To start, I’d like to thank readers who post questions regarding sectors (NOT individual stocks!!) that might be of interest to a broad spectrum of readers. Today’s blog is the result of one of the long time readers of the blog asking about utilities and pipelines. Please post question and comments on the website if you have such questions.
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A brief market comment
Before getting to the utilities and pipelines question, I wanted to make a quick observation regarding the broad markets. In my first blog of the year (January 3rd) I presented a strong case for a decline in the S&P 500 down to 4600. Here is that blog. I followed that blog up by presenting my usual monthly reading of the risk/reward market compilation called the Bear-o-meter – here. It, too, presented a case for a market decline – although I noted that we are in for a decline, not a crash. As such, the dip should be bought. Is now that time?
My thoughts: Now that my target is being tested (literally as I type this…) – we need to see if 4600 will hold. I am not deploying new cash into the market until 4600 proves as support.
Bottom line: If current support of 4600 breaks, I anticipate the next level of support to come in around 4400. If that level is reached, we start our 3 day count again. My thoughts are that 4400 is likely the “line in the sand” –but first let’s see if 4600 support holds.
Utilities
Lets move on to utilities. The reader asked if I think there is opportunity in the sector. I’ll look at the BMO equal-weight ETF (ZUT-T) as the model for this commentary. The chart is below. I should note that rising rates are usually unfavorable for utilities – as their main expense is debt. Utilities are not growth companies, and most factors on the revenue and expenses are slow to change. The main change factor for this industry (beyond the “new green deal expenses”) are interest rates. Higher rates increase their expenses.
That aside, the chart below suggests a bit of a triangle (consolidation pattern) is forming for the sector. One is typically wise NOT to buy within such a consolidation. That’s because – when a breakout occurs, it is usually pretty powerful. That’s great if its an upside breakout. But if its to the downside – look out below! Bearish momentum trends suggest the signs are not yet bullish for the sector. As always, the main benefit of this sector is the dividend payout. But a bearish breakdown – I am not predicting one will occur…but IF it were to occur – it could be ugly. And that downside would offset the dividend. To me, this is a 50/50 situation as to whether its a buy or a sell. I don’t trade those kind of odds.
Pipelines
While some of the energy conglomerates have pipeline elements to their businesses – for example Suncor has a US subsidiary with pipleine exposure – there are only 3 true pipelines to look at in Canada. As such, you wont find a pure ETF in the sector. Horizons has a pipeline and energy services ETF (HOG-T) – but its a mixed bag, thus not representative of todays subject. As such, we will look at the three charts of ENB, TRP and PPL below.
Enbridge
ENB (which we hold in our Income Platform) has technical resistance in the mid-$50’s. The stock is hooking up after a brief selloff, and the momentum studies are bullish. ENB has a big dividend at the time of writing… 6.7%. This is a neutral chart, suggesting minor upside but stable pattern. ideal for dividend seekers with lower growth expectations (which is why we hold it in our Income Platform).
TC Pipeline
TRP has a bit more upside for investors than ENB. The stock has a fair amount of resistance in the mid-$60’s, which is 10% ahead of current pricing. The dividend is about 1% less than ENB at 5.6% as I write this. Momentum studies are hooking up suggesting neartermed upside.
Pembina
We own Pembina in both our Equity Platform and our Income Platform. Its got a pretty nice dividend at 6.4%. Of note, this pipeline is a double edged sword, of sorts. On the positive side, we have current technical resistance near $42 – which was its pre-Covid support level. The stock failed at this level recently after a nice run from its bottom in 2020. However, we have a bounce – and positive momentum hooks, which imply a return to that $42 level. Should $42 be cracked, the old resistance level of about $48-$50 leaves plenty of upside. That’s the real positive side of this sword.
The negative side of the sword is the diverging momentum trends, which I have marked on the chart below. This is the only pipeline showing such trends. That can be a warning sign of the good times being over. We shall see. For our part at ValueTrend, we think $42 is attainable, but will have to see if it can follow through and break its declining momentum trend before deciding to continue holding the stock.
Conclusion
Dividend players who are comparing pipelines and utilities are best to focus on pipelines right now. The utility sector isn’t showing us which way its triangle will be breaking out. If we see a bullish breakout from that triangle, it would suggest upside. Fundamentals favor pipelines as well, and do not favor the effects of rising rates on utilities.
Finally – for all of my readers: look for the official announcement and release of the Technical Analysis course in the next two days.
5 Comments
Regarding ZUT, I don’t get how you see a triangle pattern in there… I see more a break of trend around Sep-end/Oct, then a failed retest of the 25.40 level and a new low in Dec. Lower lows = trend is now down, no? If I had owned this ETF, I probably would have sold during the last week of Nov because it broke the trend from more than 3 weeks and more than 3% down (based on 25.40 resistance/support)… These are the rules, right? 🙂 In order to see a triangle pattern, price should have dropped lower to about 24.10 in Oct and then bouced back… I guess there is something I don’t get in these pattern recognition things. Thanks for your help!
Thanks Francisco–you are right in that “naming” the formation is a mugs game. Bottom line: any time you do not have successive highs and lows you have a consolidation. The utilities look to be stuck in a consolidation–call it a triangle, or a “great white north upside down flapjack” formation. I don’t care–it ain’t going up, it ain’t going down. Wait for a trend to emerge before guessing which way it goes!
So the corrections over only 200 points? If that’s the case not worth making any moves. Trying to time markets you have to be right or close to right at least twice. Once at the top and once at the bottom. Easier said than done.
I own Teck and so far it has performed brilliantly. There is a potential strike at their copper mine in BC. Does this factor in when looking at technical analysis? Or is this just noise and you carry on whether there us a strike or not?
Dave I cover this in my new course (how to discern if a fundamental factor is material or non-reoccurring). I hope you enrolled.
Normally I don’t cover individual stocks as you know. However, your question allows me to illustrate a point I cover in my course!
Disclosure: I hold TECK in the equity platforms
My answer would be )- it will likely impact the stock in the near-term. But this is like the oil selloff in late 2021 (I think you asked me if I was selling oil then–I said no, as the factors driving it down were non-reoccurring and the macro picture / aka inflation and long termed chart patterns – remained good). I’d view TECK in the same light–ie, if it sells off, it wont stay down forever. Inflation is going to continue driving their products higher. Ultimately the stock will trade off of that–and all strikes come to an end. But inflation will be with us for a while as discussed numerous times in my blogs. It is NOT transient.