Energy

Meet the New Keystone XL Pipeline and Dakota Access Winners for 2017

Jon C. Ogg

Published: January 24, 2017 2:27 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 3:34 pm

If you were waiting to see if the controversial Keystone XL pipeline debate was going to come back in focus, it has come back front and center. Donald Trump has now signed orders that would allow a path to move forward with the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

While there are still many actions and negotiations that have to be taken and while this should not be a surprise based on campaign views, the reality is that Keystone XL was major project that was delayed for years under the Obama administration. President Trump is opening the door for these projects again, and one caveat was to use American steel in the projects. It is likely to be some time before negotiations become more clear.

24/7 Wall St. has covered the Keystone XL pipeline and other pipeline projects in depth over the years. Needless to say, it has been a roller-coaster ride. Here are some of the top companies that have been named as would-be beneficiaries from these delayed or canceled pipeline projects on more than just one occasion over the years.

TransCanada Corp. (NYSE: TRP) is the ultimate winner here if the Keystone XL pipeline gets built. This would have moved Canadian crude oil from Canada’s tar sands down to refineries in the Gulf Coast region. TransCanada announced a $10 billion acquisition of the Columbia Pipeline Group to give it a solid foothold in the natural gas-producing Marcellus and Utica shale plays, as well as a line from the Gulf Coast to the U.S. Midwest. With its $39 billion market cap, TransCanada has new 52-week trading range is $32.66 to $48.99. TransCanada’s consensus analyst price target is $50.50.

Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (NYSE: ETP) was last seen trading up 4% at $37.19, in a 52-week range of $18.62 to $43.50. The issue here is that the Obama administration blocked a critical junction for the $3.8 billion Dakota pipeline in 2016. This was under Lake Oahe and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was exploring alternate routes, and those delays have reportedly cost Energy Transfer Partners more than $400 million. That is real money, even if a $20 billion market cap is considered.

Quanta Services Inc. (NYSE: PWR) was expected to be a large winner back in 2013 from the Keystone Pipeline, at least in a Stategas report back then. This is a Houston-based infrastructure construction company. Quanta Services was last seen trading up by 7% at $37.22 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $16.77 to $37.22 and with a consensus price target of $35.38. Its market cap is $5.6 billion.

Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE: SU) was indicated lower early on Tuesday, due to it having been downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Macquarie. After closing down 1.4% at $31.28 the prior day, Suncor was last seen up 3% at $32.22 on Tuesday, against a 52-week range of $20.35 to $33.79. Suncor is integrated across many aspects of the oil sector, but it primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada’s Athabasca oil sands.

Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ATI) was up 28% at $21.76 on Tuesday afternoon, and the 12 million shares that had traded as of 1:00 Eastern Time was about five times normal volume. Allegheny now has a market cap of $2.37 billion, and its new 52-week high was $21.94. Allegheny Tech posted a lower loss than expected and was showing some signs of improvement. Here is the real tie for Keystone and other pipeline plays: ATI Oil & Gas delivers next-generation materials and innovative problem-solving technologies for down-hole and top-side applications, as well as for the emerging exploration of ultra-deep subsea fields and unconventional oil sands and shales.

United Rentals Inc. (NYSE: URI) is a renter of construction equipment, and if you live in a city you have probably seen its heavy equipment at major construction sites. United Rentals shares were up 3.5% at $114.01 on Tuesday afternoon, and its shares hit a 52-week high of $114.47. Its market cap is $9.6 billion. Be advised that United Rentals will report earnings this Thursday, and its shares are up more than 100% from its 52-week low — and shares were all the way down at $75.87 on election day!

There are other winners as well, some of which will only be known once the negotiations become more quantified.