My aunt Mildred, bless her, cornered me at Thanksgiving. Not about the turkey—though she did have opinions—but about “getting into energy.” Apparently, her bridge club was convinced these stocks were the answer to everything. Retirement, college funds, even a decent down payment on a timeshare in Branson. It’s always Branson. I tried to explain that I’m not a financial advisor, just a person who occasionally reads things and then pretends to understand them. She waved a hand, as if dismissing a particularly bothersome fruit fly. “Dividends, dear,” she said, with the certainty of someone who’d just solved a Rubik’s Cube. So, here we are. A reluctant dive into the world of energy stocks. Mostly to avoid another Thanksgiving lecture.
The usual suspects keep popping up. Chevron, Enterprise Products Partners, Brookfield Renewable Partners. They all sound…substantial. Like names of old law firms or particularly judgmental uncles. I’ve been told they offer “high yields.” Which, as far as I can tell, means they’re giving you a little bit of your money back, just to keep you interested. It’s like a dog trainer offering a treat for sitting. You appreciate it, but you suspect there’s a catch.
Chevron: The Oil and Gas Routine
Chevron. Oil and gas. It feels…predictable. Like a rerun of a show you used to enjoy, but now you just find it vaguely depressing. They’ve been increasing their dividend for over three decades, which is impressive, I suppose. It’s the kind of consistency you look for in a plumbing contractor, not necessarily a financial investment. They’re diversified, which is good. Spreading the risk, they call it. I prefer to think of it as avoiding putting all your eggs in one increasingly fragile basket. And their balance sheet is “strong.” Which, in the financial world, probably means they have a really good accountant. The 3.8% yield is…fine. It’s enough to buy a slightly nicer brand of coffee. Or maybe a new pair of socks.
Enterprise: The Pipeline People
Enterprise Products Partners. They don’t actually make anything, as far as I can tell. They just move things around. Like a very efficient delivery service for oil and gas. They own pipelines, storage facilities…it sounds like a game of logistics, but with significantly higher stakes. They’re a Master Limited Partnership, which sounds complicated and probably involves a lot of paperwork. The appeal, apparently, is that they don’t care what the price of oil is, as long as it’s moving. Which is a surprisingly cynical worldview. It’s like saying you’re happy as long as the conveyor belt is running, even if it’s full of broken teacups. They’ve been increasing their distribution for over a quarter of a century. That’s a lot of years. A lot of quarterly reports. A lot of opportunities for things to go wrong. The 6% yield is…tempting. It’s enough to almost justify the existential dread.
Brookfield Renewable Partners: The Green Option
Brookfield Renewable Partners. They’re trying to be good. Or at least, they’re trying to look good. Investing in clean energy. Solar, wind, hydroelectric…it’s all very admirable. They’re diversified, too. Across continents. Which feels…ambitious. Like they’re trying to solve the world’s energy problems single-handedly. They’ve only been around for a decade, which, in the investment world, is practically yesterday. But they’ve managed a decade of distribution growth. That’s…something. The 5% yield is…acceptable. It’s enough to ease my conscience, if not necessarily my bank account. It feels like a slightly more responsible way to avoid Aunt Mildred’s lectures.
Yields and Fundamentals: A Reluctant Conclusion
So, here we are. Chevron, Enterprise, Brookfield. They all offer a combination of yield and “fundamentally strong businesses.” Which, as far as I can tell, means they’re not currently on fire. If you’re a long-term dividend investor, you might find one or more of these in your portfolio. I suspect Aunt Mildred already has. I’m still not entirely convinced. But I’m starting to understand why people get into this. It’s not about getting rich. It’s about finding something…stable. Something that might just outlast us all. Or at least, until the next market correction. I think I’ll stick to coffee. And socks.
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2026-02-23 18:14