Nathan will begin the call today with a review of TC PipeLines' 2020 first quarter results. Janine will provide a commercial update on the Partnership's assets and our growth program, following which Chuck will provide a review of our financial results for the first quarter.

Sometimes, sentiment can turn on a dime. The Senate passed a coronavirus relief bill, and the stock markets responded with their third consecutive day of gains – the first time that has happened since mid-February. The passage of the Senate bill by a unanimous vote now sends the measure to the House. President Trump has already said that he will sign the measure when it reaches his desk.The S&P 500 has gained 238 points in the last two sessions, the index’s best two-day gain since November 2008. The Dow Jones gained 2.4% yesterday, and stands at 21,200 after adding 2,600 points in the last two sessions. After weeks of mostly steady market declines, the gains of the past two sessions are a much-needed shot in the arm, boosting investor morale and raising hopes that now, at last, the worst of the bear market may be behind us.Which means, investors need to decide where to allocate their funds. There’s no telling how long this high note will be sustained, so defensive stock plays are probably still a wise choice. We’ve pulled three such stocks out the of the TipRanks database, using the Dividend Calendar tool to find stocks that aren’t just showing a temporary gain but are also likely to continue paying out reliable returns.Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB)We’ll start in Oklahoma, where Tulsa-based Williams Companies operates in the utility realm, providing processing and transport services for natural gas. Among WMB’s assets, it controls gas pipelines from Rocky Mountain production regions to the Pacific Northwest, as well as pipelines and processing facilities connecting Appalachian and Texan drilling areas with each other and with export facilities on the Gulf and East coasts. Williams handles nearly one-third of the natural gas used by US commercial and residential customers.The company showed revenue gains in the fourth quarter, which was a relief after it missed in Q3. The Q4 top line came in at $2.1 billion, beating the forecast by 2%, and growing a half-percent sequentially. EPS missed the forecast by one cent, coming in at 24 cents per share. That number was, however, up 26% year-over-year.WMB also showed a yoy gain in distributable cash. The cash available grew more than 10% yoy, to $828 million. That is a good sign for income-minded investors, as it ensures the sustainability of WMB’s dividend.That dividend currently yields over 12%, more than 6x times higher than the average dividend in the Basic Materials stock sector. The payment is $1.60 annualized, payed out at 40 cents per share quarterly. The company has raised the dividend payment three times in the past three years.UBS analyst Shneur Gershuni covers this stock, and reiterates his Buy rating. His $28 price target suggests a powerful upside potential of 97%. (To watch Gershuni’s track record, click here)In his comments on the stock, Gershuni notes the high dividend yield. More importantly for immediate conditions, he also notes the company’s flexibility in coping with the ongoing epidemic: “WMB has three different control rooms and can control G&P and pipelines remotely if needed. WMB doesn't expect any supply disruption due to the Coronavirus.”Williams gets a Strong Buy rating on the analyst consensus, based on 13 recent reviews. These include 10 Buys and 3 Holds. Shares are priced low, at $14.41, but the average price target of $22.31 indicates room for an impressive upside of 55%. (See Williams’ stock analysis at TipRanks.)TC Pipelines LP (TCP)The second company on our list is another major player in the natural gas pipeline network in the US and Canada. TC Pipelines is a holding company, acquiring, owning, and operating major interests in natural gas pipelines along the US-Canadian border and through the Midwest. TCP ended 2019 with $280 million in net income, up strongly from a $182 million net loss in 2018. Fourth quarter EPS was well above estimates, at 95 cents, and also up sequentially from 76 cents.Better for investors, the company reported $340 million in distributable cash flow for 2019. That is key for investors – TCP’s greatest attraction as an investment is its 11.3% dividend, and the company’s high cash flow, combined with a dividend payout ratio of 68%, show that the payment is affordable. TCP pays out 65 cents quarterly, annualizing to $2.60, and has held the dividend steady since May 2018.RBC analyst Elvira Scotto points out that TCP, focusing on transport pipelines for natural gas, is well protected from the low prices that have been plaguing the hydrocarbon industry. She says of the stock, “We think the regulated gas assets provide a valuation floor, and we think the steady cash flow profile should be attractive in a volatile commodity environment.”Scotto is upbeat on TCP’s prospects, and shows it with a $44 price target that implies a 62% upside potential. In line with her optimism, Scotto upgrades TCP stock from neutral to Buy. (To watch Scotto’s track record, click here)TC Pipelines has a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 4 recent Buy-side reviews. The stock is selling for $26.82, and the average price target, $39.25, indicates room for a profitable 44% upside potential. (See TC Pipelines’ stock analysis at TipRanks)EPR Properties (EPR)We’ll wrap up this list of high-yield dividend stocks with a real estate investment trust, because you just can’t talk dividends without looking at at least one REIT. These companies have a legal requirement to return a certain percentage of their income with shareholders, and the usual mode chosen is the dividend. In EPR’s case, this leads to a spectacular yield of 17%.In real terms, this comes out to per-share payment of 38.25 cents – paid out monthly, which is a nice touch for investors seeking a regular income stream. The annualized payment is $4.59. EPR has a 7-year history of maintaining – and gradually increasing – its dividend payment. The current yield is far higher than the sector average of 2.02%.EPR supports its high dividend with a successful portfolio of amusement parks, theaters, ski resorts, and other entertainment properties. Among its assets, the company counts 179 theaters, 13 ski resorts. Among its other moves, EPR owns 1 casino property and 7 fitness and wellness centers.EPR finished 2019 with EPS of $1.26, just missing the forecast and slipping 10 cents from the year before. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.3% year-over-year, reaching $154.77 million, although it was 3% below estimates. With the COVID-19 epidemic spreading, EPR’s focus on entertainment-related properties will likely prove a net negative in the short- to mid-term, but investors can expect a surge of pent-up demand when quarantines and lockdowns are lifted.5-star analyst Ki Bin Kim, of SunTrust Robinson, notes that EPR is taking defensive measures to prevent deep losses during the current coronavirus environment. He writes of the stock, “Right now, FFO accretion is NOT the main concern. It’s about safety; it’s about the balance sheet. Keeping the $500m of cash on the balance sheet and 100% availability of the $1bn line of credit is much more important than trying to deploy capital…”Kim sees the company’s defensiveness as a smart move, and maintains his Buy rating on the stock. His $60 price target suggests an upside here of 124%, showing the company’s underlying strength. (To watch Kim’s track record, click here)EPR’s 4 most recent reviews include 3 Buys and 1 Hold, making the analyst consensus rating a Strong Buy. Shares in this stock are selling for $29.55, while the $53.25 average price target implies a valuable 80% upside potential. (See EPR’s stock analysis at TipRanks)

