Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi, Pat. I’m looking for some help here. What has the biggest impact on pipeline companies such as TransCanada and Enbridge: The evolution of interest rates or the evolution of oil and natural gas prices? And in terms of sectors, are pipeline operators more resource stocks or utilities? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: A range of factors—both industry-wide and company specific—affect pipeline stocks. In general, pipelines have dropped lately along with the market. But their stock prices have also been hurt by investor concerns over rising interest rates. As rates rise, utilities are perceived to suffer because they have a lot of debt, and higher rates make it more expensive for them to raise money and refinance their existing debt. In addition, their shares, which typically offer high yields, compete with fixed-income instruments for investor interest as rates climb. However, rising interest rates are usually the result of increasing economic activity. That higher growth is, in turn, good for utilities, including pipelines. Overall, Canadian pipelines have a strong market position—as illustrated by the Canadian government’s decision this past spring to spend $7.4 billion to buy Kinder Morgan Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. Top pipelines will likely prosper whether that expansion goes ahead or not. The fact is that opposition to the Trans Mountain project serves…