3 New Master Limited Partnerships to Watch in 2015

Master limited partnerships (MLPs) saw incredible growth last year that's expected to continue in 2015. Even a possible interest rate hike won't derail the sector's strongest offerings from delivering profits.

master limited partnershipsMaster limited partnerships are limited partnerships publicly traded on a stock exchange. MLPs by definition must generate revenue about 90% of cash flow from real estate, commodities, and natural resources.

The sector has seen booming growth in the past 10 years - especially the last few. According to the Alerian MLP Index, there were 18 MLP IPOs in 2014 that raised over $6.4 billion. That's a 260% increase in the number of MLP IPOs from 2004. The sector has witnessed a 25% compound annual growth rate over the last 20 years.

What's even better than how many MLPs are hitting the market is how they have performed...

Since 2004, MLPs have generated 265% in total returns. That's compared to 151% for utilities, 116% for REITs, 109% for the S&P 500, and 58% for bonds.

Here's how MLPs are able to generate so much for investors - plus three new offerings that will hit the market in 2015...

The Benefits of Master Limited Partnerships

Thanks to a law from the Reagan era, master limited partnerships pay fewer taxes than ordinary companies. In order to receive the tax breaks, these MLPS have to give profits directly to shareholders.

But the most significant benefit of MLPs is a particular loophole offering a tax shield for investors.

You see, MLPs are different from ordinary stocks because they are "pass-through entities." They transfer the company's earnings to individual unit holders without much influence from market behavior.

About 80% to 90% of the distribution investors receive comes from depreciation allowances. These are the cash amounts taken off a company's profit to compensate for any loss the asset may have experienced during a particular time period.

In other words, you don't pay taxes on 80% to 90% of your distribution because it's considered a return by the IRS. For example, if you purchase an MLP for $50 and receive a $5 distribution, $4 to $4.50 is tax-deferred. Only the leftover 10% to 20% - or $.50 to $1 - is taxed as regular income.

Other than tax benefits, MLPs also offer the most competitive yields on the market.

In fact, several of the 50 companies on the Alerian MLP Index offer a 7.5% yield or higher. That beats the Alerian's average yield of 5.7%, and the Dow Jones' 2.75% average.

Another reason MLPs are so "marketproof" is their limited exposure to oil and gas prices. Most MLPs own midstream assets, including utilities, pipeline operators, and underground storage. Instead of owning oil and gas, they transport, store, and process them. They are the tollbooth collectors at a bridge, collecting fees as long as the commodities flow.

"When you invest in the midstream, you're far less susceptible to price fluctuations in the underlying commodity, and you are able to collect easy profits from the growing demand in fuels," Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors explained.

Midstream MLPs are strong picks even when interest rates spike. Their "fee-based" model allows these MLPs to negotiate long-term contracts. They factor year-over-year prices into these contracts in case inflation occurs down the line. That's how they sustain their distribution growth for investors amid high interest rates.

The fee-based model also keeps midstream MLPs profitable when oil and gas prices are low - which is why many have been going public recently.

Columbia Pipeline Partners LP's (NYSE: CPPL) debut last month raised about $1.1 billion. CPPL was the largest MLP IPO in history. It's down about 2% since its debut, but analysts give it a one-year price target of $33.50 - a 28% premium to where it's trading today. Dominion Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: DM) hit the market in October 2014 and is up 43% since then.

With more MLPs heading to market in 2015, here are three deals to keep your eyes on...

Three MLP IPOs to Look for in 2015

[epom key="ddec3ef33420ef7c9964a4695c349764" redirect="" sourceid="" imported="false"]According to Renaissance Capital, a manager of IPO-focused ETFs, these three MLP IPOs are expected to raise a combined $500 million. Each filed with the SEC last quarter and will hit the market sometime this year.

Hess Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: HESM) is a Houston-based company formed by Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES). The MLP owns pipeline and storage assets in the Bakken shale formation, the largest oil reserve in the United States. It was founded last year and booked $247 million in sales between June 2013 and June 2014. It plans to raise up to $250 million.

PennTex Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: PTXP) owns midstream assets in Northern Texas and Northern Louisiana. Its assets are contracted to Memorial Resource Development Corp. (Nasdaq: MRD), a natural gas company that went public last June. PennTex hopes to raise up to $150 million.

MidCon Midstream LP manages saltwater gathering and disposal assets throughout the Mid-Continent region. The Oklahoma City-based company is owned by SandRidge Energy Inc. (NYSE: SD). It will trade on the NYSE but has not yet selected a ticker. Although it filed for a $100 million deal, Renaissance Capital estimates it could raise $200 million or more.

These three MLP IPOs are good options for adding yield to your portfolio. Of course, buying as soon as they hit the market is not advised. New stocks usually need some time to stabilize before they are good investments.

While you wait for the short-term volatility to shake out, one of our favorite MLPs to buy any time is Enbridge Energy Partners LP (NYSE: EEP). The company is the largest pipeline transporter of oil production from western Canada and the North Dakota Bakken Formation. EEP currently offers a 6.3% yield and one-year returns of 42.58%, making it a strong play for ongoing income.

The Bottom Line: Master limited partnerships consistently stun the broader market. MLPs are poised for another great year as many go public. Remember that buying into IPOs the day they hit the market can result in hefty losses. Wait for the initial bump to stabilize before adding these MLPs to your portfolio.

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