Q4 2019 TC PipeLines LP Earnings Call

HOUSTON, Feb. 21, 2020 -- TC PipeLines, LP (NYSE: TCP) (the Partnership) filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Annual Report”) with.

TC PipeLines' (TCP) Q4 cash distribution of 65 cents per unit matches the year-ago figure. Notably, this marks the firm's 83rd straight quarterly distribution.

Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") affirmed the ratings of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada), including its Baa1 senior unsecured and Issuer ratings, its Baa2 junior subordinate rating and Prime-2 short term rating for commercial paper. At the same time, Moody's affirmed TransCanada parent company TC Energy Corporation's (TC Energy) Baa2 Issuer rating.

Q1 2020 TC PipeLines LP Earnings Call

HOUSTON, Feb. 20, 2020 -- TC PipeLines, LP (NYSE: TCP) (the Partnership) reported today fourth quarter 2019 net income attributable to controlling interests of $76 million and.

News Release – TC PipeLines, LP (TCP) (the Partnership) will release its first quarter 2020 financial results on Wednesday, May 6 pre-market. Nathan Brown, President of the General Partner, along with other members of management, will discuss the Partnership’s financial results and latest developments in a teleconference and webcast on Wednesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. (CDT) / 11 a.m. (EDT). A live webcast will also be available through the Partnership’s website at TCPipeLinesLP.com/events or via the following URL: http://www.gowebcasting.com/10573.

Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") affirmed the ratings of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada), including its Baa1 senior unsecured and Issuer ratings, its Baa2 junior subordinate rating and Prime-2 short term rating for commercial paper. At the same time, Moody's affirmed TransCanada parent company TC Energy Corporation's (TC Energy) Baa2 Issuer rating.

Steel City Capital Investments, LLC is the management company of the Steel City Capital fund. Michael G. Hacke is the fund’s founder and managing member. Recently, Steel City Capital released its Q1 2020 Investor Letter – a copy of which can be downloaded here. For Q1 2020, the fund reported a net return of -10.7%, while […]

News Release – TC PipeLines, LP (TCP) (the Partnership) today announced that the board of directors of TC PipeLines GP, Inc., its general partner, declared the Partnership’s first quarter 2020 cash distribution of $0.65 per common unit. TC PipeLines, LP is a Delaware master limited partnership with interests in eight federally regulated U.S. interstate natural gas pipelines which serve markets in the Western, Midwestern and Northeastern United States.

The investment adage that the market hates uncertainty is oft cited and arguably playing out since the coronavirus and a coordinated national effort to stem the spread by keeping as many people quarantined at home as possible. In many respects, earnings and dividend visibility are near historic lows.It’s fortunate then that the stock market is holding up well in the midst of this record uncertainty. The million dollar question is just when business gets back to normal. There are certainly fears that a second wave will spread throughout the U.S. come this fall, but according to one estimate, that too shall pass and the stock market could hit another record high (the last one was just in February) in the first half of 2021.JPMorgan strategist Marko Kolanovic believes that the quick and aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve should end up offsetting the hit our economy takes while staying focused on beating the coronavirus back to the bat cave where it is reported to have originated. The combined effect of lowering interest rates and investing heavily in fixed income markets to keep credit spreads from widening could prove to be a big boon to the stock market.Kolanovic estimates that the discount rate, which is key input to stock valuation models, is down to 1.25%. The implication is higher stock market values (a lower discount rate increases the present value of future company earnings) and more than enough to offset the “negative impact of the temporary earnings loss.” The fact Kolanovic sees the reduced profitability as temporary is another positive sign and key reason he sees the market regaining February highs at some point at some point in mid-2021.With this in mind, we looked at some of JPMorgan’s stock recommendations, which we cross checked with data and analysis from the TipRanks databases. We uncovered a couple of high-yield stocks to consider for your portfolio, but one that is looking like a much less safer bet in the current environment.TCP Pipelines (TCP)Houston, TX based TC Pipelines, LP, or TCP, owns and manages energy infrastructure businesses in North America. TCP has invested in eight natural gas interstate pipeline systems that transport approximately 10.9 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. In a recent investor presentation, TCP touted its financial discipline, including a healthy balance sheet where its dividend is covered, it self-funds its growth and maintenance of its pipelines, and boasted it does not need to access the capital markets in the near future.TCP’s current dividend yield is 8%. Its annual payout is $2.60 and is projected to stay at this level for this year and next. It also happens to be the payout over the past two years. According to JPMorgan, the payout looks to also be steady and is attributed to a “utility-like” payout where 90% of the cash flows are already under contract.TCP’s steady business trends have not gone unnoticed. JPMorgan analyst Jeremy Tonet recently upgraded TCP to Overweight along with a price target of $46. This represents upside of 40% from the current share price of $32.96. (To watch Tonet's track record, click here)Tonet detailed in the report a belief that "TCP stands well positioned to weather a lower for longer environment, with materially less fundamental downside risk.” He also added “we believe possessing stable, predictable cash flows backed by take-or pay/regulated cash flows with strong counterparties remains paramount in this environment.”The analyst’s bullishness gets the backing of his colleagues, as TCP has a Strong Buy rating from the Street. The 5 "buys" ratings provide an average price target of $40.60, implying upside of 23% from the current price of $32.96. Stock gains and a steady payout are a great combination. (See TCP stock analysis on TipRanks)Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG)New York City-based Interpublic