling and production. Meanwhile, Enterprise continues to add processing capacity. These improvements and its pipeline expansion projects are increasing its revenue and earnings. The company plans to spend $3.5 billion across a number of projects in 2012, including expansion in the booming Eagle Ford Shale region. Enterprise has…