Gushing gains: Income and growth at Kinder Morgan (KMP)

"Despite sharp intermediate setbacks, the bull market in energy is far from over," says Martin Weiss, editor of the Safe Money Report. Here, he looks at Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE: KMP).

"Earlier, there was some concern that a U.S. recession would dampen worldwide demand for oil, and that could still happen. But right now, the rapidly increasing consumption of crude oil by emerging markets is actually exceeding any declines in industrial nations.

"Kinder Morgan is an energy partnership that transports more than 2 million barrels of energy products every day - gasoline, jet fuel, natural gas liquids and more. It has two additional profit centers: Mammoth oil and gas storage facilities and a business supplying carbon dioxide, which is used to boost production from aging oilfields.

"All three of these businesses can be extremely lucrative in a rising oil market like this one. That's how KMP generated a record profit of $347 million in the first quarter - a big swing from a year-earlier loss of
$150 million.

"Partnerships like Kinder pay out quarterly dividends to 'unit holders' - the equivalent of shareholders in traditional public corporations. And KMP's latest payout is 96 cents per unit, up from 92 cents in the prior quarter and 83 cents a year earlier. The indicated yield is a hefty 6.5%.

"As much as we like KMP, we recognize that energy shares may be extended and could pull back in the near term. So here's what we suggest you do: Buy a half-position in KMP this month. Then hold back an equivalent amount of cash earmarked for a possible second bite at the apple later."

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