qfx

So, what’s the secret sauce? What makes these two different from the other boring, predictable stocks? Let’s unravel it, shall we?

It’s not about getting rich quick, mind you. It’s about building a small bulwark against the uncertainties, a bit of ground that won’t wash away with the first flood. A man can live on little, if he has a little coming in regular. These two companies, they offer that, a chance to weather the lean times with a bit of dignity.

Back in March 2022, President Biden obliged, unleashing 30 million barrels, then another 180 million. A veritable gusher! It was a noble effort, attempting to counteract the price hikes caused by, shall we say, a situation in Ukraine. And now? Well, now it’s Iran causing the ruckus, and the whole thing is starting all over again. It’s like a bad vaudeville act – the same jokes, different villain!

I confess, a certain… fascination with Energy Transfer. Not for its balance sheets, though they are, admittedly, robust. But for its position. A silent, almost spectral presence, poised at the nexus of this global game. It is a company that thrives not on innovation, but on the predictable anxieties of nations. And now, as the reserves are drawn down, it is poised to benefit. A surprising victor, perhaps, but one whose triumph is rooted in the very fragility of the system.

The idea, naturally, is appealing. Skip the traffic, soar above the gridlock, arrive at your destination looking vaguely superior. I envision a future where I can bypass the highway entirely, silently gliding over the endless stream of SUVs piloted by people who seem genuinely angry about something. But here’s the thing: I also spent a week trying to assemble a flat-pack bookshelf last month, and I suspect the engineering challenges of vertical takeoff and landing are, shall we say, slightly more complex.