What happened
Shares of NextEra Energy Partners LP (NEP 2.99%) screamed 23.5% higher in January according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence after the company reported earnings, giving a positive outlook on dividend guidance and modifying its incentive distribution rights (IDR) agreement.
So what
NextEra Energy Partners reported $639 million in EBITDA for 2016 and $222 million in CAFD, resulting in a dividend per share of $1.41. At the same time, management said it expects to have the runway to generate dividend growth of 12% to 15% through 2022 and also lowered its IDRs to NextEra Energy (NEE 0.54%) by half to 25% of future dividend increases.
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IDRs are set up to give sponsors an incentive to help yieldcos grow by compensating them with a percentage of any dividend increase. At the current dividend level, half of the dividend increase would go to NextEra Energy and half would go to NextEra Energy Partners shareholders. Now, shareholders will get 75% of the increase, which will allow the company to grow more easily in the future.
Now what
High dividend yields have made it difficult for yieldcos to grow because they need to be able to buy projects with a higher rate of return than their own cost of capital. A lower dividend leads to a lower cost of capital, which will help NextEra Energy Partners grow in the future. It's a virtuous cycle, and right now this is one of the lowest dividend yield yieldcos out there, which will be an advantage for the company long-term.