Group, IPG is a preeminent advertising and marketing firm. Services include what you might imagine: advertising, digital marketing, communications planning and public relations. Its market capitalization is $6.1 billion and it is one of the largest advertising firms in the world.When times are tough, many firms cut back on advertising. This a key reason that IPG’s stock is down 30% so far this year to a recent $15.73. However, this has pushed its dividend yield up to 6.9%.JPMorgan analyst Alexia Quadrani recently reiterated her Overweight rating on IPG shares, and sees the dividend as safe because of a strong balance sheet and solid cash flow generation that covered the payout by a wide margin last year. The bullish rating comes with a $22 price target, suggesting a hearty 40% upside from current levels. (To watch Quadrani's track record, click here)Quadrani concedes that earnings visibility has declined on the back of covid-19 uncertainty, but points out that 28% of IPGs business stems from healthcare clients. Healthcare is seen as highly recession resistant and is obviously at the forefront of helping the U.S. contain and control the coronavirus. Technology and telecom services have also benefited from the pandemic as workers stay hunkered at home to work. This is another 17% of IPG’s business which, when combined with even steadier healthcare, is nearly half its sales.Overall, Quadrani believes IPG will hold up better than its peer group. The analyst postulates that lead clients will turn to advertisers to communicate how they are adjusting to covid-19 and focusing on safely selling their products while protecting customers and employees. To this end, Quadrani projects EPS of $1.49 for 2020 and $1.80 in 2021.According to the TipRanks database, 5 analysts cover IPG. The consensus isn’t all bullish; 3 have buy ratings and 2 recommend holding the stock. The average price target among this group is $18.75, which would be a still healthy 19% boost from the current share price. (See IPG stock analysis on TipRanks)Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI)Weingarten Realty Investors owns, manages, and develops shopping malls. It recently boasted 170 properties in 16 states for a total square footage of 32.5 million square feet. Weingarten focuses on neighborhood and community shopping locales and boasts a fair amount of grocers and other related necessity-based tenants. However, Weingarten is a small player in the national mall space. Its market capitalization is $2 billion and has fallen 37% this year alone. That has pushed the dividend yield to a reported 10.7%.JPMorgan is particularly worried about Weingarten’s small size. In lead analyst Michael Mueller’s opinion, “we tend to view WRI as having a meaningful small shop exposure, which is typically where headwinds can emerge (particularly as it relates to locals)."Mueller estimates lower earnings estimates, lower long term growth, and a higher discount rate because of the higher risk to its operating model. This is a key reason Mueller has significantly lowered the firm’s year end 2020 price target to $16/share (previously $29), while downgrading the stock from Neutral to Underweight.The TipRanks database caught Mueller’s Sell rating. The other 5 analysts are a little more bullish, but not by much. 2 have Buy ratings and 3 recommend you hold on. The average price target is $19.58 and would represent a 23% increase from current levels. (See Weingarten stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

Generating solid results and distributions while delivering essential services HOUSTON, May 06, 2020 -- TC PipeLines, LP (NYSE: TCP) (the Partnership) today reported net.

NOTE: On April 7, 2020, the press release was corrected as follows: In the debt list, the list of affirmations for TransCanada Trust was changed to “....Gtd Subordinate Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa3.” Revised Release follows. Toronto, March 31, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") affirmed the ratings of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada), including its Baa1 senior unsecured and Issuer ratings, its Baa2 junior subordinate rating and Prime-2 short term rating for commercial paper.

TC PipeLines' (TCP) first-quarter operation and maintenance expenses of $16 million reiterate the year-ago number.

A Canadian company said Monday that it’s started construction on the long-stalled Keystone XL oil sands pipeline across the U.S.-Canada border, despite calls from tribal leaders and environmentalists to delay the $8 billion project amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Will the new coronavirus cause a recession in US in the next 6 months? On February 27th, we put the probability at 75% and we predicted that the market will decline by at least 20% in (Recession is Imminent: We Need A Travel Ban NOW). In these volatile markets we scrutinize hedge fund filings to […]

TC PipeLines, LP (TCP) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues.

TRP earnings call for the period ending March 31, 2020.