There were 14 MLP IPOs in 2007. Until this year, that was the record, but so far in 2013 there have been 15 MLP IPOs with perhaps more to come before year end. One of the more recent IPOs was Sprague Resources (NYSE: SRLP), which debuted on Oct. 25.

Sprague Resources is engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products. The partnership also provides storage and handling services for a broad range of materials. Sprague is one of the largest independent wholesale distributors of refined products in the Northeast US, owning and/or operating a network of 15 terminals located throughout the Northeast. These have a combined storage capacity of  9.1 million barrels for refined products and other liquid materials, and 1.5 million square feet of materials handling capacity.

Location of Sprague Resources LP’s terminals. Source: SRLP SEC filing

In the IPO, Sprague sold 8.5 million common units initially priced at $18, but the price has slipped since. The partnership forecasts a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4125 per unit, or $1.65 per unit annually. As the most recent closing price of $17.60, that translates into a minimum annual yield of 9.4 percent.

Arc Logistics Partners (NYSE: ARCX) opened for trading on Nov. 6. This midstream partnership was formed by Lightfoot Capital to own, operate, develop and acquire a diversified portfolio of complementary energy logistics assets. The partnership is engaged in the terminalling, storage, throughput and transloading of crude oil and petroleum products. It intends to grow the business through the optimization, organic development and acquisition of terminalling, storage, rail, pipeline and other energy logistics assets that generate stable cash flows.

The 6 million common unit IPO opened flat at $19. ARCX plans to pay a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3875 per unit each quarter, or $1.55 on an annualized basis. At the recent closing price of $19.04, this translates into an annual yield of 8.1 percent.

Midcoast Energy Partners (NYSE: MEP) is an Enbridge Energy Partners (NYSE: EEP)-backed LP that went public on Nov. 7. The partnership is a pure-play US natural gas and NGL midstream business with a 39 percent controlling interest in Midcoast Operating, a limited partnership that owns a network of natural gas and NGL gathering and transportation systems, natural gas processing and treating facilities and NGL fractionation facilities primarily located in Texas and Oklahoma. Midcoast Operating also owns and operates natural gas, condensate and NGL logistics and marketing assets that support its gathering, processing and transportation business.

The business primarily consists of gathering unprocessed and untreated natural gas from wellhead locations and other receipt points, processing the natural gas to remove NGLs and impurities at processing and treating facilities and transporting the processed natural gas and NGLs to intrastate and interstate pipelines for transportation to customers and market outlets. The partnership also markets natural gas and NGLs to wholesale customers.

The IPO raised $333 million by offering 18.5 million shares at $18. This was below the expected range of $19 to $21. MEP’s partnership agreement provides for a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3125 per unit for each whole quarter, or $1.25 per unit on an annualized basis. At the recent closing price of $17.83 this equates to an annual yield of 7.0 percent.

The Refining MLP Bloodbath

I warned last week that refiners would report relatively poor earnings for Q3, and refinery MLPs could take a hit, presenting a buying opportunity. On Nov. 6 Alon USA Partners (NYSE: ALDW) reported a loss for the third quarter of $16.1 million, or ($0.26) per unit, compared with net income of $120.4 million for the same period last year. Paul Eisman, CEO and president, cited the deteriorating margins that I discussed in last week’s issue: “Our third quarter results were impacted by a volatile and deteriorating margin environment resulting primarily from decreasing discounts for West Texas crude oil.”

As a result, the partnership announced that there would be no money available for a quarterly distribution. Unit prices fell nearly 10 percent immediately after the earnings release, and continued to drift lower from there before today’s 9 percent rebound.

Calumet Specialty Products Partners (Nasdaq: CLMT) also reported a net loss for the quarter of $34.8 million, or ($0.54) per diluted unit, compared with net income of $42.4 million, or $0.69 per diluted unit, for the same quarter in 2012. Units traded down nearly 13 percent for the week.

Northern Tier Energy (NYSE:NTI) will report earnings this week. The partnership closed last week down less than 1 percent, but interested investors should find a cheaper entry point this week as earnings will undoubtedly be disappointing.

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Portfolio Update

Full Speed Ahead for Navios

Dry bulk shipper Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE: NMM) has been the Aggressive Portfolio’s second-best performer over the last month, its unit price foaming 13 percent as quarterly results topped expectations.

EBITDA declined 17 percent year-over-year as lower charter rates more than offset fleet growth, but this year’s rally in the shipping rates promises more favorable comparisons ahead. In addition, the partnership announced a transformative acquisition of five container ships (its first venture into that category) under long-term leases that should provide an annual rate of return after taxes and debt repayment of 10 percent.

Pro-forma for the deal, the distribution coverage increased from 0.90 to 1.18 times, suggesting much greater security for a steady distribution currently yielding 10.9 percent. With next year’s distributions at the same level assured, management shifted its sights to higher payouts in the medium term.

It’s counting on demand for its relatively new and efficient ships to improve thanks to higher imports of iron ore, coal and grain by China and India. The container deal spurred upgrades to Buy from Wells Fargo, Stifel , and Global Hunter Securities. Stifel also set a $19 target.

We’re raising our buy below target for the second time in three months. Buy NMM below $17.70, the threshold for a double-digit current yield.

— Igor Greenwald