(Bloomberg) -- Pipeline and midstream energy companies may be about to join the sustainable investment trend.
The sector has often been a target of environmental opposition, but their “impressive” safety track records and relatively low environmental footprints could make them a focus for investors who favor environmental, social and governance factors, according to National Bank of Canada.
Enbridge Inc. and TC Energy Corp. topped National Bank’s pipeline-ESG ranking, with Inter Pipeline Ltd garnering a positive mention. Compared to power and utility companies, the group has to do a lot of work to develop sustainability reports and targets but that provides an attractive entry point, according to National Bank.
“As more companies comply with globally recognized environmental reporting standards and establish attractive ESG goals, we anticipate increased fund flows from sustainability investors,” National Bank analyst Patrick Kenny said in a note to clients this week, predicting the group can close its valuation gap versus utilities.
Shares of pipeline and midstream companies haven’t needed a lending hand this year with Enbridge, Pembina Pipeline Corp., and TC Energy leading the Canadian energy index with gains of over 5%. Low interest rates and their defensive nature amid roiling markets have been support while oil producers have dropped alongside the commodity.
Indigenous Relationships
Pipeline companies are no strangers to environmental controversy. TC Energy’s Keystone XL line and the Trans Mountain project, now owned by the Canadian government, have both faced numerous delays by those opposed to them as conduits for output from Alberta’s oil sands.
Oil spills remain a concern, but the pipeline companies on National Bank’s coverage list have delivered 99.99% of volumes without a spill, Kenny said. Social and governance standards can be increased through areas such as indigenous relationships and board oversight, respectively, he said.
Meanwhile in the U.S. market, a similar theme was echoed at Credit Suisse, where most of the midstream names that have been picked up by ESG ETFs have published sustainability reports, the bank said.
“Screening well on ESG metrics can attract new investors and provide ‘sticky ownership’ which could drive higher stock valuation,” Credit Suisse analyst Spiro Dounis told clients in a note last month. One of BlackRock’s ESG ETF’s, the iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF, has pipeline holdings including Kinder Morgan Inc. and Williams Cos.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Michael Bellusci in Toronto at [email protected]
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Jacqueline Thorpe at [email protected];
Brad Olesen at [email protected]
Divya Balji
