You’ve probably heard the term MLP before, but what exactly is it?
An MLP is a master limited partnership, a business entity commonly used by energy companies as an alternative to a regular corporation.
One of the main advantages of an MLP is that the MLP’s income and losses are not taxed at the MLP level but, instead, are passed through to the investors. From there they are then subject to the normal tax rules.
In short, an MLP is not subject to double taxation like a regular corporation, one of its big pluses. In addition, energy MLP investors buy shares for their generous cash income distributions. Indeed, two big reasons investors like them.
But MLPs aren’t all rainbows and unicorns. Not by a long shot.
The fact is many investors — mostly small retail investors — were sold these investments without being made aware of the potential risks and unintended consequences that I’ve warned repeatedly about over the past 12 to 16 months.
Here’s what I mean …
In the recent past, energy MLP investors were enjoying the good life: Getting handed a juicy cash distribution in a low interest rate world as oil prices soared.
In fact, not only were the cash distributions increasing, but the share price of the MLPs were also heading higher.
That all changed when oil prices started heading south in mid-2014. MLP shares cratered in 2015, losing almost a third of their value on average.
In fact, shares of the Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) are still down 36 percent since their 2014 peak with some individual MLP shares plunging as much as 99 percent — completely wiping out investors’ wealth.
To make matters worse, those coveted cash distributions that investors had taken for granted have been cut or taken away altogether. And that’s left MLP investors in a world of hurt.
But the bad news doesn’t stop there.
MLPs pass certain tax burdens to their investors. So when debt is forgiven in an MLP restructuring — it can count as noncash income, called “cancellation of debt income.”
Result: A potentially huge tax liability for investors — even if they lost most of the value of their investment. You read that right: Some MLP investors are getting slammed with massive tax bills without collecting a dime in cash. And that’s on top of their MLP investment getting hammered.
Here’s an example: Breitburn Energy Partners shares were trading over $22 back in 2014. Then in May of this year they filed for bankruptcy. The shares got killed … and are now trading at $0.30. Yikes!
But to make matters worse, court documents show Breitburn’s holders could owe taxes of approximately $14 on each unit or share they hold.
Absolutely terrible.
So, beware of the unintended consequences — a danger I’m always warning my readers about — of getting sucked in by investments like energy MLPs.
I’ve warned about this for some time. Now, even in MLPs, the piper is being paid. MLPs will rise from the ashes, but not until oil bottoms, which it hasn’t done yet … and not until all the rot has been cleaned up in the MLP bankruptcy cycle.
As tempting as they might be to buy, don’t touch them with a 10-foot pole until I give you the all clear.
Best,
Larry
Malcolm A douglas December 23, 2016
Your comments on MLPs is rather broad brush. I have owned a few sh
Larry Edelson December 23, 2016
Yes it is, but so have been the losses and phantom but very real tax hits. — Larry
Malcolm A douglas December 23, 2016
Your comments on MLPs is rather broad brush. I have owned a few sh
Louise Purfield-Coak December 21, 2016
Thank you for sharing this with little ol me. I am retired and lost my complete 401(k) and my IRA in the great recession and tech. Sector crash events. Right now I have only my Social Security and Medicare to get by with. I am debtless however, and by Feb. have my budget worked out so I will have a monthly amount to be able to set aside for investing. I hope your advice is better than my last broker. I have been reading your blog for awhile now (several months), and the advice seems logical. I just hope Trump and his gang give me time before they eliminate Medicare and disable Social Security which is all I have left after working a lifetime.
Larry Edelson December 23, 2016
They won’t eliminate it but they will cut it severely. Thank you for your gracious compliments and you can rest assured I’ll be doing 1,000% for you and all of my members, each of which I consider family. — Best, Larry
Louise Purfield-Coak December 21, 2016
Thank you for sharing this with little ol me. I am retired and lost my complete 401(k) and my IRA in the great recession and tech. Sector crash events. Right now I have only my Social Security and Medicare to get by with. I am debtless however, and by Feb. have my budget worked out so I will have a monthly amount to be able to set aside for investing. I hope your advice is better than my last broker. I have been reading your blog for awhile now (several months), and the advice seems logical. I just hope Trump and his gang give me time before they eliminate Medicare and disable Social Security which is all I have left after working a lifetime.
Bill Nack December 19, 2016
What do you think of MLPSX and MLPDX?
Bill Nack December 19, 2016
What do you think of MLPSX and MLPDX?
John December 19, 2016
I tripled my money in energy MLPs between 2009 and late 2014. Five+ years was a good long run. They aren’t bad investments, they’re like most other investments–you have to be aware of the nature of whatever you invest in, and monitor how the cycle.
John December 19, 2016
I tripled my money in energy MLPs between 2009 and late 2014. Five+ years was a good long run. They aren’t bad investments, they’re like most other investments–you have to be aware of the nature of whatever you invest in, and monitor how the cycle.
steve December 19, 2016
would you suggest that ccccx falls in that classification?
steve December 19, 2016
would you suggest that ccccx falls in that classification?
Phil December 19, 2016
You could point out that AMLP works as a regular etf–no K-1 forms, and no taxes owed on non-cash distributions.
Phil December 19, 2016
You could point out that AMLP works as a regular etf–no K-1 forms, and no taxes owed on non-cash distributions.
Ed Wells December 19, 2016
New on the market in Utah… a company is looking for investors in an mlp here in Utah with Solar energy. they are looking (as I understand) to make a large solar farm, with multiple banks of solar panels. I don’t have the money, so I’m not investing. but they make sound so good.
Ed Wells December 19, 2016
New on the market in Utah… a company is looking for investors in an mlp here in Utah with Solar energy. they are looking (as I understand) to make a large solar farm, with multiple banks of solar panels. I don’t have the money, so I’m not investing. but they make sound so good.