- Last month, the Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) rallied 14.04%, handsomely outpacing the broader energy and equity markets as its midstream companies and master limited partnerships (MLPs) boasted strong free cash flow generation in their Q3 earnings reports with expectations of increasing future growth under the new Trump administration. Midstream stocks and MLPs focused on natural gas infrastructure have helped drive ENFR’s strong outperformance over the broader energy market this year with natural gas demand set to explode from artificial intelligence (AI) power consumption.
- ENFR’s Gathering & Processing segment was the top performer in November with Aris Water Solutions Inc. (ARIS, 0.47% weight*) rallying over 63% after the water infrastructure company raised its full-year guidance on increasing water volume growth in the Permian and Delaware Basins. Similarly, Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP, 5.90% weight*) returned over 22% after reporting strong earnings as new natural gas gathering projects within the Permian Basin, the highest oil-producing area in the United States, added to production with two new plants set for construction.
- Within ENFR’s Pipeline Transportation | Natural Gas segment, Kinetik Holdings Inc. (KNTK, 1.72% weight*) returned 21.27% in November as the company increased its 2024 earnings guidance on strong midstream logistics across its crude and natural gas businesses. Lastly, the Liquefaction segment saw strong performance in November as a Trump victory boosted liquid natural gas (LNG) transporters. NextDecade Corp. (NEXT, 0.58% weight*) and Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG, 5.35% weight*) returned 23.97% and 17.33%, respectively, last month, as LNG export restrictions are set to be lifted in 2025 with the buildout of additional LNG infrastructure having an easier regulatory pathway.
“Over the past few quarters, I've talked about our view of the future demand for natural gas with strong growth being driven by LNG exports, exports to Mexico and electric generation, which is benefiting from the tremendous needs of AI and data centers. In fact, in my decades of experience in the midstream arena, I've never seen a macro environment so rich with opportunities for incremental build-out of natural gas infrastructure.”
– Richard Kinder, Executive Chairman of Kinder Morgan, Q3 2024 Earnings Call, October 16, 2024
ENFR is Set to Benefit from a Surge in AI Energy Demand
- Energy infrastructure stocks have been a major indirect beneficiary of the buildout of AI data centers in 2024, with the expected exponential growth in AI data centers over the next decade requiring a large increase in natural gas to meet electricity demand. Per Bloomberg, private construction on data centers in the US has surged to nearly $30 billion a year, with money manager KKR & Co. expecting AI and cloud-computing data center demand to reach $250 billion a year, globally. With many data centers relying on generators powered by natural gas, midstream energy infrastructure companies that are focused on natural gas are poised to benefit from this dramatic increase in energy demand. As of November 30th, the Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) holds over 75% of its portfolio in MLPs and companies focused on natural gas infrastructure.
- With an incoming Trump administration that is very supportive of the fossil fuel ecosystem, coupled with a strong US demand backdrop and growing exports of US shale production, ENFR fits well into a portfolio to add attractive dividend income while capitalizing on the powerful midstream energy infrastructure theme. For example, for every new US gas-powered utility that is built, midstream transmission pipelines need to be built to serve the power plant with its natural gas (methane) feedstock.
- New planned gas capacity in the US for 2024 is on pace to exceed 2023 levels by ~22 gigawatts (GW), a more than 50% jump year-over-year in capacity that has been catalyzed by AI and cloud computing data center growth.
Performance Summary
| Cumulative | Annualized |
||||||||
| 1 M | YTD | 1 Y | 3 Y | 1 Y | 3 Y | 5 Y | 10 Y | SI | |
| ENFR - NAV (Net Asset Value) | 14.04% | 51.09% | 50.08% | 109.33% | 34.87% | 19.89% | 13.43% | 4.42% | 5.99% |
| ENFR - Market Price | 13.97% | 51.08% | 49.99% | 109.33% | 34.90% | 19.90% | 13.44% | 4.42% | 5.99% |
| Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index - TR | 14.14% | 52.09% | 51.22% | 113.35% | 35.88% | 20.66% | 14.35% | 5.26% | 6.87% |
| Alerian MLP Index - TR | 14.11% | 51.39% | 50.52% | 110.27% | 24.46% | 25.47% | 13.50% | 1.82% | 3.58% |
Source: Bloomberg L.P. and SS&C ALPS Advisors, cumulative performance as of 11/30/2024 and annualized performance as of 09/30/2024
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. For current month-end performance call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Performance includes reinvested distributions and capital gains.
Market Price is based on the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4 p.m. ET and does not represent the returns an investor would receive if shares were traded at other times.
Fund inception date: 10/31/2013
Total Operating Expenses: 0.35%
* Weight in ENFR as of 11/30/2024
Top 10 Holdings
| Energy Transfer LP | 9.53% | Kinder Morgan Inc | 5.72% | |
| Enterprise Products Partners LP | 7.83% | Williams Cos Inc/The | 5.57% | |
| Enbridge Inc | 7.37% | Cheniere Energy Inc | 5.35% | |
| DT Midstream Inc | 5.95% | ONEOK Inc | 5.32% | |
| Targa Resources Corp | 5.90% | MPLX LP | 4.97% |
As of 11/30/2024, subject to change
Important Disclosures & Definitions
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other information, call 1-866-759-5679 or visit www.alpsfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemable.
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results; current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted.
All investments are subject to risks, including the loss of money and the possible loss of the entire principal amount invested. Additional information regarding the risks of this investment is available in the prospectus.
Investments in securities of Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. MLPs are controlled by their general partners, which generally have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties to the MLP, which may permit the general partner to favor its own interests over the MLPs.
A portion of the benefits you are expected to derive from the Fund’s investment in MLPs depends largely on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, an MLP has no federal income tax liability at the entity level. Therefore, treatment of one or more MLPs as a corporation for federal income tax purposes could affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective and would reduce the amount of cash available to pay or distribute to you. Legislative, judicial, or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, could negatively impact the value of an investment in MLPs and therefore the value of your investment in the Fund.
The Fund invests primarily in a particular sector and could experience greater volatility than a fund investing in a broader range of industries.
Investments in the energy infrastructure sector are subject to: reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing or storing; changes in the regulatory environment; extreme weather and; rising interest rates which could result in a higher cost of capital and drive investors into other investment opportunities.
The Fund employs a “passive management” - or indexing - investment approach and seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) generally to the performance of its underlying index. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not necessarily sell or buy a security unless that security is removed from or added to the underlying index, respectively.
Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI): a composite of North American energy infrastructure companies. The capped, float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted index constituents are engaged in midstream activities involving energy commodities.
Alerian MLP Index (AMZ): the leading gauge of energy infrastructure MLPs. The capped, float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted index constituents earn the majority of their cash flow from midstream activities involving energy commodities.
One may not invest directly in an index.
ALPS Advisors, Inc., registered investment adviser with the SEC, is the investment adviser to the Fund. ALPS Advisors, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., affiliated entities, are unaffiliated with VettaFi and the Alerian Index Series.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the distributor for the Fund.
Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value
ALR001866 03/31/2025
