&Sigma Planning Corp has created ripples in the investment world with its recent move to purchase a new position in shares of Mplx Lp (NYSE:MPLX). The New York-based financial firm bought 29,659 shares of the pipeline company’s stock valued at approximately $974,000. This notable acquisition was revealed in the firm’s latest Form 13F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
However, this announcement was followed by mixed earnings updates from Mplx. In its last earnings report issued on Tuesday, January 31st, Mplx disclosed that it had an EPS of $0.78 for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates by ($0.06), which significantly affected the company’s stock prices.
Although it reported $2.66 billion in revenue for Q4-2020 compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.62 billion, this marked a 2.6% YoY revenue decline for Mplx Lp. Despite this setback, Sell-side analysts predict that MPLX will post an EPS of 3.47 for the current year.
Mplx LP is known for its operational prowess in midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets while providing distribution fuel services to customers worldwide through its two primary operating segments: Logistics and Storage (L&S) and Gathering and Processing (G&P).
The Logistics and Storage Segment not just transports but also stores, markets as well as distributes crude oil alongside asphalt products while dealing with refined petroleum goods and water as well in addition to providing ancillary utilization opportunities using marine terminals located along America’s waterways.
As far as G&P is concerned, it deals with natural gas firms owning gathering systems as well as processing plants focused on managing natural gas drillers’ production volumes at various upstream locations towards processing facilities designed to separate these particular components into other valuable hydro-carbon sectors such as ethane or propane liquefied gases etc.
In conclusion, &Sigma Planning Corp’s decision to purchase a new position in shares of Mplx Lp has generated intense interest among investors. It’s interesting to see how the situation will unfold amidst COVID-19 global business disruptions that are making an impact on pipelines, energy infrastructure assets and fuel services, as well as changes in consumers’ energy needs over the long run. Nonetheless, it seems like an exciting time for anyone interested in investing in Mplx Lp stock!
US Midstream Energy Infrastructure Operator, MPLX LP, Sees Increase in Investor Interest
MPLX LP, a US-based midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets operator, has recently seen an increase in the number of investors buying and selling shares in their business. One large investment group, UBS Group AG, increased their stake by 7.3% during Q3 2016, bringing their current holdings to 6,223,966 shares valued at approximately $186,781,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its shareholdings by 6.5%, now owning 5,266,977 shares worth around $174,758,000. ING Groep NV and Energy Income Partners LLC also increased their stakes in MPLX by between 12.1% – 34%, while Amundi raised their stake by 14%. Hedge funds and institutional investors currently own just under a quarter (23.62%) of the company’s stock.
While MPLX saw a year-low of $27.47 in June 2016 due to falling oil prices globally last year more recently growth had led it to a market capitalization of $34.62 billion and a PE ratio of 9.22 with indicators that it continues to expand.
Operating through the Logistics and Storage (L&S) segment with Gathering and Processing (G&P) segments as well,MPLX transports crude oil products such as asphalt,water as well as refined petroleum products.The company also issued its Q1 dividend payment on February 14th; shareholders who held stock until February 6th would receive payment of $0.775 per share owned annually yielding almost nine percent.
Recently identified as being a stock worthy of investment from Barclays with an overweight rating seeing it increased its price objective from $37 to $38.Other financial institutions including Raymond James,Morgan Stanley,JPMorgan Chase & Co.and StockNews.com have rated the MPLX stock between buy,outperform equal weight or overweight according to Bloomberg.com.
