Time to Take a Second Look at EVA Stock
Every business comes with its risk. As we have seen plenty of times, even the most solid companies can experience a slowdown due to an unexpected event.
This is particularly true for a group of high-yield stocks called master limited partnerships, or MLPs. Most MLPs operate in the oil and gas industry. With commodity prices being volatile, an MLP’s business may experience some ups and downs.
Now, you are probably wondering, “Oil prices are tumbling at the moment, why would you say this MLP stock deserves an upgrade?”
Well, for one, while Enviva Partners LP (NYSE:EVA) is indeed an MLP, its business has nothing to do with oil and gas.
Enviva Partners LP
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Enviva Partners is a producer of wood pellets—the most common type of pellet fuel. The company aggregates wood fiber and processes it into a transportable form.
Wood pellets provide a cleaner energy alternative to fossil fuels. For instance, Enviva’s electric utilities customers can use wood pellets to replace coal in the power generation process, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows for the unique MLP.
In February 2018, there was a fire at Enviva’s marine export terminal at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia. The incident led to $19.5 million in unexpected expenses in the first quarter. Also, the partnership’s distributable cash flow of $7.5 million for the quarter provided just 0.46 times coverage for its payout. (Source: “Enviva Partners, LP Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2018 and Announces Eleventh Consecutive Distribution Increase,” Enviva Partners LP, May 3, 2018.)
Due to the continued impact of the Chesapeake incident and certain timing reasons, the partnership’s second-quarter distribution coverage ratio came in at 0.58 times. (Source: “Enviva Partners, LP Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter 2018 and Announces New Japanese and European Contracts,” Enviva Partners LP, August 8, 2018.)
When an MLP reports a coverage ratio of below one, it means the cash generated from its operations wasn’t enough to cover its cash distributions paid to unitholders. As a risk-averse income investor, I want to see an MLP with a coverage ratio of at least one—and hopefully greater than one for a margin of safety.
And that finally happened as Enviva reported its latest financial results.
Making a Comeback
In the third quarter of 2018, Enviva Partners generated $19.2 million in distributable cash flow, representing a 15.6% increase from the $16.6 million earned a year ago. And since the partnership declared total distributions of $16.8 million for the quarter, it achieved a distribution coverage ratio of 1.14 times. (Source: “Enviva Partners, LP Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter 2018 and Provides Guidance for 2019,” Enviva Partners LP, November 8, 2018.)
In other words, the payout was safe.
Other than its improving financials, investors should take a look at EVA stock due to its rising distributions.
Having completed its initial public offering (IPO) in May 2015, Enviva is a relatively new name to stock market investors. But the amount of cash it managed to return to unitholders was nothing short of impressive.
Since Enviva stock’s IPO, management has raised the partnership’s payout every single quarter. The latest distribution increase, which was announced last month, marked the partnership’s 13th consecutive quarterly payout hike. (Source: “Enviva Partners, LP Announces Thirteenth Consecutive Distribution Increase,” Enviva Partners LP, October 31, 2018.)
That’s right. While most dividend growth stocks would be proud if they can raise their dividend every year, Enviva stock investors have been getting a pay raise every three months. Since the partnership’s IPO, its distribution has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%.
Is the Best Yet to Come?
And the best could be yet to come. In the partnership’s third-quarter earnings report, management also provided their guidance.
For full-year 2019, management expects Enviva partners to generate adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) of $125.0 million to $135.0 million. This would represent a sizable increase from the expected adjusted EBITDA of $97.5 million to $101.5 million for full-year 2018. (Source: Ibid.)
Improving financials will likely translate to bigger distribution checks. During the earnings conference call, Enviva Partners’ President and Chief Executive Officer John Keppler remarked:
“I’d note that the distribution for the third quarter represents our 13th consecutive quarterly increase and with what we expect for the fourth quarter and beyond, this is a track record we expect to continue.” (Source: “Enviva Partners (EVA) Q3 2018 Earnings Conference Call Transcript,” The Motley Fool, November 9, 2018.)
The best part is, trading at around $30.94 apiece, Enviva Partners LP already offers a generous annual yield of 8.2%. With more distribution hikes on the way, investors who purchase EVA stock today will likely collect an even higher yield on cost a few quarters down the road.