Anhydrous ammonia isn’t well-known as an alternative source of fuel, but it’s economic and environmental attributes make it a very compelling alternative to hydrocarbons. That’s why the IwtB Podcast is extremely honored to have Norm Olson on the program to explain some important characteristics of NH3. My favorite quote from this interview really sums up how fascinating anhydrous ammonia is. “It’s kind of a miracle how well this thing works in so many different applications.” If you’re a fan of, or just interested in hydrogen, this is a great interview to listen to. Norm was the Program Manager for Biomass and Alternative Fuels at the Iowa Energy Center and the President of the NH3 Fuel Association. Norm is one of the foremost experts on anhydrous ammonia and one of the biggest champions of NH3 as an alternative energy source.
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Michael Rucker is the CEO and Founder of Scout Clean Energy, a private renewable energy developer. Michael is a renewable energy veteran with many years of experience developing utility-scale renewable energy facilities. Tune in to hear Michael talk about the history of Scout Clean Energy and renewable energy project development.
Bob Frenzel is the CFO at Xcel Energy (XEL), one of the largest and greenest utilities in the US. Tune in to the Buyside podcast to hear Bob breakdown everything you’ve wanted to know about utility investing. Topics discussed include the regulatory process, renewable energy, carbon-free target, replacement cost, and how to value utilities.
In this interview, you’ll hear Bob talk about some of the elements that are required for a utility to be, well, a great utility. You’ll also hear about Xcel’s carbon-free ambitions and what the company will have to do to achieve their targets. And here’s a spoiler, achieving a carbon-free generation portfolio isn’t solely based on wind, solar, and batteries. The solution is actually much more complicated than pundits would like you to believe.
Bob also does a great job of describing just what the regulatory process is like for a utility, how a utility justifies spending money that we, as ratepayers, essentially pay for, and Bob also talks a little about how a utility determines the rates that we as customers must pay. As someone who likes to talk about the future of electric generation and utilities, having Bob on the program is a real treat, but for me, there are two really interesting topics that are discussed.
The first is the fact that regulated utilities don’t generate a ton of free cash flow. That’s because they’re constantly reinvesting into the grid. The second relates to replacement cost or replacement value. I won’t spoil that last one. It’s a doozy, at least for the value investors out there!
Paul Comfort is the host of Transit Unplugged, an award-winning public transportation podcast. Paul formerly served as CEO of MTA Maryland, one of the largest public transit systems in the US, and is currently a VP and chief transit evangelist at Trapeze Group. Tune in to The Stock Podcast interview with Paul describe some of the changes taking place in the public transit systems across the US and Europe.
Lynn Mueller is the Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Sharc Energy Systems (SHRC / INTWF). Sharc Energy has a patented system of recovering thermal energy from wastewater. Tune in to The Stock Podcast to hear Lynn describe one of the most interesting heat recovery and energy recycling systems around today. It’s a truly fascinating interview about a company and a technology that could alter the course of natural gas demand going forward.
Eden Enterprises CFO Darren Gacicia joins The Stock Podcast to talk about his company and the cannabis industry. Eden Enterprises, also known by its retail brand, Garden of Eden, is a vertically integrated marijuana company based out of California. Tune in to hear Darren talk about one of the fastest growing industries in the US.
Eden Enterprises is one of the premier cannabis companies in California. One of the things that’s so interesting about this industry is the absence of interstate activity. Based on current rules and regulations, a cannabis company essentially cannot operate in more than one state. It’s a dynamic that will likely change over time, but the system in the US is strange like that – so, for potential new entrants, be sure to keep that in your dispensary business plan!
And Eden Enterprises is certainly keeping an eye on industry developments, which could put the company in a good position to capitalize on the changes to come. That’s why it’s such a treat to have Darren Gacicia on the podcast to talk about some of the things he and his company are keeping an eye on.
If you’re interested in learning more about a high growth industry, or you’re just interested in hearing from one of the most well-regarded cannabis companies in California, this episode won’t disappoint.
01 Jan: Jimmy Brock and David Khani – CEO and CFO of CONSOL Energy (CEIX) – The Stock Podcast, Ep.23
CONSOL Energy’s CEO, Jimmy Brock, and CONSOL’s CFO, David Khani, join The Stock Podcast to describe the CONSOL investment thesis and the business of mining coal. CONSOL is one of the premier coal producers in the country. Tune in to hear management talk about the outlook for the business, the industry, and one of the most valuable coal assets in North America, the Pennsylvania Mining Complex.
Wouter van Kempen is the Chairman and CEO of DCP Midstream, the largest natural gas gathering and processor company in the United States. Tune in to hear Wouter describe DCP‘s operational footprint, the game-changing technological advancements his company is implementing, and a truly compelling investment story.
DCP Midstream is one of a few MLPs that can boast of having consistently delivered on the inherent agreement between shareholder and management. The agreement relates to the cash the company distributes to investors via the dividend. Sure, one could argue that DCP is a troubled investment story, evidenced by the lack of dividend growth since the commodity price collapse of 2014. However, Wouter van Kempen and his team have done a phenomenal job steering DCP through a very uncertain period of the North American energy cycle and has delivered on one of the most critical components of the MLP investment thesis – stable distributions to shareholders!
Bahir Manios is the CFO of Brookfield Infrastructure, one of the largest diversified infrastructure companies in the world. Tune in to hear Bahir discuss BIP‘s asset portfolio, investment philosophy, and a very compelling investment story.
Will Eglin is the CEO of Lexington Realty Trust (LXP). Tune in to hear Will describe Lexington‘s portfolio transformation from a commercial REIT to an industrial REIT, the outlook for the LXP dividend, and the most important insider’s perspective on the value in LXP stock.
Lexington Realty is a REIT that has been around for years. But the business model has changed over time. Today is one of those times of change, especially as management sees the writing on the wall with respect to commercial real estate values and rents. LXP has already started the process of transitioning from a commercial REIT to an Industrial REIT. In order to achieve this goal, management has plans for re-rating the LXP dividend to a lower level.
Despite the dividend pause, there appears to be value in LXP stock. At the time of this interview, net debt is down to a manageable 4.3x EBITDA, and the company has completely repaid its revolver. Management has committed to buy back shares, while at the same time determined to transform itself into an industrial REIT by acquiring industrial properties – potentially up to $200M of industrial assets this year alone.
Assuming the company can execute on their plans, the LXP dividend could be resumed at 55-65% of 2019 FFO. I’ll note that consensus pegs the LXP dividend at $0.40-$0.48/share. That’s down meaningfully from 2017, but still juicy enough for The Stock Podcast and rationale real estate investors to Lexington Realty’s shares.