A Fourth-Quarter Checkup On MLP ETFs

Oil is one of the fourth-quarter's best-performing asset classes. Just look at the United States Oil Fund LP (ETF) USO, which is higher by more than 12 percent. That bullishness is having a positive effect on energy equities. The Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF) XLE is up 13 percent over the past 90 days.

Some of that ebullience is trickling down to exchange-traded funds tracking master limited partnerships (MLPs), though not in significant fashion. For example, the Global X Funds MLPA and the Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF MLPX are each up just over 3 percent over the past three months.

Focus On MLPX

MLPX one of the MLP ETFs that features general partner exposure. In an environment where MLPs are in favor, which was seen prior to oil's precipitous decline starting in 2014, general partners can shine. General partners have several advantages, including less tax complexity than MLPs and more dividend flexibility.

“MLPX invests in midstream infrastructure entities such as pipelines and storage facilities that have less sensitivity to energy prices,” according to Global X.

The ETF holds 37 stocks and is home to more than $132 million in assets under management.

“As expected, midstream MLPs have fared similarly to the storage and transportation sub-sector, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA – a preferable metric to proxy earnings for MLPs) being essentially flat year-over-year. For an apples-to-apples comparison, the broader energy sector has experienced a -22 percent decline in adjusted EBITDA over the same time frame,” said Global X in a recent research piece.

MLPA In Focus

The aforementioned MLPA also invests in midstream pipelines and storage facilities. That $377.1 million ETF holds 22 stocks and its top 10 holdings combine for nearly two-thirds of its weight.

“Another contributor to the strength of midstream MLP earnings has been the credit quality of counterparties with which they have entered into contracts to deliver storage or transportation services,” added Global X. “In limiting counterparties to those with strong credit quality, midstream MLPs can reduce the risks associated with a counterparty going bankrupt or reneging on a long term contract that has minimum volume requirements. In analyzing the credit quality of midstream MLPs counterparties, we found that over 3/4s had investment grade ratings.”