Topic: How To Invest

Q: Good morning, Pat: Will cheap oil in the $40 to $50 range cause cutbacks on pipeline demand in the future? We have a fair-sized stake in Pembina Pipelines and Enbridge, with about 2,000 shares of each. We are still well-diversified overall. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: The linkage between oil prices and pipelines is multi-faceted. In the short-term, due to long-term contracts and other arrangements, the impact of falling oil prices is minimal for most major pipeline companies. However, a sustained period of depressed oil prices could result in lower volumes being transported. That could hurt pipeline companies. Low oil prices can also affect long-term planning for new projects. Companies might cut investment in new pipelines if they feel that they won’t be able to contract future shipments at high enough prices to justify their development costs. In turn, that could slow the growth of future earnings and cash flow. However, pipelines continue to be the most-competitive and viable energy transportation option for the oil and gas industry. More-costly transportation options, such as rail and truck, are negatively impacted by depressed oil prices to a greater degree. They will be the first to suffer from a downturn in the transport of oil and gas. All in all, we still feel…